Members of the European Parliament’s Environment Committee (ENVI) agree with the priorities of the EU’s wider environmental action programme (8th EAP), presented by the European Commission in October 2020, to accelerate the transition to a climate-neutral, resource-efficient and circular economy, but they want concrete results by 2030.
By adopting the report by Grace O’Sullivan (Greens/EFA, Ireland) on Tuesday 15 June by a large majority (60 votes in favour, 13 against and 3 abstentions), they strengthened this programme to make it more than a framework for the ‘European Green Deal’ (see EUROPE 12666/14).
In their view, the 8th EAP should be an ambitious, high-level strategic tool to guide EU environmental policy up to 2030, encompassing the actions and targets of the Green Deal and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The six priority thematic objectives of the 8th EAP should be achieved by 2030, they say.
The MEPs stress the need to monitor and evaluate the progress of the EU and Member States. They call for sustainable development and the environment to be included in national plans as part of the ‘European Semester’ budget exercise.
To foster an economy of wellbeing, the committee believes that new indicators of progress ‘beyond GDP’ are needed.
“By moving towards a wellbeing economy, we can ensure a just transition as we strive to reach our overarching goal to live well, within the planetary boundaries. I am confident that the 8th EAP, strengthened by robust monitoring mechanisms that hold decision-makers to account, can play a meaningful role from here until 2030”, commented Mrs O’Sullivan.
The report will be put to a vote during the European Parliament’s plenary session from 5 to 8 July. It will pave the way for negotiations with the EU Council. In March of this year, the EU Council gave the Portuguese Presidency a mandate to start negotiations when the Parliament was ready (see EUROPE 12680/2). They will therefore start under the Slovenian Presidency. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)