Gothenburg, 15/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Friday afternoon in Gothenburg, the EU15 Heads of State and Government began examination of the European Union's sustainable development strategy subject to their approval for reconciling economic growth, social development and protection of the environment. This strategy should mark a turning point, adding to the economic and social chapters (developed at the Lisbon and Stockholm Summits) an ecological chapter that would make the Union not only the most competitive economy in the world based on knowledge but also an area of sustainable economic growth, creating jobs and greater social cohesion.
Nonetheless, if we are to judge from the "non-paper" from the Swedish Presidency, conclusions of this summit will not be revolutionary. Essentially, they will simply approve the priorities identified by the Commission in its communication on "sustainable development in Europe for a better world", without mentioning targeted objectives and precise deadlines for remedying the trends that run counter to sustainable development. Like the Presidency, most delegations stressed that the late presentation of this document (published on 15 May) would prevent major breakthroughs in Gothenburg. The reticence of several Member States to the more targeted measures proposed by the Commission -such as elimination by 2010 of subsidies to fossil fuels (German opposition, for coal) or tobacco crops (Greece), as well as savings taxation (opposition from Spain to harmonised rates)- explain the modest conclusions awaited and the likely postponement, to December 2001 at the Laeken Summit, of a more ambitious decision. Whatever, as the first sustainable development summit, Gothenburg will mark a stage in the process that aims to give fresh impetus to the integration of environmental concerns in all Union sector specific policies, on the basis of guidelines and a working method endorsed at the highest level.
In its non-paper, the Swedish Presidency stresses that the Union must consolidate efforts already undertaken to safeguard the environment. It should focus on four top priorities:
Combating climate change and promoting the use of clean energy: other than respecting its commitments under the Kyoto Protocol (8% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2008-2012 in relation to the 1990 level), the Union will have to guarantee broader participation of industrialized countries in collective efforts at respecting the objectives subscribed to. To that end, the European Summit could: 1) ask the Commission, given the Union's forthcoming enlargement, to present as soon as possible, and before end-2001, the European programme for climate change (EPCC) concerning a range of policies and measures that will enable the Union to respect its commitments, as well as a proposal on the Community's ratification of the Protocol (no date has been mentioned); 2) draw up more ambitious objectives regarding the share of electricity produced in the Union from renewable energies, taking due account of the economic and social implications of the required measures.
Tackling the threat weighing on public health: to respond to the citizens' health concerns, the European Summit should push for the rapid adoption of legislation on the new policy regarding chemical products and ask the Commission to present an action plan, before end-2001, to tackle resistance to antibiotics.
Remedy the exhaustion of natural resources: to ensure that good economic performance goes hand in hand with the sustainable use of natural resources and an acceptable level of waste, the Summit could envisage: a) studying additional means of developing quality and healthy products in its common agricultural policy; b) stress the need for a broad policy debate on integrating the environment and sustainable development in the common fisheries policy, taking account of the conclusions of the Council of 25 April; c) confirm its commitment to protect natural species and restore natural habitats and ecosystems in legislation on the Natura 200 network; d) stress the need to preserve the cultural and historic heritage of Member States for future generations; e) progress towards an integrated product policy, (concerned with the environmental performances of products throughout their life cycle), in cooperation with industry, in view of reducing the environmental impact of waste.
Relieving traffic congestion: so as to play in favour of the essential uncoupling between the growth in transport and that of gross national product, the Summit could: - provide a clear political signal to the Council for it to redouble its efforts to tackle traffic congestion; - ask the Commission to present a framework for the pricing of transport that more closely reflects the cost for the environment and society; - take measures to encourage a move from road transport to rail and waterways, taking account of the need for inter-connection between the different Member States.
So as to monitor actual implementation of the strategy, the Summit could ask all Member States to urgently set up their own national agencies, encourage the Commission and Parliament to smooth out inter-institutional barriers that could be obstacles to the coherence of their differences. The Presidency stresses here the importance of the adoption of legislation introducing a strict regime of environmental liability.