Speech, Environment
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EU Presidency Statement, Press Conference of the Environment Council meeting, 18 December 2006
18 Dec 2006, 18:45 en
Minister of the Environment Jan-Erik Enestam
Good afternoon dear members of the Media. Contrary to the recent reports in our national newspapers our Presidency is far from over! We have already dealt with many significant issues today and there is still more to come.
The last phase of the long negotiations on the REACH chemicals legislation reform was completed today, as the Council approved the compromise agreed upon with the European Parliament under the A-points this morning. REACH is a substantial improvement of the present situation regarding both health and environment.
We have already taken a remarkable step forward by reaching a political agreement on the Marine Strategy Directive - a directivewhich aims to improve the environmental status of European seas and oceans.
We have also adopted conclusions on climate change relating to the follow-up to the Nairobi COP12 and COP/MOP2 sessions. We have exchanged views on possible strategies for reaching a post-2012 agreement and about the leadership role of the EU in 2007 and beyond in the global climate change negotiations.
At lunch we discussed sustainable development with his excellency Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, the current chairman of the Commission on Sustainable Development.
After this press conference, we will continue the Council meeting with the aim to adopt conclusions whichoutline the most important actions for halting the loss of biodiversity by the year 2010.
Still open is also the item concerning the Commission's proposals to repeal Austria's safeguard measures on two types of GMO-maize. In the morning the Council could not reach a clear outcome, therefore we will continue in the afternoon.
Relating to AOBs, please note that the first three items: Presidency reports on the waste directive, pesticides and priority substances will be dealt with publicly.
Now, some key points about marine protection and climate change.
First the Marine Strategy Directive. Achieving a political agreement on this Directive has been one of the priorities of our Presidency and we have worked intensively to reach our objective. Thus, I am more than pleased due to the results of this morning's council. I am also proud that we were able to reach a compromise which was satisfactory to practically all Member States.
We will have a framework directive, which aims to an integrated approach to protection of the European marine environment. Currently we have no existing EU legislation explicitly addressing the marine environment. The directive will provide objectives that are common to all EU Member States including progress towards good environmental status by 2021. The Directive also ensures that deterioration of the marine environments will not take place.
There is however no need to reinvent the wheel. Existing structures and mechanisms, such as the regional seas conventions will be used to the maximum extent. It is also essential that collaboration with third countries will be enhanced.
I am convinced that this new directive will be a remarkable step forward. The European Marine Strategy and this directive will form the environmental pillar of a future EU Maritime Policy. With today's Council's results we have laid down the basis for a developing strong environmental pillar to the Maritime Policy.
And then climate change: the conclusions adopted today take stock of the UN Climate Conference held in Nairobi and set the way forward. The EU has been very pleased with the results achieved in Nairobi.
The conclusions stress that the pace of the international negotiations needs to be accelerated considerably in 2007. This is essential because we also emphasizing the need to complete the international negotiations on a post-2012 agreement by the end of 2009 at the latest. This is vital for avoiding a gap between the first and the second commitment periods.
Bearing this in mind we had today a very promising and forward-looking exchange of views on starting points for preparing climate change considerations by the Spring European Council. The German Presidency will have a lot to do. The Commission has continued to analyze cost and benefits of emission reduction strategies and is expected to come out with post-2012 Communication in early January. That will be linked to the Communication on Energy policy.
Our discussions today focused on the nature of the EU leadership, the EU?s role in the future agreement and the focus of the proposals we should prepare next spring.
Finally some words about our Presidency. I feel that Finland?s Presidency have been a success story especially on the environmental sector. During the last six months we have achieved almost all of our priorities: REACH, Climate change including many summits and also meetings with U.S. and Russia, the Air Quality Directive, Euro 5, the Ground Water Directive and the Inspire Directive just to mention a few achievements.
Naturally, this is teamwork and parts of the honor belong to the European Commission and other Member States, especially to Austria and Germany. We have had a good and constructive co-operation with everybody - also in times of very challenging situations.
I wish Germany the best of luck with the Presidency in the first half of next year. I am convinced that my friend Mr. Sigmar Gabriel and his team will run the Presidency environmental sector dynamically and effectively. Thank you all and - Merry Xmas, God Jul!
The last phase of the long negotiations on the REACH chemicals legislation reform was completed today, as the Council approved the compromise agreed upon with the European Parliament under the A-points this morning. REACH is a substantial improvement of the present situation regarding both health and environment.
We have already taken a remarkable step forward by reaching a political agreement on the Marine Strategy Directive - a directivewhich aims to improve the environmental status of European seas and oceans.
We have also adopted conclusions on climate change relating to the follow-up to the Nairobi COP12 and COP/MOP2 sessions. We have exchanged views on possible strategies for reaching a post-2012 agreement and about the leadership role of the EU in 2007 and beyond in the global climate change negotiations.
At lunch we discussed sustainable development with his excellency Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, the current chairman of the Commission on Sustainable Development.
After this press conference, we will continue the Council meeting with the aim to adopt conclusions whichoutline the most important actions for halting the loss of biodiversity by the year 2010.
Still open is also the item concerning the Commission's proposals to repeal Austria's safeguard measures on two types of GMO-maize. In the morning the Council could not reach a clear outcome, therefore we will continue in the afternoon.
Relating to AOBs, please note that the first three items: Presidency reports on the waste directive, pesticides and priority substances will be dealt with publicly.
Now, some key points about marine protection and climate change.
First the Marine Strategy Directive. Achieving a political agreement on this Directive has been one of the priorities of our Presidency and we have worked intensively to reach our objective. Thus, I am more than pleased due to the results of this morning's council. I am also proud that we were able to reach a compromise which was satisfactory to practically all Member States.
We will have a framework directive, which aims to an integrated approach to protection of the European marine environment. Currently we have no existing EU legislation explicitly addressing the marine environment. The directive will provide objectives that are common to all EU Member States including progress towards good environmental status by 2021. The Directive also ensures that deterioration of the marine environments will not take place.
There is however no need to reinvent the wheel. Existing structures and mechanisms, such as the regional seas conventions will be used to the maximum extent. It is also essential that collaboration with third countries will be enhanced.
I am convinced that this new directive will be a remarkable step forward. The European Marine Strategy and this directive will form the environmental pillar of a future EU Maritime Policy. With today's Council's results we have laid down the basis for a developing strong environmental pillar to the Maritime Policy.
And then climate change: the conclusions adopted today take stock of the UN Climate Conference held in Nairobi and set the way forward. The EU has been very pleased with the results achieved in Nairobi.
The conclusions stress that the pace of the international negotiations needs to be accelerated considerably in 2007. This is essential because we also emphasizing the need to complete the international negotiations on a post-2012 agreement by the end of 2009 at the latest. This is vital for avoiding a gap between the first and the second commitment periods.
Bearing this in mind we had today a very promising and forward-looking exchange of views on starting points for preparing climate change considerations by the Spring European Council. The German Presidency will have a lot to do. The Commission has continued to analyze cost and benefits of emission reduction strategies and is expected to come out with post-2012 Communication in early January. That will be linked to the Communication on Energy policy.
Our discussions today focused on the nature of the EU leadership, the EU?s role in the future agreement and the focus of the proposals we should prepare next spring.
Finally some words about our Presidency. I feel that Finland?s Presidency have been a success story especially on the environmental sector. During the last six months we have achieved almost all of our priorities: REACH, Climate change including many summits and also meetings with U.S. and Russia, the Air Quality Directive, Euro 5, the Ground Water Directive and the Inspire Directive just to mention a few achievements.
Naturally, this is teamwork and parts of the honor belong to the European Commission and other Member States, especially to Austria and Germany. We have had a good and constructive co-operation with everybody - also in times of very challenging situations.
I wish Germany the best of luck with the Presidency in the first half of next year. I am convinced that my friend Mr. Sigmar Gabriel and his team will run the Presidency environmental sector dynamically and effectively. Thank you all and - Merry Xmas, God Jul!
