The Environment Ministers of the EU Member States will meet in Luxembourg on Wednesday 6 October to discuss the climate legislation package proposed by the European Commission in July (‘Fit for 55’ package), as well as soaring energy prices, the 26th United Nations Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP26), and the EU Forest Strategy.
‘Fit for 55’
This first Environment Council under the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU will be dedicated to five proposals from the ‘Fit for 55’ package aimed at ensuring that EU policies are in line with the EU’s climate objectives set out in the ‘Climate Act’, namely to reduce its net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
They are: (1) the revision of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) (see EUROPE 12762/1); (2) the revision of the Effort Sharing Regulation (2018/842) (see EUROPE 12762/2); (3) the revision of the Regulation (2018/841) on the inclusion of GHG emissions and removals from land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) (see EUROPE 12762/4); (4) the revision of the Regulation (2019/631) setting CO2 emission performance standards for new cars and vans (see EUROPE 12762/2); (5) the creation of a ‘Social Climate Fund’ (see EUROPE 12762/6).
This discussion follows an initial debate between the ministers on Tuesday 20 July at their last informal meeting in Slovenia (see EUROPE 12766/11). The Slovenian Presidency aims to publish a ‘progress report’ by December.
The ‘Fit for 55’ package was also discussed by the Member States’ energy ministers on 22 September at an informal meeting, at which rising energy prices were also discussed (see EUROPE 12796/9).
Soaring energy prices
At the request of Spain (see EUROPE 12796/9), Poland (see EUROPE 12802/1), and Greece (see EUROPE 12803/4) and the support of a number of other delegations, the issue of rising energy prices will be brought up again at the Environment Council after lunch.
Due to a sharp increase in demand for gas caused by the post-Covid-19 recovery combined with a range of other factors (see EUROPE 12795/13), soaring gas and electricity prices in Europe have led a number of Member States to take measures at national level, in particular to provide relief to households.
The European Commission, for its part, is expected to present a “toolkit” (tentative date: 13 October) to guide Member States in putting in place national measures that comply with EU energy rules (see EUROPE 12796/9).
But some capitals are calling for stronger action.
For example, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Friday that he had proposed to the European Commission that gas be purchased as a group, along the lines of the Covid-19 vaccine purchases, to increase the EU’s bargaining power.
“The European single market for electricity does not work, it is absurd”, said the French Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, a few days earlier. Calling for a “fundamental” review of its operation, Mr Le Maire said he would raise the issue at the meeting of euro area finance ministers on Monday 4 October (see other news).
The subject is also expected to be discussed at the European Council on 21 and 22 October (see EUROPE 12801/33).
COP26
The Environment Council will also discuss (in camera) the preparation of COP26, which will be held in Glasgow from 31 October to 12 November, with the aim of adopting EU Council conclusions.
While Member States have already agreed on the vast majority of the text proposed by Ljubljana, a minority continues to oppose the Slovenian proposal for a common five-year timeframe for ‘nationally determined contributions’ (NDC - see EUROPE 12797/4).
“The (Slovenian) Presidency is optimistic that the ministers will realise that it is really an important question and that the EU needs to position itself among the traditional partners in the international arena”, a European diplomat said on Monday 4 October.
EU ‘Aarhus’ Regulation
Ministers are expected to adopt at first reading the amendment to Regulation EC No. 1367/2006 to improve public access to justice and to bring this legislation into line with the international Aarhus Convention, which it transposes, while respecting the EU’s internal legal order. In doing so, they will confirm the political agreement reached in July with the European Parliament (see EUROPE 12768/3). The Parliament’s confirmation vote is expected to have taken place the day before, in plenary session (see EUROPE 12803/15).
COP15 on biodiversity
Over lunch, the ministers will exchange views on the future post-2020 global framework for biodiversity in view of the intersessional meeting (11-15 October) of the 15th Conference of the Parties to the International Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15, China), which is scheduled to take place in person from 25 April to 8 May 2022 (see EUROPE 12767/7).
Some parties to the international negotiations have doubts about the level of ambition, especially regarding the target of protecting 30% of land and marine areas by 2030 (see EUROPE 12784/7). The EU Council Presidency believes that “the EU should take the lead in the intersessional period, as the EU is convinced of the need to push for action at the highest possible level for the second part of COP15”, a European source said on Monday.
EU Forest Strategy
Ministers will exchange views on the new EU forest strategy for 2030, which was presented by the European Commission on 16 July (see EUROPE 12764/1 and other news). The horizontal and multifunctional role of forests is expected to be highlighted during the discussions, with the goal of contributing to the preparation of the conclusions of the EU Agriculture Council, which will be adopted under the Slovenian Presidency, possibly in November (see EUROPE 12795/15).
Miscellaneous item, chemicals
The European Commission will present a report on the implementation of Regulation (EU) No. 528/2012 ‘Making available on the market and use of biocidal products’. This report shows the slow progress in the evaluation of active substances included in the review programme and the significant and continuing delays in the active substance approval and product authorisation processes (https://bit.ly/2WDsp6j ).
The Belgian delegation will advocate the need for coordinated action against per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). (Original version in French by Damien Genicot and Aminata Niang)