Brussels, 15/12/2006 (Agence Europe) - By a strange irony of fate, after having had to relinquish the main responsibility for the REACH dossier to the Competitiveness Council, the EU Environment Council - under Finnish Presidency - will have the privilege and honour, in Brussels on 18 December, of formally adopting the regulation on the registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemical substances. The go-ahead given by the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 13 December for an agreement in second reading (EUROPE 9327) will thus “render unto Caesar that which was Caesar's”. This session chaired by Jan Erik Enestam, Finnish Environment Minister, will discuss genetically modified organisms, climate change, the conservation of marine ecosystems and the reduction of pollution from motor vehicles. Stavros Dimas will represent the European Commission.
The programme of the work is as follows:
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs): The Council will be invited to adopt or to reject, by qualified majority, two proposed decisions requesting Austria to repeal the prohibition of use and sale in its territory of two genetically modified maize varieties - MON 810 and T25 - which are, however, authorised in the EU.
The request for lifting Austrian safeguard measures is backed by scientific opinions requested by the Commission. In March 2006, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) said there was no reason to believe that the continued placing on the market of MON 810 maize was likely to cause any adverse effects for human or animal health or the environment under the conditions of its consent. On the subject of T25 maize, the EU Scientific Committee on Plants concluded, on 8 May 2000, that the information submitted by Austria did not constitute new relevant scientific evidence which had not been taken into account during the original evaluation of the file. EFSA, for its part, concluded on 29 March 2006 that there was no reason to consider the product constituted a risk to human or animal health or the environment. If Member States are unable to reach a decision, it will be up to the Commission to do so.
Marine strategy: The Council will seek to reach a political agreement on a draft directive accompanying the thematic strategy presented by the Commission in October 2005 with a view to protecting marine ecosystems in Europe by an overall and integrated approach of the different marine regions and different sources of pollution. In its vote at first reading on the strategy and the directive, the Parliament was far more ambitious than the Commission (EUROPE 9307).
Euro V standards: The Council is expected to endorse formally and without debate the agreement reached at first EP/Council reading on the draft regulation relating to new reductions of polluting emissions from motor vehicles, which received approval of the European Parliament on 13 December (EUROPE 9328).
Climate change: The Council will adopt conclusions on the follow-up to the conference in Nairobi (twelfth conference of parties to the United Nations Framework Convention and second conference of parties to the Kyoto Protocol) and will hold an exchange of views on the prospects for an international regime to fight against climate change after 2012. In the context of this debate, which is in preparation for the Spring Summit, ministers will be invited to answer the following questions: What would the EU leadership role mean in 2007 and beyond? What kind of an opening should the EU make now on its possible role in a future agreement? In which way should the global context of the EU's commitments be taken into account?
Biodiversity: The Council will hold a public debate and will adopt conclusions on halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 - and beyond. The communication presented by the Commission on 23 May outlines the extent of the challenge and reviews the adequacy of the EU response so far. It identifies key policy areas for action, and related objectives and supporting measures, which are translated into specific targets and actions in an Action Plan.
From among the many different points on its agenda, the Council will note a progress report on the draft directive on waste, on the thematic strategy for the sustainable use of pesticides and on the draft regulation on the marketing of pesticides. (an)