Brussels, 22/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - The main issue and the only formal decision expected from the 4 March Environment Council in Brussels is the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol by the EU in time for the World Sustainable Development Summit in Johannesburg in September 2000. The Council will give the EU environment ministers their first opportunity to speak in a public debate on the environmental liability scheme put forward by the Commission to apply the polluter pays principle. The ministers' debate on this subject has been described as "vital" by the Spanish Presidency in that it covers all the EU's economic and industrial activities. Extending the EU's internal sustainable development strategy as the Environment Council's contribution to the Barcelona European Council, and the external dimension of this strategy in the run-up to the World Sustainable Development Summit will take pride of place in the Council (chaired by Spanish minister Jaume Matas). Margot Wallström will be representing the European Commission. The agenda:
Climate change. The Council is expected to endorse the decision to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on behalf of the Community in June so that it can be ratified by the EU before the Jo'burg Summit. The Commission and Council both have the political will to do so. In terms of the legal basis, it is expected that Article 175 paragraph 1 (proposed by the Commission) will be selected, since unanimous voting is required to amend the Commission's proposal (Germany, Portugal and the Netherlands want Article 175; paragraph 2 to be sued, Spain is flexible and Sweden is undecided). Denmark called for a corrected level of emissions to be taken into account for 1990 (reference year for measuring the reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, but Danish emissions in 1990 were lower than usual) is expected to be settled by adding appropriate wording to the minutes rather than opening up the dossier of the breakdown negotiated in 1998 by the Member States, and without changing the figures.
Environmental liability. The Council will hold a public debate on the scope of application (whether or not to extend it to damage to goods and individuals, for example); avoiding the risk of polluters declaring themselves bankrupt to get out of paying for pollution prevention and cleaning up sites to ensure costs do not overburden public authorities; and whether or not to harmonise national measures concerning insurance cover.
Sustainable development. Ahead of the Barcelona Summit, the Council will adopt conclusions on the environmental side of sustainable development, setting out future priorities. In the run-up to the Jo'burg Summit, the Council will adopt conclusions which can be updated at the June Council if necessary.
The Council will also adopt conclusions on preparing for the 6th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biodiversity (7/19 April in The Hague) and will be informed of progress on amending the Seveso II directive; amending the packaging and waste directive (94/62/EC); an the draft directive to create an EU carbon trading system.