Brussels, 11/10/2006 (Agence Europe) - The re-launch on a new basis of EU/Russia dialogue on the environment crowned the Permanent EU/Russia Partnership Council with success. The Council brought ministers for the environment from the two sides together for the first time on 10 October in Helsinki (EUROPE 9278). The major advance achieved with the signing of a charter for cooperation between the EU and Russia for protection of the environment and nature was made concrete with a new meeting attended by Jan Erik Enestam, Finnish minister for the environment, presiding the Council of the EU, Stavros Dimas, European Commissioner for the environment, Mathias Machnig, German Secretary of State and the Russian minister for natural resources, Yuri Trutnev.
By signing the “terms of reference” for establishing a dialogue on the environment between the Russian minister and Directorate General Environment at the European Commission, Commissioner Dimas and minister Trutnev gave their approval to a charter of shared principles and objectives for more intense, more systematic and more organised cooperation cooperation than in the past. Until now, there has been more of a question of active collaboration between the EU and Russia on issues of major importance like global warming or individual environmental projects or problems.
At the end of the meeting Jan Erik Enestam, "The document signed today establishes a firm basis for future dialogue between the EU and Russia on environmental issues", … rather than coming here simply to sign a piece of paper, we have rolled up our sleeves and got straight down to business, with several of the new working groups set up today immediately holding their first organizational sessions…. In the field of climate change mitigation, for instance, the EU and Russia can now conduct a genuine dialogue. This is a vital step forward, especially considering that the forthcoming November climate summit in Nairobi will be considering emission limits for the post-Kyoto period". According to Enestam, it is important for the jointly implemented projects, made possible through the Kyoto Protocol, can start in Russia as soon as possible. Investment in energy efficiently and clean technologies benefit not only the climate but Russia too, explained Mr Enestam. He also said that further to questions on the climate, intensification of EU/Russia cooperation in the environment should provide a new boost to protection of the green zone set up in the 1250 km long "green belt" zone along both sides of the Finnish-Russian frontier, as well as a better taking into account of the environmental impact of creating cross-border projects such as the construction of a gas pipeline that goes from Russia to Germany. The president of the Environment Council affirmed, “I am convinced that the ongoing international environmental impact assessment process will benefit all the various parties involved in the project, by producing information that will be of use to decision-makers, researchers and the citizens of the coastal states around the Baltic Sea."
In terms of the Cooperation Charter, EU/Russia dialogue will target implementation of the objectives and priorities in the field of the environment, such as those identified in the road map of the Common EU/Russia European Economic Area, adopted by the EU/Russia summit on 10 May 2005. It will tackle environmental relations between Russia and the EU and attempt to resolve questions of common interest- whether they are horizontal or sectoral questions. It will also strive to reinforce cooperation and the exchange of information on environmental questions of common concern, as well as the convergence of environmental standards and policies and best environmental practices.
The two parties agreed to cooperate efficiently in the carrying out of their common objectives, to strengthen co-operation on trans-boundary environmental mattes and the resolution of problems; to facilitate cooperation within multilateral environmental forums and the implementation of international environmental agreements; to collaborate in the analysis of common environmental concerns, to share information, to raise public awareness of environmental issues and to promote environmental training.
A joint working group made up of experts, and seven sub-groups specialised in specific questions (harmonisation of environmental policies; climate change; water or marine resources linked questions; biodiversity and nature conservation; environmental impact assessments; reinforcement of legislation on the protection of forests and its management; clean modes of production and pollution prevention) will be set up. The joint working group will meeting once a year. When it is necessary, political meetings will be organised between the European Commissioner of the Environment and the Russian minister in charge of this issue. It has not been ruled out that these are included in the format of the Permanent Partnership Council on the Environment. The costs incurred for this dialogue will be equally shared by the two parties. (an)