The interinstitutional negotiations on the EU’s comprehensive Environmental Action Programme until 2030 (8th EAP) started on Monday 6 September and are expected to continue on 14 October, the Slovenian Presidency told the EU27 ambassadors (Coreper) on Wednesday 8 September.
The first ‘trilogue’ was introductory and brief. It gave the European Parliament negotiators, led by Grace O'Sullivan (Greens/EFA, Ireland), and the EU Council Presidency the opportunity to present their respective positions, which have not been debated at this stage. The European Commission has given its point of view.
The following were identified as key negotiating issues: the monitoring framework to help the EU and its Member States determine whether they are on track; the mid-term assessment of the programme in 2024; and the list of actions to be specified once the ‘European Green Deal’ expires (at the end of the current Commission’s mandate), since the Green Deal presented in a Commission communication does not contain any actions.
The Commission indicated that it was not in favour, as a matter of principle, of requiring it to make a legislative proposal for a list of actions to be taken until 2030 in an annex to the EAP, as this would impinge on its exclusive power of initiative.
Several meetings will be necessary at technical level before 14 October. The first one took place on Wednesday 8 September.
As the Council of the EU had decided on its general approach to the text (see EUROPE 12678/12) before the European Parliament took its decision (see EUROPE 12758/6), Coreper will consider the Parliament’s amendments that go beyond the Commission’s proposal before 14 October - probably on Friday 8 October.
This includes the Parliament’s request for indicators beyond GDP and a reference to a welfare society (the Commission’s proposal only mentions a regenerative economy) and the requirement for the elimination of fossil fuel subsidies. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)