Press Release
Ten Green Tests for the Belgian EU Presidency
30th June 2010
On 1st July the Belgian EU Presidency shall begin and, as is customary ahead of each new Presidency, the EEB has issued its ‘Ten Green Tests’, highlighting the most pressing needs on the environmental agenda for the coming six months.
The EEB is calling on the Presidency to ensure a decision is taken on a recent European Commission Communication which highlighted the feasibility of moving to a 30% greenhouse gas emissions reduction target for 2020 [1], and to establish a comprehensive energy and climate policy to ensure these cuts can be met. There should also be a view to moving to 40% as soon as possible.
As well as ensuring the Europe 2020 Strategy genuinely propels the EU towards a sustainable future, the EEB is also urging the Presidency to ensure a draft Seventh Environmental Action Programme (7EAP) is agreed with the Commission. EAPs have given direction to the work of the European Commission in the environmental field, setting long-term targets and priorities and pave the way to integrate environmental objectives into other policies.
John Hontelez, EEB Secretary General, said: “The current 6EAP is due to expire in 2012 and we are already running out of time to ensure a new Programme is in place. The new Belgian Presidency not only has the opportunity to start discussions on a new EAP, but to also leave a positive legacy, in convincing a yet undecided Commission to move on.”
John Hontelez also says that air legislation has been delayed for far too long and the Presidency must insist the European Commission revises the EU-wide air pollution legislation (National Emission Ceilings Directive). As well as this, the Presidency should ensure the EU is well prepared and coordinated ahead of the international meeting on biodiversity in Nagoya later this year to show it is ready and willing to protect and restore biodiversity at home and reduce its impact globally.
In addition, the EEB is urging the Presidency to take action on waste, chemicals and nanotechnology policy. The Belgian Presidency shall be assessed at the end of its term by the EEB to see if it managed to pass these tests.
[1] Commission Communication on 30% reduction target for 2020: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/pdf/2010-05-26communication.pdf
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