Environment
Last formal Environment Council gives green light to Belgian priorities
The last formal European Environment Council in Brussels has completed a very busy agenda today under the presidency of Joke Schauvliege, the Flemish Minister for Environment, Nature and Culture. “All the priorities of the Belgian EU Presidency regarding Environment have been discussed. I am pleased about the results, especially since the Council has reached an agreement here in Brussels today about the use of biocidal products and the emission standards for light commercial vehicles”, says Minister Joke Schauvliege.
Press release
Close of the International Year of Biodiversity 2010
Within the framework of the Belgian Presidency and the International Year of Biodiversity, a conference day was organised at the Bois du Cazier. At the conference, the recent decisions taken at the Nagoya Summit and the new commitments of the EU and the stakeholders in Belgium extending beyond 2010 were discussed.
“New step in the right direction”
Joke Schauvliege – the Flemish Minister for Environment, Nature and Culture, who represented the European Union and the 27 Member States as chair of the European Environment Council at the COP-16 on Climate Change – is satisfied with the agreement reached at Cancún. “The result is a new step in the right direction. The active and unanimous position taken by the European Union – the 27 Member States and the Commission – has in all respects helped to bring the standpoints closer together.”
Cautious optimism after first week UN climate summit
The 16th UN summit on climate change began on Monday 29 November in Cancún (Mexico). After a week’s negotiations, the tone is cautiously positive. All countries want to avoid a confrontation and reach a balanced package of decisions. It is clear, however, that Cancún will not result in a coordinating binding agreement.
Environmental Lawyers and Commission discuss European Environmental Law
On 24 November 2010, the tenth NEEL conference on European environmental law was held. NEEL is the Network of European Environmental Lawyers. In the course of the conference it emerged that it is not always clear how the REACH regulation for chemicals should be applied. Participants also discussed the new Commission approach to regulation, which emphasises “smart” instead of “better”.
2.2 billion euros for combating climate change in developing countries
In 2010, the European Union and its member states contributed 2.2 billion euros to the ‘fast start’ financing. Fast start financing is a rapid form of financial aid for developing countries so that they are able to move quickly to continue combating climate change. This was announced by the EU on 30 November during an event at the UN Climate Summit in Cancún (Mexico).
Belgian SMEs share their stories: Eco-innovators in Europe
Celebrating the 9th ETAP-Forum, organized by the European Commission, on the financing of eco-innovation, (Brussels, November 29-30, 2010), the Belgian Presidency of the European Union stressed the role of eco-innovators as crucial actors to put Europe on track for resource-efficiency. Even though the financing of eco-innovation is essential, it is mainly the people who dare to engage into risky eco-innovation projects that create the breakthrough towards a more sustainable society.
Towards a genuine 7th Environmental Action Programme
The stakes were high: to discuss the future European environment policy for the next ten years. The European conference that has just come to an end was therefore of great importance.
Schauvliege: “Each step in the right direction is a step ahead”
Flemish Minister for Environment, Nature and Culture Joke Schauvliege will soon be departing to Cancún (Mexico) for the annual UN Summit on Climate Change. As chairwoman of the European Environment Council, she will be coordinating and defending the European climate position.