Agenda
6-10 February
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Feb7
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Feb8
Welcome. My name is Janez Potočnik and I am European Commissioner for the Environment. Making sure our environment is fit for the future is one of the toughest challenges of all... I hope you can see here what we're doing to try to meet that challenge.
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News
08/02/2012: Statement by Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik following the 4th EU-China Environment Policy Dialogue
Following the 4th EU-China Environment Policy Dialogue in Brussels, Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik concluded: "Our fruitful discussions today show that there is increasing convergence between EU and China when it comes to environmental protection. As we are both looking to move away from global economic slowdown to renewed economic growth, we realise that our growth model should not lead us into another crisis for not respecting the planet's boundaries. It's not only the economy - it's what kind of economy that counts. I am confident that the EU and China will build on this positive agenda at their Summit in Bejing next Tuesday, including on areas such as international climate action.
08/02/2012: "Sustainable Consumption and Production as a Vehicle for Green Growth"
Speech by Commissioner Janez POTOČNIK, Seminar on the results of SWITCH-Asia and its applicability to other regions in the world, Brussels.
08/02/2012: SWITCH-Asia –promoting sustainable consumption and production in Asia
Today marks the European Launch of the UN Year of Sustainable Energy for All. Following a two-day seminar on SWITCH-Asia, a grants programme funded through the EU Development Cooperation Instrument, Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik and Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs concluded: “This year's Rio +20 Conference will put sustainable consumption and production and the green economy in the spotlight as key priorities for development, and SWITCH-Asia underlines how these objectives can work in practice. With its projects that help businesses and consumers go green, the programme presents practical, tangible examples of shifting from analysis to action. The Commission will now build on these successes and roll out the programme to other regions of the world as part of its effort to promote Sustainable Consumption and Production globally. SWITCH-Asia gives us a glimpse of the overall vision of sustainability we need for the 21st century at home and abroad.”
07/02/2012: "Go sustainable, be responsible!"
Speech by Commissioner Janez POTOČNIK, European civil society on the road to Rio+20, Conference at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Brussels
02/02/2012: World Wetland Day 2012
Today we celebrate World Wetland Day – and focus on Europe's rich heritage of wetlands: lakes and rivers, swamps and marshes, wet grasslands and peatlands, estuaries, deltas, tidal flats and so on.
01/02/2012: Commission wants your views on how we can produce and consume more sustainably
By 2050 the global population is set to reach 9 billion people and worldwide demand for food, feed and fibre is forecast to increase by 70%. To thrive in that context, economies will need to use natural resources in a far more efficient manner. The way we consume and produce will be key to Europe's success or failure in this process. This is why the Commission intends to revise the EU's Consumption and Production policies and has launched a public consultation that will remain open until 3 April.
31/01/2012: Environment and Water: proposal to reduce water pollution risks
Improvements in water quality in the EU could be at risk from new forms of chemical pollution. The Commission is proposing to add 15 chemicals to the list of 33 pollutants that are monitored and controlled in EU surface waters. This is another step towards improving the quality of our river, lake and coastal waters. The 15 substances include industrial chemicals as well as substances used in biocides, pharmaceuticals and plant protection products. They have been selected on the basis of scientific evidence that they may pose a significant risk to health.
31/01/2012: Proposal for a revised directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on Priority Substances in the field of water quality
Priority Substances are chemical pollutants that pose a significant risk to (or via) the aquatic environment at EU level. There are currently 33 of these Priority Substances listed in Annex X of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Member States have to monitor their concentrations in surface waters and meet the Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) set for them within a certain timeline, unless they meet conditions that allow them to apply exemptions.
26/01/2012: Statement of Commissioner Potočnik after the meeting with the Italian Minister Corrado Clini
In yesterday's meeting with the Italian environment minister Clini, we also discussed the issue of gas terminals in Trieste bay. He informed me that the Italian government favours a comprehensive and partnership approach to address the energy strategy in the Northern Adriatic, taking into account environmental and other concerns. I welcome the fact that Italy has announced its wish to discuss the issue together with their neighbours, Slovenia and Croatia. Such a decision is fully in line with my recommendation that all three neighbouring countries seek comprehensive solutions to environmental challenges in this region. At the beginning of my mandate, I called upon Slovenia and Italy to try and find a mutually acceptable agreement on this issue. Throughout the discussions, the European Commission has facilitated the process by offering technical support. The cooperation between the countries, which share the privilege and responsibility of sustainable management of the Adriatic, is in our common interest and I hope that talks can commence soon.
26/01/2012: Commission urges Germany to comply with EU waste legislation
The European Commission is taking action against Germany for failing to meet the deadline for transposing the Waste Framework Directive into national law, which should have been in place since 12 December 2010. On the recommendation of Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik, the Commission is sending Germany a reasoned opinion. If Germany fails to adopt and communicate the necessary legislation within two months, the Commission may refer the case to the EU Court of Justice and ask for financial penalties.
26/01/2012: Commission urges Poland to comply with nature protection rules
The European Commission is warning Poland over a breach of nature protection legislation. The case concerns a failure to assess the environmental impact of open-cast mining in a Natura 2000 conservation area at Goplo Lake in North Central Poland. On the recommendation of Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik, the Commission is sending a reasoned opinion and asking Poland to comply within two months. If it fails to do so, the Commission may refer the case to the EU Court of Justice.
26/01/2012: Commission urges Italy to comply with extractive mining waste rules
The European Commission is asking Italy to bring its national legislation into line with European norms on extractive mining waste. On the recommendation of Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik, the Commission is sending a reasoned opinion and asking Italy to comply within two months. If it fails to do so, the Commission may refer the cases to the EU Court of Justice.
26/01/2012: Commission asks Italy to strengthen laws on environmental liability
The Commission is concerned that Italy has incorrectly implemented EU legislation on environmental liability, leading to insufficient protection for Italian citizens. On the recommendation of Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik, the Commission is sending Italy an additional reasoned opinion to ask it to adjust its national legislation accordingly. If Italy fails to reply within two months, the Commission may refer the case to the European Court of Justice.
26/01/2012: Commission asks France to comply with European packaging waste legislation
The European Commission is concerned that France has incorrectly implemented the definition of packaging and packaging waste in its national law, as required by EU waste legislation. On the recommendation of Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik, the Commission is sending France a reasoned opinion to ask it to amend its national legislation accordingly. If France fails to reply within two months, the Commission may refer the case to the European Court of Justice.
26/01/2012: Commission urges Cyprus and Greece to clean up waste landfills
The European Commission is urging Greece and Cyprus to comply with the requirements of EU landfill legislation in Cyprus and on the Greek islands of Zakynthos and Corfu. Landfills operating in breach of EU waste legislation constitute a serious threat to human health and the environment. On the recommendation of Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik, the Commission is sending reasoned opinions and asking Greece and Cyprus to comply within two months. If they fail to do so the Commission may decide to refer the cases to the EU Court of Justice.
26/01/2012: Commission urges Belgium and Luxemburg to comply with EU water legislation
The European Commission is sending a reasoned opinion to Belgium and Luxemburg for their failure to transpose EU water legislation into national law. Neither Member State has notified the Commission about the transposition of Directive 2009/90/EC on technical specifications for chemical analysis and monitoring of water status, which should have been in place by 1 August 2011. On the recommendation of Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik, the Commission is sending reasoned opinions and asking Belgium and Luxemburg to comply within two months. If they fail to do so, the Commission may refer the cases to the EU Court of Justice and ask for immediate financial penalties.
20/01/2012: Statement on the new Regulation on biocides
Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik welcomed the boost to human health and environmental protection brought by the adoption of the new Biocides Regulation in the European Parliament yesterday. Thanks to the combined efforts of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission, the new Regulation will significantly increase the safety and simplify the authorisation procedure of biocidal products used and placed on the market in the European Union.
19/01/2012: Statement on the new directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)
Today's decision by the European Parliament is good news for health of our citizens, Europe's competitiveness, and the environment. In these challenging times of economic change and rising prices for raw materials, resource efficiency is where environmental benefits and innovative growth opportunities for European industry come together.
13/01/2012: Waste – a short cut to job creation and lower costs
Full implementation of EU waste legislation would save €72 billion a year, increase the annual turnover of the EU waste management and recycling sector by €42 billion and create over 400,000 jobs by 2020 according to a European Commission study published today. Illegal waste operations in Member States are causing missed opportunities for economic growth, but stronger national inspections and better knowledge about waste management would bring major improvements.
19/12/2011: Statement following the Environment Council
Maintaining and restoring agriculture and forest biodiversity is a precondition to attaining our biodiversity objectives. We have already identified specific problems in agriculture, fisheries, forestry and related targets and actions in the Biodiversity Strategy.
16/12/2011: Preparation Environment Council, 19 December 2011
The final Environment Council under the Polish Presidency will be held on 19 December in Brussels. Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik and Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard will represent the European Commission. The Council is expected to adopt conclusions on two issues: the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, adopted in May this year, and on the Roadmap to a Resource-Efficient Europe presented by the Commission in September. Among the Any Other Business (AOB) points, the Commission will present its proposal for a new LIFE fund for environment and climate for the period 2014-2020, which aims at a significant budget increase, expands the current support for climate action and introduces Integrated Projects.
