Portugal put to environmental test for EU Presidency

The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) – Europe’s largest federation of environmental citizens’ organizations – issued Ten Green Tests for Portugal’s six-month Presidency of the European Union, which began on 1 July.

John Hontelez, EEB’s secretary general, said: “The Portuguese Presidency is prioritising some important issues, such as biodiversity, water scarcity, and the marine environment.”

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 Portuguese Presidency, drawn up by EEB’s staff and Portuguese NGO members, presenting their principal ideas and most urgent demands.

The Ten Tests begin with a call for a ‘robust review’ of the EU’s Sustainable Development Strategy, which is on the December European Council’s agenda. EEB says it wants this to result in major environmental fiscal reform, and a review of the objectives of the Lisbon Process.

The ten tests are: