European Union News - Environmnet

The European Commission has published a report on the progress of Member States in addressing water scarcity and droughts. Despite more rainfall in southern European countries in 2009 than in previous years, greater efforts are still needed to stop and reverse the over-exploitation of Europe's limited water resources

The Commission intends to act on the scientific advice it receives on the state of fish stocks when proposing catch limits and quotas for next year with the aim of bringing EU fishing limits back to sustainable levels in 2011, in line with the EU's international commitments and recommendations from the authoritative science bodies which advice the Commission.

Spanish city of Gijon is hosting this year the activities of European Maritime Day. A three day conference, an exhibition and other acts are part of the programme for this event.

Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the European Investment Bank (EIB) and European Development Finance Institutions (EDFI) will establish a joint climate change fund after the signing of a memorandum of understanding for the Interact Climate Change

A new initiative from the Committee of the Regions (CoR) will help signatories of the Covenant of Mayors turn their commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions into a concrete reality.

More than 500 European mayors will commit to cut CO2 emissions by more than 20% by 2020. By signing the Covenant of Mayors, they pledge to save energy, foster renewable energy and raise awareness among their citizens. They will sign the declaration in the presence of EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso and José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Prime Minister of Spain.

The European Commission and the Spanish Presidency are organising a major Stakeholder Conference on the Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy in La Coruña, Spain. Representatives from European institutions, national administrations, the fisheries sector, the scientific community and non-governmental organisations will attend and the conference is open to the press.

The European Commission has published a Eurobarometer survey showing that an overwhelming majority of Europeans would find it useful to have European legislation on radioactive waste management. The concern for the safety risk related to radioactive waste is shared both in countries with nuclear power plants and those with no nuclear energy.

This strategy is laid down in a Communication, tabled by the European Commission today. It delivers on the consensus between Member States and European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani's commitment to move on from short-term recovery measures to a medium-term orientation that strengthens the competitiveness of the European automotive industry by linking it to clean technologies. The strategy also contributes to the Europe 2020 objectives of smart and sustainable growth. It contains an Action Plan composed of concrete and ambitious measures to be implemented by the Commission.

The OJEU of April 2o, 2010, has published Commission's decision that allows it to become a partner of the Global Bioenergy Partnership, an organization that brings together public, private and civil society stakeholders in a joint commitment to promote bioenergy for sustainable development.

Johannes Hahn, European Commissioner for Regional Policy, will put the spotlight on the development of a European Strategy for the Danube Region, as closing speaker of a major conference, taking place next week 19 to 21 April in Vienna (Austria) and Bratislava (Slovakia). This conference is the third in a series of broad consultation events aimed at shaping plans for the Strategy, which seeks to improve environmental conditions and develop the huge economic potential of the Danube Region.

Over the next 4 years, more than 60 researchers from 15 countries will work together to improve the coastal management of the Mediterranean Sea. For the first time under the one research agenda, the EU-funded project will undertake an all-inclusive study of the sea, its coasts and marine ecosystems in a bid to build consensus on the future governance and prosperity of the ailing basin.