EC’s 2000 Work Programme shows an environmental bent

Romano Prodi, president of the EC, spent a considerable portion of his Work Programme for 2000 speech to the European Parliament on 14 March detailing progress in environmental policy that is expected over the coming months.
“Europe has to reconcile environmental protection with social progress and economic development, and our continuing concern is to ensure that environmental considerations are integrated into all European policies,” said Prodi. He went on to mention the recently-published White Paper on environmental liability and the consultation process that is underway on EU Climate Change Policy.
Efforts to reduce overfishing will be given priority this year, says Prodi: “We shall also make every effort to conclude a mutually beneficial fisheries agreement with Morocco and we shall review, consolidate and simplify Europe’s fisheries legislation which currently consists of more than 20 regulations.”
A strategy paper on the future of energy generation, and how renewables will fit into the energy mix, is also promised as is continued work on sustainable transport and safer marine transport to protect against spills – like the Erika spill off the coast of France at the end of last year.