European Union News - Environmnet

The European Commission adopted two implementing decisions on the best available techniques (BAT) conclusions on industrial emissions from iron and steel production and glass manufacture and the full BAT reference documents. These conclusions define the reference for setting the permit conditions for these installations in Europe.

The European Commission launched a public consultation with the aim at gathering views with regard to the priority objectives that the EU has to follow the EU until 2020 on the environmental action policy.

The Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Member States endorsed the compromise text previously agreed by the Council and the Parliament to tighten the requirements of the Seveso directive in order to prevent accidents with hazardous chemicals such as fireworks. This decision paves the way towards its formal adoption by the Council.

Eurostat published figures on the amount of municipal waste generated by Member States which show that 486 kg of municipal waste was treated person while 502 kg of municipal waste was generated per person in the EU. The municipal waste was treated in 2010 in different ways, being landfilled, the most commonly used way.

The latest Eurobarometer survey published by the European Commission pointed out that SMEs are creating green jobs. In 2012, almost 13% of all SME jobs were green jobs while in large firms it was only 1 in 33 equivalent to 3% of all large company jobs. Nonetheless, the findings from this survey also reveal that less than a quarter of SMEs take advantage of the single market for green products or services.

The European Commission announced the European Business Awards for the Environment 2012 nominees which include companies from Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, Austria, Portugal, Slovakia, Finland and the United Kingdom. The winners will be announced at the a ceremony in the framework of the Green Week that will take place on 24 of May 2012.

The proposed new rules intend to ensure that European ships are only recycled in facilities that are safe for workers and environmentally sound. In particular, the Commission proposes a system of survey, certification and authorisation for large commercial seagoing European vessels, covering their whole life cycle from construction to operation and recycling.

Mayors and President of the Regions from all EU Member States adopted the “Copenhagen Declaration”. The Declaration expresses the political will of European cities and regions to achieve a sustainable urban development. Moreover, cities and regions called upon the European Union to share its best practices.

The Commission presented a new interactive web-based tool on adaptation to climate change. CLIMATE-ADAPT has been developed with the support of the European scientific and policy making community, and will help users to access, disseminate and integrate information. It is hosted and managed by the European Environment Agency (EEA).

According to a Eurobarometer survey, 73% of Europeans think that the EU should propose additional measures to address water problems in Europe, and 68% of citizens think that water-related problems as droughts, floods and chemical pollution are serious. In addition, heavier fines for polluters, a fairer pricing policy or financial incentives (tax breaks or subsidies) also gained support as possible solutions.

MEPs at the Environment Committee adopted a resolution in which call for setting up as a high political priority restoring ecosystems after knowing the EU has failed to meet its 2010 biodiversity target. In addition, they also stress that the CAP is not only a tool for food provision and rural development, but also for biodiversity conservation.