Environment Guides

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Safety standards for nuclear waste disposal - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 04 November 2010, 00:39 CET

The European Commission has proposed safety standards for disposing spent fuel and radioactive waste from nuclear power plants as well as from medicine or research. In the Directive put forward today, EU Member States are asked to present national programmes, indicating when, where and how they will construct and manage final repositories aimed at guaranteeing the highest safety standards. With the Directive internationally agreed safety standards become legally binding and enforceable in the European Union.

Cloning - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 19 October 2010, 17:27 CET

The European Commission has announced that it will propose a temporary suspension of animal cloning for food production in the EU. The Commission also plans to suspend temporarily the use of cloned farm animals and the marketing of food from clones. All temporary measures will be reviewed after five years. The establishment of a traceability system for imports of reproductive materials for clones, such as semen and embryos of clones is also envisaged. The system will allow farmers and industry to set up database with the animals that would emerge from these reproductive materials.

Illegal logging - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 07 October 2010, 00:07 CET

The European Union on 6 October signed the Voluntary Partnership Agreement with Cameroon, the largest African exporter of timber products to the EU. By July 2012, all shipments of wood products from Cameroon to the EU will be required to carry a license showing that they contain timber and wood products from a legal origin. This agreement expresses a strong joint commitment to eradicate illegal logging and underpins Cameroon’s ongoing reforms towards good governance of the forest sector and development. European consumers, for their part, will have confidence that wood products, such as furniture, imported from Cameroon are of legal origin.

Chemicals deadlines - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 22 September 2010, 12:25 CET

The chemicals deadlines: REACH places the responsibility on industry to manage the risks that chemicals can pose to human health and the environment. The REACH registration deadline is 30 November 2010. Companies have also to notify by 1 January 2011 the classification and labelling of the substances they place on the market to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), who will publish the information in the Classification & Labelling Inventory.

EU directive for the protection of animals used for scientific purposes: guide by EUbusiness — last modified 09 September 2010, 17:09 CET

The European Parliament has voted to revise legislation on animals used for scientific purposes. The revised legislation, first proposed by the European Commission in 2008, will strengthen the protection of animals still needed for research and safety testing. The new directive will also play a significant role in minimising the number of animals used in experiments, and require alternatives to be used where possible, whilst ensuring a level playing field for EU industry and enhancing the quality of research conducted in the EU.

Illegal logging and the FLEGT voluntary Partnership Agreement - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 15 July 2010, 15:10 CET

The report "Illegal Logging and Related Trade", prepared by international think tank Chatham House, documents progress made at the global level of combating illegal logging and improving forest governance in developing countries. The study is an attempt to measure global efforts to tackle illegal logging of consumer, processing and wood producing countries. It examines the response and actions taken in countries where illegal logging occurs and also in those countries which import, process and consume illegally sourced wood. In addition to measuring how illegal logging has changed over time, the report shows how attention to the problem has changed and how governments and the private sector have responded. It notably mentions the EU FLEGT agreements as one credible and useful tool. The EU's achievements in this area centre around the EU Action Plan for Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade Action Plan (FLEGT). They include the signature of voluntary agreements with Congo and Ghana, which will ensure that all wood products entering the European Union from these countries carry a licence showing that the wood they contain is of legal origin.

EU's new approach to the cultivation of GMOs - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 13 July 2010, 13:57 CET

The European Commission has proposed to confer to EU Member States the freedom to allow, restrict or ban the cultivation of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) on part or all of their territory. While keeping unchanged the EU's science-based GM authorisation system, the adopted package consists of a Communication, a new Recommendation on co-existence of GM crops with conventional and/or organic crops and a draft Regulation proposing a change to the GMO legislation. The new Recommendation on co-existence allows more flexibility to Member States taking into account their local, regional and national conditions when adopting co-existence measures. The proposed regulation amends Directive 2001/18/EC to allow Member States to restrict or prohibit the cultivation of GMOs in their territory.

EU system for certifying sustainable biofuels - briefing by EUbusiness — last modified 10 June 2010, 20:49 CET

The European Commission has decided to encourage industry, governments and NGOs to set up certification schemes for all types of biofuels, including those imported into the EU.

EU bathing water policy - briefing by EUbusiness — last modified 10 June 2010, 16:40 CET

The annual bathing water report presented by the European Commission and the European Environment Agency shows that 96% of coastal bathing areas and 90% of bathing sites in rivers and lakes complied with minimum standards in 2009. It also describes where to obtain detailed and up-to-date information on bathing sites.

Analysis of options to move beyond 20% greenhouse gas emission reductions and assessing the risk of carbon leakage - briefing by EUbusiness — last modified 26 May 2010, 16:19 CET

The European Commission on 26 May presented an analysis of the costs, benefits and options for moving beyond the EU's greenhouse gas reduction target for 2020 from 20% below 1990 levels to 30% once the conditions are met. At present these conditions have not been met. The measures taken to support energy-intensive industries against the risk of carbon leakage are also examined as required under the ETS (Emissions Trading System) Directive. The Communication shows that the reduction in EU emissions as a consequence of the economic crisis, together with a drop in carbon prices, has changed the estimations two years ago when the revised ETS was presented. Therefore in light of the new data, an analysis of the implications of the different levels of ambition as a motor for modernising the EU economy and creating new jobs by promoting innovation in low-carbon technologies is provided. This analysis encompasses the efforts required in the main different sectors to reduce greenhouse gas emissions beyond 20%, up to 30%, looking also at the impacts of these efforts and the potential policy options to achieve them. The current context of constrained public finances and economic contraction is also fully taken into account when assessing possible alternatives.

Clean and energy-efficient vehicles - European strategy for the uptake of green vehicles - briefing by EUbusiness — last modified 28 April 2010, 18:28 CET

The European strategy for encouraging the development and eventual widespread use of clean and energy efficient vehicles aims to help the European car industry to strengthen its leading role globally basing its production on clean and energy-efficient technologies. This strategy is laid down in an EU Communication, tabled by the European Commission today. It delivers on the consensus between EU Member States and European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani's commitment to move on from short-term recovery measures to a medium-term orientation that strengthens the competitiveness of the European automotive industry by linking it to clean technologies. The strategy also contributes to the Europe 2020 objectives of smart and sustainable growth. It contains an Action Plan composed of concrete and ambitious measures to be implemented by the Commission.

The Volcanic Ash Crisis and the EU - briefing by EUbusiness — last modified 20 April 2010, 23:04 CET

This briefing outlines the European Union's response to the most frequently asked questions concerning the current volcanic ash crisis, notably in relation to the Commission's role in opening up Europe's airspace, while fully respecting safety requirements, to passenger rights and to the economic response for sectors hit by the crisis. While decisions on airspace management are a national competence, faced with a situation which had become unsustainable the Commission intervened to help facilitate European solutions – to maximise available airspace, within strict safety controls. The Commission has worked tirelessly since Friday, 16th April to work with all key actors to open up corridors of European airspace. Progressively opening up airspace holds the key to providing the most immediate relief to stranded passengers and hard hit economic sectors, while ensuring that safety concerns remain paramount.

Registration and authorisation for safer chemicals in the EU - briefing by EUbusiness — last modified 25 March 2010, 18:38 CET

European Commission Vice President Tajani and Commissioner Potočnik on 25 March announced EC action to make progress towards the registration of chemicals and the management of substances of very high concern. This memo focuses on action being taken for European companies, in particular for SMEs, towards the approaching deadline of 30 November 2010 under REACH. It also provides background information regarding substances of very high concern and authorisation, where substantial progress has been reached.

Environmental liability - Directive by Ina Dimireva — last modified 12 March 2010, 00:10 CET

The first EC legislation whose main objectives include the application of the "polluter pays" principle, this Directive establishes a common framework for liability with a view to preventing and remedying damage to animals, plants, natural habitats and water resources, and damage affecting the land. The liability scheme applies to certain specified occupational activities and to other activities in cases where the operator is at fault or negligent. The public authorities are also responsible for ensuring that the operators responsible take or finance the necessary preventive or remedial measures themselves.

Europe 2020: new economic strategy - briefing by EUbusiness — last modified 03 March 2010, 15:07 CET

The European Commission has launched the Europe 2020 Strategy to bring Europe out of the crisis and prepare the EU economy for the next decade. The Commission identifies three key drivers for growth, to be implemented through concrete actions at EU and national levels: smart growth (fostering knowledge, innovation, education and digital society), sustainable growth (making our production more resource efficient while boosting our competitiveness) and inclusive growth (raising participation in the labour market, the acquisition of skills and the fight against poverty). This battle for growth and jobs requires ownership at top political level and mobilisation from all actors across Europe. Five targets are set which define where the EU should be by 2020 and against which progress can be tracked.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) - briefing by EUbusiness — last modified 02 March 2010, 14:11 CET

The European Commission has announced its intention to come up with a proposal by the summer to allow more choice to Member States in deciding whether to cultivate GMOs. Under the current legal framework, as decided by the Council and the European Parliament, the Commission has adopted two decisions concerning the Genetically Modified Amflora potato: the first authorises the cultivation of Amflora in the EU for industrial use, and the second relates to the use of Amflora's starch by-products as feed. The European Commission also adopted today three decisions on the placing on the market of three GM maize products for food and feed uses but not for cultivation. All five authorisations were subjected to the highest scrutiny, ensuring all concerns regarding the presence of an antibiotic resistance marker gene are fully addressed. The Decision to authorise the cultivation of Amflora is the end of a process which started in Sweden in January 2003 and is based on a considerable volume of sound science.

ICTs to facilitate the transition to an energy-efficient, low-carbon economy by Ina Dimireva — last modified 14 January 2010, 12:02 CET

The EU is committed to a 20 % reduction in its carbon emissions by 2020. This target will be difficult to reach if the potential of ICTs is not fully exploited. ICTs can allow CO2 emissions to be reduced considerably whilst bringing the European Union up to a high level of innovation and competitiveness.

Quality of petrol and diesel fuels: sulphur and lead by Ina Dimireva — last modified 07 January 2010, 17:01 CET

To reduce pollution from car emissions, the EU has introduced new environmental specifications applicable to fuels: a ban on the marketing of leaded petrol and the obligation to make sulphur-free fuels available within the Union.

EU Strategy for biofuels by Ina Dimireva — last modified 16 December 2009, 18:14 CET

The EU sets out seven strategic policy areas for the development of the production and use of biofuels by the Member States and developing countries.

Sixth Environment Action Programme by Ina Dimireva — last modified 16 December 2009, 00:10 CET

The EU defines the priorities and objectives of European environment policy up to 2010 and beyond and describes the measures to be taken to help implement its sustainable development strategy.