Brussels, 02/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - Half way through its mandate, the European Commission has delivered a very disappointing report of its performance in the field of the environment, say ten European environmental NGOs, who nonetheless hail the late but welcome leap forward in commitments to combat climate change. The critical verdict pronounced by the NGOs in question (BirdLife, CAN Europe, CEE bankwatch network, EEB, Friends of the Earth Europe, Greenpeace, Health & Environment Alliance, T&E, WWF and International Friends of Nature) gathered under the “Green 10” banner covers six policy areas, including detailed analyses marked out of ten (the marks awarded can be consulted online at: http://www.green10.org ).
The Barroso Commission thus receives 7/10 - the best score in the report - for having recommended a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by industrialised countries by 2020 compared to 1990. It is given 6/10 for its energy policy including the binding aim of 20% of renewable energies by 2020, and another 6/10 for its agricultural policy that has strengthened environmental guidelines in rural development and pushed for greater transparency about who receives EU agriculture subsidies. On the crucial task of halting biodiversity loss by 2010, the Commission only receives 5/10, for its Biodiversity Action Plan of May 2006. The Commission gets its lowest scores for marine protection (the directive proposed for a marine strategy does not set out objectives and specific actions and does not pay attention to the destructive consequences of fishing) and for its forest policy (the Commission is “dragging its feet” in setting out measures besides voluntary accords to exclude illegal timber from the market) where the Commission has its lowest score with a meagre 2/10.
The NGO groups stressed, however, that the average mark of 4.3/10 in the Commission's mid-term report reflects its inability to give the EU the means required to become the most effective economy as far as energy and resources are concerned. “The Barroso Commission has, for the most part, since taking office in November 2004, clung to the dated notion that what's good for the environment cannot be good for the economy. A narrow focus on growth and jobs within the Lisbon Strategy blinded Mr Barroso, early on, to the opportunities of a sustainable and progressive industrial policy. The past six months have seen something of a change of heart by Mr Barroso, prompted by increased media attention to the impacts of climate change on the economy, public health and global security”, stress the NGOs. Presenting their work of assessment on 27 April, John Hontelez, EEB General Secretary, explained to the press that the aim was to “indicate the trends and what the Commission should do in coming months” to put things right, given that “the general picture is a poor performance”. “The Lisbon Agenda is not linked to sustainable development despite the major role played by the Luxembourg, British and Austrian Presidencies. But we are relieved that there has been this sudden waking-up when it comes to combating climate change”, he said. He went on to praise the fact that Mr Barroso had set up his “own advisory group on climate” and the great firmness shown by Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas towards the Kyoto Protocol obligations. Also, Mr Hontelez praised the organisation on 8 and 9 March of a European summit on climate - that he describes as a “remarkable” event,. Jorgo Riss, Director of the European Greenpeace Bureau, deplored the fact that the European Commission is “greener in words than in deeds” and stressed the need for the EU to be more concerned about its responsibility at global level. “The EU is the largest market in the world. If tropical wood were banned in the EU, this would have an impact on other countries. With the policy unchanged, in 2050 the oceans will be empty. But the Commission has not suggested recovery of marine reserves. When one speaks of the EU's global responsibility, it is not a choice between being good or bad but a necessity”, Mr Riss said, deploring the Commission's “empty proposals”.
In a press release of 30 April (COM 2007 195 final) on examination of the 2006 environmental policy, the Commission looks more leniently on its own performances. It above all seeks to constantly improve the development and implementation process for environmental policy, and to ensure that the policies are now largely in place and adapted to a more rational regulatory approach while preserving a high level of protection. When it comes to climate change - a dossier which is one of the priority policy concerns - the Commission states it will be improving its proposals in order to transform the European Union into an economy with low carbon emissions and reach the targets set for reducing CO2 emissions in the European Union and in the world. It says it will launch a debate on Community policy for adapting to climate change. On the loss of biodiversity, the Commission considers that this is also a top priority, and that the time has come to implement the important measures proposed. The sustainable management of forests and the fight against illegal forestry exploitation, more sustainable production and consumer methods, and the continued effort to improve implementation of the environment legislation are seen as the other priority areas to be covered in future action. (an)