Billy Kelleher
Ceist:174. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his priorities for the EU Presidency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5573/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 5 February 2013
Ceisteanna (174)
Freagraí scríofa
My Department’s EU Presidency priorities fall under three broad headings – strategy, legislation and the international agenda.
On strategy, my main focus is on the 7 Environment Action Programme which sets out the priority objectives for EU environment policy for the next ten years. I am aiming to achieve First Reading Agreement on this dossier. The second policy priority will be the European Climate Adaptation Strategy. Following the expected publication of a proposal by the Commission in March 2013, I am aiming to agree Council conclusions at the June 2013 Environment Council meeting.
I will also be prioritising a range of legislation aimed at protecting Europe’s natural resources and environment and will seek First Reading Agreements on the following dossiers:priority Substances in Water; batteries; CO2 emissions from new cars and vans; ship Recycling, and two amendments to the Emissions Trading Scheme, in relation to backloading and aviation.
I also intend to progress a number of other key files, particularly those on fluorinated greenhouse gases, the LIFE programme, the recast of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive, and the proposed Directive on Indirect Land-Use Change.
The Presidency also has a significant international environmental agenda in four priority areas. Firstly, the final round of negotiations took place in mid January at the fifth session of the UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC5) in Geneva, where agreement was reached on a global, legally binding instrument on mercury. Secondly, there will be the follow up to the outcome of the Doha Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Thirdly, there will be the follow-up to the Rio+20 Conference on sustainable development and, lastly, “back to back” meetings will take place in Geneva during a two-week period in April/May 2013 regarding the three UN Waste and Chemicals Conventions – the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions. In all of these areas, the Irish Presidency will be playing a leading role on behalf of the EU.
Finally, as evidenced in the recently published Presidency programme, Ireland will be pursuing an ambitious green theme running throughout its Presidency. Resource efficiency, sustainable development and the advancement of the green economy, with a particular focus on green jobs, will all feature across a range of Council formations. This process will be assisted by way of environmental input into the European Semester, building on the work already done by the Cypriot Presidency.
Ireland’s Presidency agenda in relation to Biodiversity matters, at EU and international level, is being led by my colleague the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.