The European Environment or Climate Ministers welcomed the European ‘Green Deal’ and its holistic approach during a public debate at the Environment Council on Thursday 19 December. This debate gave the Commission and the outgoing Finnish Presidency an opportunity to take the temperature (see EUROPE 12392/17).
The preparation of the Climate Act to enshrine the EU's climate-neutrality objective by 2050, the biodiversity strategy, the new action plan for the circular economy - which can contribute to the sustainable use of natural resources and the reduction of emissions -, the strategy for a non-toxic environment and the strategy from farm to fork were cited by the ministers as priorities that are particularly close to their hearts.
All stressed the importance of a fair and socially just transition to green growth. Polish Climate Minister Michal Kurtyka, whose country was unable to commit at the European Council to the implementation of the objective of climate neutrality by 2050, said: "The transition to climate neutrality must be the priority. We hope to achieve it in the second half of the century (in accordance with the Paris Agreement: EDITOR'S NOTE). It's up to us to make sure we have the tools we need".
"The debate has confirmed that, more than ever before, the environment and climate must be at the heart of the EU's work", said Finland's Minister for the Environment and Climate Change Krista Mikkonen. She noted a broad consensus on: - a commitment to a robust response to environmental and climate issues; - the need for the EU to continue to lead the way in undertaking a profound transformation of its economy and society which takes into account the diversity of situations in the different regions of the Union; - the need for a coordinated approach at international, national, regional and local levels; - the EU's strategic agenda and the 'Green Deal' provide a solid basis for work.
Many ministers called for a strategic and binding Eighth Environmental Action Programme (8th EAP) to complement the Green Deal (e.g. Sweden, Portugal, Cyprus, Belgium). In Sweden's view, there is no question of the 'Green Deal' replacing an EAP. This 8th EAP should even "contribute to the advent of the EU's strategic agenda 2019-2024". The early presentation of an 8th EAP was called for at the October Environment Council and Commissioner Cañete suggested at that time that it might duplicate the Green Deal (see EUROPE 12342/4).
Policy coherence was invoked by all Ministers as the means to make the most of the synergies between the European Green Deal and other EU objectives, so that other EU policies and actions do not run counter to the objectives that the Green Deal has set itself.
Romania, Latvia, Lithuania and Malta took the opportunity to denounce the inconsistency, in their view, of the European Parliament/Council provisional agreement on the Mobility I package with the Green Deal (see EUROPE 12389/7, 12376/13). Referring to pollutant emissions, they castigated the provision requiring freight trucks to return to the country of establishment of the company employing the driver at least once every 8 weeks.
"You know about the Green Deal. It is up to you to determine the political choices. These must not contradict the Green Deal. There are a lot of contradictions that need to be eliminated in national policies", said Frans Timmermans at the start of the debate.
Several ministers calling for more ambition for the climate and, in particular, for raising the EU's 2030 target to at least 55% well ahead of COP26, took the floor again in front of the cameras after the round table (Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, France).
Frans Timmermans called on them to convince their colleagues in Finance to translate this level of ambition into the negotiations on the EU's Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang with Damien Genicot)