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PRESS RELEASE (Brussels, 21 December, 2007) - EEB [1] today issued its 'Ten Green Tests' for Slovenia's six-month Presidency of the European Union, which will begin on 1 January. EEB has set these benchmark tests for each Presidency since 1998, following them up with an end-of-term performance assessment at each Presidency's conclusion. EEB's Ten Green Tests form part of an extended memorandum to the Slovenian Presidency, drawn up by EEB's staff and Slovenian NGO members, presenting their principal ideas and most urgent demands. This memorandum will be published in the second week of January. "Slovenia is the first of the new Member States to take over the Presidency of the EU, at an extremely important moment for the EU. It will have to show leadership in putting EU's promises to its citizens and the world concerning climate change and biodiversity protection into reality, and it could play a crucial role in shaping EU's sustainable development path by bringing the debate about the future of the Common Agriculture Policy to a higher level and the debate on EU's soil policy to a good end. The EEB is ready to assist," said John Hontelez, EEB's Secretary General. "Our two Slovenian EEB members will, in co-operation with other environmental NGOs, closely watch progress on the Tests," said Anamarija Slabe, EEB Vice President and Director of Slovenia's Institute for Sustainable Development. "But we have never been there only to criticise, but more to continue offering support for successful implementation of the agenda." Climate and energy issues are again high on the EU's agenda. EEB is urging EU Member States to agree on effort-sharing agreements on greenhouse gas reduction and renewable energy promotion that will deliver a 30% reduction for the EU by 2020 and a 20% renewables contribution by that date. EEB calls for a set of technical measures to reduce emissions from road transport.. EEB is also keen to see an active role of the Presidency in the debate on the future of EU agriculture policy and, a good start of the debate on the revision of the industrial pollution prevention and control (IPPC) directive. In addition, after the collapse of discussions on the proposed Soil Framework Directive at December's Environment Council meeting, Slovenia will be charged with the task of finding a compromise between Member States to keep the work that has already been done on this Directive afloat. On the other hand, the EEB wants the Presidency to refrain from pressuring the European Parliament to tone down its demands on waste policy. The countdown to reaching Europe's goal of halting biodiversity loss by 2010 is quickly approaching, giving Slovenia the responsibility of seeking ways to improve and accelerate EU's internal and external nature protection policies. Finally, EEB calls on the Presidency to take measures to systematically improve the enforcement of EU legislation, including by giving a greater role to citizens. The text of the Ten Tests is available on EEB's website. The extended Memorandum to the Slovenian Presidency gives a fuller account of EEB's position on these issues and will be posted on the website in early January. For further information please contact:- John Hontelez, Secretary General, EEB: hontelez@eeb.org; Tel: +32 (0)2 289 1091. Mobile: +32 (0)486 51 21 27 Editors Notes:- |
