European Union News - Environmnet

Further to the launch of LIFE+ 2009 Call on May 2009, the European Commission has approved funding for 210 new projects. These projects, which represent a total investment 515 M€ of which the EU will provide 249.8 M€, will cover actions in the three fields targeted by the Call.

In order to support the testing phase for the reference framework for sustainable cities, the Commission intends to contract technical assistance to organize the services and procedures in this phase, which will involve between 50 and 70 selected cities. Interested parties may submit their proposals to the Commission until September 15.

The European Commission has published in the Official Journal its Recommendation of 13 July 2010 on guidelines for the development of national co-existence measures to avoid the unintended presence of GMOs in conventional and organic crops. The objective of co-existence measures is to prevent the potential economic loss and impact of the admixture of GM and non-GM crops (including organic crops).

The European Commission has approved a proposal for a Council Regulation on State aid to facilitate the closure of loss-making hard coal mines in the EU by 1st October 2014. The Commission's objective is to establish the appropriate mechanisms to facilitate the closure of non competitive mines, ensuring the lowest possible social impact. This measure would affect a sector currently employing 100.000 people in Europe.

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution calling the Commission to propose a strategy involving botgh legislative and non-legislative measures to encourage green jobs. MEPs consider in its resolution that crisis should be addressed as an opportunity for the creation of new formulas for  sustainable growth, and that training and education systems must be tailored to match these new types of work.

The draft Regulation lays down the rules for auctioning emission allowances valid for the third trading period of the EU ETS starting in 2013 as well as allowances to be used by aircraft operators already as from 2012. The Commission will now submit the draft Regulation to the European Parliament and the Council for a three-month scrutiny period.

According to a recent study financed by the European Commission, biodiversity can provide a substantial business opportunity in a market that could be worth between 2 and 6 trillion USD by 2050. The report highlights the considerable recent growth in eco-certified products and services and growing consumer concerns for sustainable production, established seven recommendations for companies and calls for the elaboration of common standards to assess biodiversity impacts.

As established by the Lisbon Treaty, the European Union succeeds the European Community. It  is therefore required that the EU concludes now the Statute of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). To that effect, the OJEU of July 13th publishes the Council Decision by which the president of the Council is authorised to designate the person empowered to deposit the instrument of ratification.

The waters around Europe are being increasingly depleted of their marine resources because of overfishing. This is threatening not only ecosystems, but also the fishing sector and local communities.