European Union News - Environmnet

The Directorate-General for Internal Policies, Directorate A: Economic and Scientific Policies has set up a tender in order to supply external expertise in different policy areas for total value of 2 Meuros.

The European Commission has publised on the Official Journal of the European Union september 26, 2008 a call for expressions of interest in membership in the scientific risk assessment Advisory Structure of Scientific Committees and database of experts. Closing date for submitting applications for membership in the Advisory Structure is 31 October 2008.

The decision adopted by the Industry Committee of the European Parliament on a vote held September 11th, 2008, would contribute to the EU's overall goal of ensuring that by 2020, renewables account for at least 20% of its total energy consumption.

Aiming to prepare the establishment of a network of projects to demonstrate the use of CCS technology in power plants, the Commission launched a call for tender for an external service provider to assist in establishing and running this network. The Call for Tender will be opened until October 6th, 2008.

The European Commission approved an extension of the aid from France and Italy to the experimental rolling motorway service between Aiton and Orbassano which uses the existing line between Lyon and Turin. The service is being operated by AFA – Autoroute Ferroviaire Alpine – from 2007 to 2009.

The European Commission published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) of September 10th, 2008, the Decision 2008/721/EC, setting up an advisory structure of Scientific Committees and experts in the field of consumer safety, public health and the environment. This Decision will repeal Decision 2004/210/EC.

On the 5th september it has been presented the main findings of IEA Review of the EU's Energy Policy. This is the first time that the IEA has made an in-depth analysis of European Energy Policy. The Review strongly endorses the broad outlines of the Commission's energy proposals tabled during the last year. 

MEPs have adopted a series of legislative reports concerning the classification, labelling and packing of substances and mixtures. The first-reading agreement concerns the implementation of the UN level agreed, GHS (Globally Harmonised System) on classification, labelling and packaging of hazardous substances into EU legislation.

The informal meeting of the transport ministers in La Rochelle provided an opportunity to discuss urban transport, the amendment of the 'Eurovignette' directive, maritime safety and 'motorways of the sea'.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is lending EUR 60 million for implementation of the water and sanitation projects of municipalities and cantons in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This will help to improve the quality of life of the country’s citizens and meet Bosnia and Herzegovina’s needs regarding future compliance with EU environmental legislation.

The EU's Community Independent Transaction Log (CITL) and Member State registries will be connected to the UN's International Transaction Log (ITL) before December 2008 at the latest. The link will mean carbon credits issued under the Clean Development Mechanism can be transferred to the registries of EU Member States.

The Official Journal of the European Union published on August 5th the Common Position adopted by the Council on June 6th with a view to adopting a Directive on port State control. This new Directive will recast Council Directive 95/21/EC of June 19th 1995, which has been amended in several occasions.