Transcript Presentation by Martin Bursik

Environment Work
Programme
8 January 2009
Environment Programme
presentation - Prague, 8 Jan 2009
Czech Presidency 2009
Motto „Europe without Barriers“
Key issues – „3E“:

Economy - Competitiveness, the Four
Freedoms, and Liberal Trade Policy

Energy and climate change

Europe – open and secure
Environment Programme
presentation - Prague, 8 Jan 2009
Main environment priorities
1. Climate change
2. Protection of human health and the
environment
3. Sustainable consumption and production
4. Biodiversity protection
Environment Programme
presentation - Prague, 8 Jan 2009
Climate change
Negotiations with key global partners
Negotiations with key global partners - outreach activities with the
USA, China, Brazil, India, Japan and others be carried out in Troika
format; participation at G8, G20, MEM and other fora. The objective of
CZ PRES is to prepare necessary elements for reaching an agreement
in Copenhagen, December 2009 on binding targets of keeping the rise of
the average global temperature below 2 degrees Celsius (IPCC
recommendation)

Agreement at EU level on the financial arrangements = EU
contribution to the envisaged agreement in Copenhagen

Adaptation to Climate Change - debate on approaches and
instruments across Europe at informal Council

Environment Programme
presentation - Prague, 8 Jan 2009
Protection of human health and the environment
Industrial emissions and integrated prevention and
pollution control
The objective is to widen the scale of the sectors included, esp.
combustion installations 20 – 50 MW, waste and waste water treatment
as well as production of wood-based panels

It is necessary to intensify the role of the Best Available Techniques by
the clarification of the role of the BAT reference documents (BREFs)

Some competences of the European Comission in the proposal would
go to the national level (subsidiarity principle)

We aim to reach a political agreement on the EU Environment Council
level on the Directive on Industrial Emmissions (IPPC)

Environment Programme
presentation - Prague, 8 Jan 2009
Protection of human health and the environment
National emission ceilings (NEC)
After the agreement on climate/energy package we requested the European
Commission to submit the proposal on revision of the NEC directive to start
negotiations soon

High importance for all member states - air quality is one of the most serious
problems of the European environment

New emission ceilings for NOx, SO2, VOC and NH3 related to 2020 are needed
to reduce acidification, eutrophication and ground-level ozone. Particle air
pollution is very problematic and has significant health impacts. Therefore we
particularly welcome that the directive will include also emission caps for PM2,5.

We want to start the discussion and have a policy debate in June Environment
Council.

Environment Programme
presentation - Prague, 8 Jan 2009
Protection of human health and the environment
Ozone depleting substances (ODS)
The main objective of the Recast is to simplify and to streamline the
Regulation to remove obsolete sections and to address future challenges

Revised regulation will limit the extent of exceptions for certain ODS
(i.e. methylbromide or CFCs in laboratories).

Ban four new ODS not covered by the Montreal Protocol (risk of future
increases in consumption) will be introduced

Objective: to achieve first reading agreement with the European
Parliament or at least political agreement in the Council.

Environment Programme
presentation - Prague, 8 Jan 2009
Protection of human health and the environment
Waste management
We will discuss the issue of management of bio-waste based on
Commission’s Green Paper and adopt Council Conclusions to guide followup work (including legislative) in this area.

Aiming to unify bio-waste management practice in the EU member states
(eg. emission limits, technical requirements, etc.).

The Commission has proposed revision of two directives concerning
WEEE (waste electric and electronic equipments), including proposals for
new collection targets. We will open discussion on this issue in the 2nd half
of our Presidency.

We will discuss at March Environment Council also the situation on the
recycled waste market in light of the global economic crisis.

Environment Programme
presentation - Prague, 8 Jan 2009
Protection of human health and the environment
International level - chemicals
We will do utmost at the 25th UNEP Governing Council meeting in
February in Nairobi to reach an agreement on the need of legally binding
instrument on mercury to reduce its negative impact to the environment
and health worldwide.

We will also head the EU delegation at the Stockholm Convention 4th
COP in May in Geneva. Main task of the conference will be listing new
substances into Annexes of the Convention (POPs Review Committee
recommends 9 new substances to be incuded).

The International Conference on Chemicals Management (SAICM) in
Geneva is to také stock in progress and give guidance for future
implementation of the sound chemicals management globally.

Environment Programme
presentation - Prague, 8 Jan 2009
Sustainable Consumption and Production
Revision of Ecolabelling Scheme
The aim is to give a real chance and opportunity to EU citizens and
consumers to choose green in much larger scale of products

Simplification of procedures, lowering costs and higher cohesion
among the European scheme and national ones will help producers to
participate on the ecolabelling program

Objective: To achieve the first reading agreement with the European
Parliament or at least political agreement in the Council.

Environment Programme
presentation - Prague, 8 Jan 2009
Sustainable Consumption and Production
Revision of EMAS Regulation
Now we have about 6000 EMAS certified organisations in the EU.
Revised Regulation could result in 17 000 more organisations certified
by 2015

Revision should bring simplification of annual auditing of certified
organisations but also strenghten the role of inspectional bodies.

Revised Regulation will bring new instrument for enterprises –
reference documents which can be used then as well understandable
guidelines ; the general objective is to raise attractivity of the instrument.

Objective: to achieve first reading agreement with the European
Parliament or at least political agreement in the Council.

Environment Programme
presentation - Prague, 8 Jan 2009
Biodiversity Protection
Soil Directive
Efficient protection of soil is closely connected to the human health,
maintaining biodiversity and fighting climate change (both adaptation and
mitigation) – CZ PRES favours adoption of the Soil Directive.

We need common rules how to manage the soil to protect it against
erosion, contamination and other degradation.

We aim to reach a political agreement of the EU member states by
trying to find mutually acceptable compromises on remaining sensitive
issues (e.g. soil contamination).

Environment Programme
presentation - Prague, 8 Jan 2009
Biodiversity Protection
Trading in Seal Products
Despite of absence of seals in the Czech environment, we have a very
long and succesful tradition in nature and biodiversity protection.

Therefore we can serve as a good and independent moderator of the
negotiations on this Regulation in the Council and with the European
Parliament.

Czech Presidency aims to reach a first reading agreement between the
Council and the Parliament.

Environment Programme
presentation - Prague, 8 Jan 2009
Important Events :
Towards eEnvironment Conference

25th - 27th March 2009, Prague
Wilderness Conference

27th - 29th May 2009, Prague
Informal Environment Council

12th - 13th June 2009, Prague
THANK YOU!