Brussels, 06/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday in Brussels, the European Parliament adopted the report by Swedish Social Democrat Anneli Hulthen on environment policy and sustainable development (with a view to the European Council in Gothenburg). It regrets that, because of "lack of time", it was kept in the background when the concrete proposals pertaining to this strategy were examined. The EP stresses that the ecological dimension "must be the point of departure for the sustainable development strategy, for which the sixth action programme for the environment must be the basis". It considers that the European Council of Gothenburg "should establish a timetable for sustainable development" and that the "stake of the summit is not to create new procedures but rather to integrate and coordinate those that already exist". It invites the Heads of Government in Gothenburg to provide for a summit in 2002.
According to MEPs, this strategy must make a major contribution to the Rio + 10 summit, to be held in Johannesburg in 2002. Also, the Commission should present, before the end of the year, its communication on the way in which the Union should contribute to sustainable development at world level. The EP calls for "equality in law at the institutional level" for the environment sector through the creation (to be decided in Gothenburg) of a committee equivalent to those already existing for the Ecofin Council or the Employment and Social Affairs Council. Furthermore, it believes the European Council should establish a "sustainable development Council" that would meet each spring to review the short term priorities and the sustainability indicators.
MEPs, moreover, stress that non-renewable raw material is being exploited inexcusably and that, failing a more economic use of these resources, global environmental problems will soon become insoluble. In their view, one should reach the aim of 12% energy consumption from renewable sources by 2010, and 50% by 2040. The EP also invites the Commission to propose programmes and regulations aimed at efficiency in resources and energy in production and consumption being increased four-fold by 2010 and ten-fold by 2025. In transport matters, the aim must be to replace the number of vehicles that meet at least the best ecological standards available in current vehicles within the next ten years, and also stimulate competition between companies to encourage them to renounce fossil fuels, to the advantage of renewable fuels.
2010 and ten-fold by 2025. In transport matters, the aim must be to replace the number of vehicles that meet at least the best ecological standards available in current vehicles within the next ten years, and also stimulate competition between companies to encourage them to renounce fossil fuels, to the advantage of renewable fuels.