European Union News - Environmnet

At the last month of the Danish Presidency of the Council, this presidency has been certified as sustainable under the new international ISO20121 standard for sustainable events. On the other hand, the Cyprus Presidency of the Council that will start in July 2012 has already a website where consult the priorities of this presidency.

The European Commission awarded projects from Sweden, Poland, Austria, and two transnational partnerships the RegioStars 2012 Awards. The projects are included in five prize categories for good practice in regional development to projects with EU co-investment.

The debate held by ministers at the Council meeting of 18 of June shows a broadly support to the principle that the CAP should significantly contribute to addressing the challenges concerning environment. However the Council is divided on setting a threshold in recital 28 of the rural development proposal. On the other hand, Ministers approved the conclusions on the protection and welfare of animals.

The contribution of renewable energy up to 12.4% of energy consumption in the EU in 2010 according to Eurostat. In addition, highest share of renewables were recorded in Sweden, Latvia, Finland, Austria and Portugal. The figures has been published in the framework of the EU Sustainable Energy Week that will take place until 22 of June.

The European Commission opened the process to find the city that will win the European Green Capital title in 2015. This annual award is intended to spur European cities to become more attractive and healthy places – “fit for life”. This year Vitoria-Gasteiz is the European Green Capital and Nantes will be it in 2013.

Negotiators from the Council and MEPs reached a provisional agreement on the proposed energy efficiency directive. Under the agreement, Member States will set themselves indicative national targets and save energy in specific ways, such as renovating buildings and stipulating the size of energy savings to be delivered by utilities.

Acuamed, the Spanish public corporation “Aguas de las Cuencas Mediterráneas” has been granted with the first instalment (€350 million) of a total loan of up to €500 million by the European Investment Bank (EIB). In particular, the loan will finance investments in the water supply, wastewater treatment and environmental protection in Spain’s five Mediterranean river basins.

Member States are preparing for the roll-out of the smart metering systems, and therefore, the Commission has presented a Recommendation to them on preparations for the roll-out of smart metering systems. The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) welcomed such recommendation but regrets that the Commission has not provided more specific, more comprehensive and practical guidance in the Recommendation itself.

The conclusions adopted by the Council on the proposal for a 7th EU Environment Action Programme call for an ambitious and compelling 2050 vision for an inclusive, green and competitive European economy, safeguarding the environment and health for present and future generations. At the Council meeting, the European Commission confirmed its intention to present a proposal for a 7th EAP before the end of 2012.

With only a few weeks to go before the United Nations holds its second conference on sustainable development, Rio+20, the Committee of the Regions (CoR) argues that sustainable cities be placed at the heart of roadmap for sustainable development and be one of the global post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Communication presented by the European Commission calls for a more coordinated European approach in the establishment and reform of support schemes and an increased use of renewable energy trading among Member States. In addition, it also indicates four main areas where efforts should be stepped up until 2020 to achieve EU renewable energy goals whilst being cost-efficient.