Europees Parlement bereidt zich voor op klimaatconferentie Durban (en)

Joanna Mackowiak-Pandera, the Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of the Environment, participated in the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg regarding the preparations for Durban and in the debate of the Polish Presidency within the “Meet the Presidency” series.

Today, the main topic in the European Parliament was the preparation of the European Union for the global climate negotiations that will begin on 28 November in Durban, Republic of South Africa. It will be one of the most important events during the Polish Presidency in the Council of the EU within the field of the environment. Minister Mackowiak-Pandera was presenting the negotiating position of the European Union and was reporting on the preparation process coordinated by the Ministry of the Environment.

The Polish Presidency supports actively and efficiently the preparations for the Durban Climate Change Conference - Now, there are less than two weeks left until the conference. It will be possible to consider it a success, if the following issues are discussed in a satisfactory manner: implementation of the findings from Cancun and directing further works relating to the creation of global, legal framework for counteracting climate change, at the same time, referring to the future of the Kyoto Protocol i - emphasized Minister Pandera in her speech.

The speech in the European Parliament focused on key points of the climate negotiations, among others, the future of the Kyoto Protocol and the development of a plan aimed at reaching a global, legally binding agreement on climate protection. Minister Joanna Mackowiak-Pandera indicated that the role of the Polish Presidency in Durban would be to seek possibilities of reaching an agreement in an increasingly difficult process of climate negotiations.

Minister Mackowiak-Pandera participated also in the meeting of the “Meet the Presidency” series, at which she was talking to the members of the European Parliament, representatives of the Secretariat of the European Parliament and journalists about the expectations for the Durban Climate Change Conference. Summing up the meeting, the Minister said, that the European Parliament is a key element of the EU institutional system. We have a lot in common on our way to Durban, especially regarding the future of the Kyoto Protocol. We count very much on the EP support in Durban - emphasised Minister Mackowiak-Pandera.

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”Meet the Presidency debates” - is a series of meetings organized during plenary sessions of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, commenced in September this year by the Polish Presidency. The meetings relate to the most important issues on the European agenda coordinated by the Polish Presidency.