European Union News - Environmnet

Almost two out of three of Europeans consider that the quality of water in their country is a serious problem, according to a special Eurobarometer survey on Europeans' opinion on water issues published by the European Commission. The report also shows that Europeans see the quantity of available water as an equally serious problem. More than a third of Europeans feel that over the last five years the quality of rivers, lakes and coastal waters has deteriorated. Industry and agriculture are seen as having the biggest impact on the quality and quantity of water in their country and an overwhelming majority of Europeans think climate change will have an impact on water resources.

On Monday the European Commission will officially launch a guide on the hunting of wild birds to ensure the activity is carried out in accordance with EU nature legislation. It aims to clarify the hunting requirements of the EU's oldest nature law, the Wild Birds Directive, which celebrates its 30th anniversary on the 2nd of April 2009. This is one of the key tools in helping achieve the EU's objective of halting biodiversity loss. The guide on sustainable hunting be launched at an official ceremony in Paris by the French Environment Minister Jean-Louis Borloo and the Director General of the Commission's Directorate General for Environment, Karl Falkenberg.

MEPs adopted a resolution on the occasion of the V World Water Forum to be held in Istanbul from 16 to March 22. MEPs call for the removal of global subsidies to the distribution of water, because they are leading to artificially low prices and to overexploitation of resources. Moreover, MEPs want the problem of water management and water resources to included in the agenda of the conference on climate change in Copenhagen.

The European Commission's cooperation office, EuropeAid, will hold its first ever "Auction Floor" conference in Brussels on March 13th 2009. A total of 86 projects aiming at protecting biodiversity, conserving forests and promoting sustainable energy as well as fighting climate change, desertification in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe will be presented.

The "Erika III" package, aimed at protecting Europe's coasts from maritime disasters and improving passenger and crew safety, was adopted by the European Parliament on March 11th 2009. The eight regulations and directives will tighten safety requirements for ships flying an EU Member State flag or navigating in European waters and thus help prevent disasters such as the Erika and Prestige shipwrecks from spoiling European coasts.

The Council of Economics and Finance Ministers, ECOFIN, met in Brussels between March 9th and 10th 2009. During this meeting, which was focused on discussions over the economic situation and outlook in the euro area, in light of the recent economic and financial developments, the Council reached a political agreement on the use of reduced rates of value-added tax (VAT) in certain sectors. Council also endorsed terms of reference for the EU's participation in the meeting of G-20 finance ministers and central bank governors on March 14th that will prepare the April London G-20 summit.

Danuta Hübner, European Commissioner for Regional Policy, announced on March 9th 2009 that 105 billion Euro will be invested in the "green economy" through the EU Cohesion Policy. The funding, which represents more than 30% of the regional policy budget for 2007-2013, offers a solid platform for job creation and a significant boost for regions and cities in their quest to maintain Europe's global leadership in the field of green technologies.

The European Chemicals Agency has announced a conference related to EU Regulation on Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) of substances and mixtures based on the UN Globally Harmonised System (GHS). The conference will take place in Brussels on the 17 June 2009.

The Commission has published the General Report on the activities of the European Union in 2008. Last year was marked in particular by the global financial crisis, climate change and international conflict, all of which brought rapid and effective European reaction that pushed the Union to the forefront of the world political stage. The key institutional event of the year was the process of ratifying the Lisbon Treaty, which faltered in spring with the 'no' vote in the Irish referendum, but was revived at the European Council in December.

Joe Borg, Commissioner in charge of maritime affairs and fisheries, opened on February 26th 2009 an EU-wide debate on how to improve maritime spatial planning across the European Union. The Commission believes that a common approach across the EU and closer coordination between Member States could cut administrative procedures and provide a stable legal framework for investors.

European Commissioner for Science and Research, Janez Potočnik, has announced at a ceremony in Brussels that the Swedish capital will be European Green Capital in 2010 followed by Hamburg in 2011. The European Commission's new award scheme encourages cities to improve the quality of urban life by taking the environment systematically into account in urban planning