EU: German Presidency welcomes green challenge from NGOs

Issue

Target for Presidency

Environmental Tax Reform

• An intensive EU-level debate about the potential of environmental tax reform on the EU level involving all EU Member States and the relevant stakeholders in society.
• Adoption of the so-called Monti Directive as a first step. Limitation of the sectoral and temporal exemptions in the proposal.
• No postponement or cancelling of the abolition of tax-free shopping at airports and introduction of kerosene taxes/emission charges for aviation .

Environmental Policy Integration

• Discussions in ALL Councils on the consequences of the Cardiff conclusions for EU-legislation and policies, leading to strategies and work programmes by the end of 1999.
• Active support to the development of targets, timetables, indicators, as well as of instruments by the Commission. Opening up of this discussion by organising a brainstorming/conference with representatives of civic organisations with special interest in sustainability, and scientists.
• Refusal to take under consideration any Commission proposal or policy initiative unless it is accompanied by an environmental appraisal and a statement of how the results of the appraisal have been incorporated.
• Appointment of a President of the European Commission with a proven track record for environment and sustainable development.

Agriculture and CAP reform

• Environmental conditions on side-payments to be obligatory.
• Strengthening of the environmental dimension of the rural development pillar.

Cohesion Policy

(Structural Funds)

• Ensured compliance with existing environmental legislation, combined with a pro-active aim to contribute to the reduction of resource use and pollution as well as the protection of biodiversity;
• Ensured rights and resources of environmental authorities and citizens organisations in project design, implementation and assessment.
• Inclusion of a broader concept of cost-benefit analysis for projects, including a method to assess the external costs and benefits and the requirement of full strategic environmental assessment.

Enlargement

• Integration of environmental concerns into the entire negotiations process. Ensure strong involvement of environmental experts of both Member States and accession countries as well as DG-XI.
• A public discussion in the Environmental Council about the progress made in the accession process, the needs to ensure that environmental conditions will not deteriorate in agriculture, biodiversity etc, and ensure that all pre-accession aid is positive for environment and sustainable development.
• Publication of the results of the environmental screening process and organisation of public consultations.

Strategic Environmental Assessment

• A common position of the Environment Council including the amendments from the European Parliament.

Integrated Product Policies

• Revision of the Chemicals Policy to improve the control of hazardous substances.
• Waste prevention and full producers responsibility as key elements of product and waste management policies.

Environmental Liability

• Mandate for the Commission to develop a Directive for strict environmental liability.

Water Framework Directive

• Revision of the political agreement reached in June: establishment of precise targets or goals, reduction of periods for implementation, determination of quality objectives on the precautionary approach and integration of the polluter pays principle.

Large Combustion Plants

• Inclusion of existing plants in the new Directive