European Union News - Environmnet

EU will ban cadmium in jewellery, brazing sticks and all plastics from December 2011. The reason behind this prohibition is that consumers including children risked being exposed to cadmium through skin contact or through licking. The ban on cadmium in jewellery will protect consumers, in particular children. It is equally good for the environment, as cadmium-free plastics will help to reduce pollution.

The European Commission is seeking views from the public on how best to reduce the use of plastic carrier bags. Opinions will also be asked on increasing the visibility of biodegradable packaging products, and boosting the biodegradability requirements for packaging.

EU ETS emissions increased in 2010 but remain well below pre-crisis level according to the Commission. To the Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard, the emissions increase in 2010 reflects the economic recovery, but even after the economy coming back to normal, the EU ETS emissions remain well below the cap for the 2008-2012 trading period.

The "stress tests" are a set of additional safety criteria drawn up in the light of the nuclear accident in Fukushima. In addition to safety standards already being in place at national level, the EU will start nuclear stress tests. Their aim is to assess whether the safety margins used in the licensing of nuclear power plants were sufficient to cover unexpected events.

The outcome of the survey done in February by the European Parliament shows that EU citizens want measures to cut energy bills, integrate energy networks EU-wide, and make the 20% energy savings by 2020 target binding. However they are less eager to invest in house insulation or eco-friendly cars when these measures are not subsidized.

The Commission presented a new strategy to protect and improve the state of Europe's biodiversity over the next decade. The strategy includes six targets and accompanying actions to greatly reduce the threats to biodiversity.

The European Commission adopted a Decision on how free emission allowances should be allocated from 2013 but a proportion of free allowances will still be given to industry until 2020. This is aimed to reduce costs for installations in sectors deemed to be exposed to significant competition from outside the EU.

"Solar Decathlon Europe”, the project from Autonomous University of Madrid, is the winner in the  category of communication of the annual Sustainable Energy Europe Awards 2011, organized in the framework of the EU Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW), held from 11 to 15 April.

According to a report presented by the European Commission, there are current limitations in assessing the socio-economic implications of “cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops” in the European Union. The report, based on information principally provided by Member States, reveals that the existing information is often statistically limited and that it is frequently based on already preconceived ideas about GMO cultivation. The Commission also presents an analysis of the socio-economic dimensions of GMO cultivation as reported in the international scientific literature and in the conclusions of research projects funded under the European Framework Programme for Research.

MEPs from the Environment Committee approved a report in which consider that to allow EU countries to ban or restrict the use of GMOs (genetically modified organisms) on environmental grounds, giving them better legal protection in the event of challenges from trading partners opposed to a ban.

The European Commission has presented its proposal to overhaul -today outdated- rules on the taxation of energy products in the European Union. The revised Energy Taxation Directive will allow Member States to make the best possible use of taxation and support "sustainable growth".    Besides, it will favour renewable energy sources and encourage the consumption of energy sources emitting less CO2.