Brussels, 25/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - In conciliation, Council and Parliament reached agreement on the Sixth Environmental Action Programme that sets out sustainable development strategies priorities for 2001-2010 (on climate change; nature and biodiversity; environment and health; sustainable use of natural resources and waste management) and various targets to be met along with a timetable, where appropriate. The compromise agreement the two institutions agreed upon strengthens the programme in line with the views expressed by the European Parliament. The compromise agreement made the following changes:
The programme's role. It will be the environmental basis of the Community's sustainable development strategy and help incorporate environmental concerns into all Community policies and lay down environmental priorities for the strategy.
Procedures for adopting the thematic strategies for meeting priorities. The thematic strategies will identify the proposals needed for meeting the programme's targets and will include the procedures foreseen for their adoption. They will be submitted to Parliament and Council and, where appropriate, will take the form of a Parliament and Council decision.
Greenhouse gas reduction targets. To help the EU meet its greenhouse gas reduction targets (8% reduction from 2008 to 2012 on the 1990 levels) the Commission is invited to publish a Communication before the end of the year on a sustainable transport system with quantifiable targets; to identify other action needed to cut motor vehicle emissions; and to set out Community measures for eliminating the production or and cutting the use of fluoride gases. For the second commitment period for the Kyoto Protocol (post-2012) the EU will call for an international agreement setting significant additional reduction targets based on the latest research by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the need to move towards a fair global breakdown of greenhouse gas emissions.
How to deal with subsidies that have a negative impact on the environment. The programme outlines that subsidies should be changed to make them compatible with sustainable development by establishing registration criteria with a view to gradually phasing them out.
Role of ecotaxes. The use of ecotaxes and environmental incentives will be encourages "at the most appropriate level, national or Community".
Action to raise citizens' and local authorities' awareness. European awareness raising initiatives will be developed.
The common text prepared during the Council/Parliament conciliation process needs to be adopted in third reading by the two institutions before the decision instigating the Action Programme can be formally endorsed. Parliament will gives its final reading in the May plenary session.