EU-ministers willen onderzoek naar CO2-uitstoot door maritiem transport (en)
COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
(OR. en)
PROVISIONAL VERSION
PRESSE 573 PR CO 69
PRESS RELEASE
3284th Council meeting
Environment
Brussels, 13 December 2013
President Valentinas Mazuronis
Minister for the Environment of Lithuania
PROVISIONAL VERSION 13 December 2013
Main results of the Council
CO2 emissions from maritime transport
Ministers discussed a draft regulation for setting up a system to monitor, report and verify CO2 emissions from maritime transport. The President of the Council, Valentinas Mazuronis, explained that discussions had focused on "the scope of this important legislative act, the balance between the necessary level playing-field and possible flexibility in order to reduce the administrative burden".
Invasive alien species
The Council had a public orientation debate on a draft regulation on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species, with the objective of steering further work in Council preparatory bodies.
Without discussion, the Council adopted a regulation establishing an instrument for nuclear safety cooperation and two regulations on Union support for the nuclear decommissioning assistance programmes respectively in Bulgaria and Slovakia as well as in Lithuania, covering the period 2014-2020.
The Council adopted a decision amending the decision establishing the European joint undertaking for ITER (called "Fusion for Energy") in order to provide a better basis for the financing of the activities of this joint undertaking for the period 2014-2020.
The Council also authorised the Commission to negotiate with Switzerland on the participation of this country in the Erasmus+ programme for education, training, youth and sport.
PROVISIONAL VERSION 13 December 2013
CONTTS1
PARTICIPANTS................................................................................................................................5
ITEMS DEBATED
C02 emissions from maritime transport..............................................................................................7
Invasive alien species...........................................................................................................................8
Other business......................................................................................................................................9
Indirect land-use change..........................................................................................................................................9
Warsaw Climate Conference...................................................................................................................................9
Aviation emissions trading......................................................................................................................................9
Plastic carrier bags.................................................................................................................................................10
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-Work programme of the incoming presidency......................................................................................................10
OTHER ITEMS APPROVED
VIRONMT
Water Convention..................................................................................................................................................11
NUCLEAR ERGY
Instrument for nuclear safety cooperation.............................................................................................................11
Nuclear decommissioning assistance programmes in Bulgaria, Slovakia and Lithuania......................................12
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
RESEARCH
ITER experimental reactor: joint undertaking "Fusion for Energy"......................................................................13
1 • Where declarations, conclusions or resolutions have been formally adopted by the Council, this is indicated in the heading for the item concerned and the text is placed between quotation marks
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•Documents for which references are given in the text are available on the Council's Internet site (http://www.consilium.europa.eu)
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•Acts adopted with statements for the Council minutes which may be released to the public are indicated by an asterisk; these statements are available on the Council's Internet site or may be obtained from the Press Office
PROVISIONAL VERSION 13 December 2013
EDUCATION
Participation of the Swiss Confederation in Erasmus+ programme......................................................................14
TRANSPARCY
PROVISIONAL VERSION
13 December 2013
PARTICIPANTS
Belgium:
Mr Joke SCHAUVLIEGE
Bulgaria:
Ms Iskra MIHAYLOVA-KOPAROVA
Czech Republic:
Ms Radka BUČILOVÁ
Denmark:
Ms Ida AUK
Mr Martin LIDEGAARD
Germany:
Ms Ursula HEIN-ESSER
Estonia:
Ms Keit PTUS-ROSIMANNUS
Ireland:
Mr Phil HOGAN
Mr Jimmy DEIHAN
Greece:
Mr Ioannis MANIATIS
Spain:
Mr Federico RAMOS DE ARMAS
France:
Mr Alexis DUTERTRE
Croatia
Mr Hrvoje DOKOZA
Italy:
Mr Marco PERONACI
Cyprus:
Mr Nicos KOUYIALIS
Latvia:
Mr Aleksandrs ANTONOVS
Lithuania:
Mr Valentinas MAZURONIS
Luxembourg:
Ms Carole DIESCHBOURG
Hungary:
Mr Imre Attila HORVÁTH
Malta:
Mr Leo BRINCAT
Netherlands:
Ms Wilma MANSVELD
Austria:
Mr Harald GÜNTHER
Poland:
Mr Maciej GRABOWSKI
Flemish Minister for the Environment, Nature and Culture
Minister for the Environment and Water
Deputy Minister of the Environment
Minister for the Environment
Minister of Climate, Energy and Building
Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Reactor Safety
Minister for the Environment
Minister for the Environment, Community and Local
Government
Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Minister for the Environment, Energy and Climate Change
State Secretary for the Environment
Deputy Permanent Representative
Deputy Minister for the Protection of the Environment and Nature
Deputy Permanent Representative
Minister for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment
State Secretary, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development
Minister for the Environment
Minister for the Environment, Climate, Water and Land Management
Secretary of State, Ministry of National Development
Minister for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change
Minister for Infrastructure and the Environment
Deputy Permanent Representative
Minister for the Environment
PROVISIONAL VERSION
13 December 2013
Portugal:
Mr Jorge MOREIRA DA SILVA
Romania:
Ms Anne JUGANARU
Slovenia:
Ms Andreja JERINA
Slovakia:
Mr Ján ILAVSKÝ
Finland:
Mr Ville NIINISTÖ
Sweden:
Mr Anders FLANKING
United Kingdom:
Mr Owen PATERSON
Mr Paul WHEELHOUSE Mr Alun DAVIES
Minister for the Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy
Secretary of State, Ministry for the Environment and Climate Change
State Secretary for the Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and the Environment
State Secretary at the Ministry of the Environment
Minister for the Environment
State Secretary, Ministry of the Environment
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs
Minister for Environment and Climate change
Minister for Natural Resources and Food
Commission:
Ms Connie HEDEGAARD Mr Janez POTOČNIK
Member Member
PROVISIONAL VERSION 13 December 2013
ITEMS DEBATED
CQ2 emissions from maritime transport
Ministers discussed a draft regulation for setting up a system to monitor, report and verify CO2 emissions from maritime transport
Ministers expressed their opinions in particular on the scope of the proposal and considered whether the harmonised system for monitoring and reporting of carbon dioxide emissions from maritime transport, introduced by the proposed regulation, strikes the right balance between ensuring a minimum level playing-field and allowing the necessary flexibility while minimising administrative burden. Ministers also confirmed that the main objective remained achieving an agreement at global level
The Commission presented its legislative proposal () in July 2013. Its purpose is to ensure that greenhouse gas emissions from ships are monitored and reported as the first step of a staged approach to reducing these emissions. The proposed measure focuses on CO2 emissions, which represent about 98% of the greenhouse gas emissions caused by the shipping sector. It would apply to all ships above 5000 gross tons, which account for around 55% of the ships calling into Union ports and represent around 90% of the related emissions
Emissions for each ship would be calculated, in particular, on a per-voyage and an annual basis based on ship-specific fuel consumption and fuel type. Other parameters to be taken into account include data on fuel consumption, distance travelled and cargo carried
The EU system for monitoring, reporting and verifying those emissions should then serve as an example for the creation and implementation of a global system in the context of the International Maritime Organisation
On the European Parliament side, the vote in VI Committee is scheduled in January 2014 and the plenary session in April 2014
PROVISIONAL VERSION 13 December 2013
Invasive alien species
The Council had a public orientation debate on a draft regulation on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species, with the objective of steering further work in Council preparatory bodies
Ministers were invited to answer two questions suggested by the presidency (/13). The first focused on the list of invasive alien species and the second question concerned possibility to act at the level of EU bio-geographic regions
The presidency highlighted some elements emerging from discussions, in particular: the need for an efficient system at EU level to combat invasive alien species; the need to review some of the features of the list of such species (their number and origin); the importance of regional cooperation as an important element to ensure an efficient fight against invasive alien species. The presidency with incoming Greek presidency will analyse the views expressed today and use them to progress further on this dossier
Invasive alien species are species that are initially transported through human action outside of their natural range across ecological barriers, and that then survive, reproduce and spread, and that have negative impacts on the ecology of their new location as well as serious economic and social consequences. It has been estimated that out of more than 12 000 alien species that are found in the European environment, 10 to 15% have reproduced and spread, causing environmental, economic and social damage. They are estimated to cost the EU at least EUR 12 billion per year
The Commission proposal (), presented in September 2013, aims to establish a framework for action to prevent, minimise and mitigate the adverse impact of invasive alien species on biodiversity and ecosystem services. In addition, it will limit social and economic damage. To achieve these objectives it envisages the following measures: prevention of the intentional and unintentional introduction and release into the environment of invasive alien species; setting up of an early warning and rapid response system; and management of these species spread throughout the EU
The Parliament's VI committee vote is scheduled in February 2014 and vote in plenary in March 2014
PROVISIONAL VERSION 13 December 2013
Other business
Indirect land-use change
The presidency briefed ministers on the outcome of the yesterday's TTE (Energy) Council which examined a presidency compromise text () on a draft directive on indirect land-use change (ILUC) amending the fuel quality (98/70/EC) and renewable energy (/EC) directives
However, there are still some outstanding issues and it was not possible to reach a political agreement at this stage. Therefore, the Council's preparatory bodies have been invited to work further on the proposal, with a view to allowing for a political agreement to be reached in the future
Warsaw Climate Conference
The Council took note of the information provided by the Polish Conference of the Parties Presidency and the Commission of the outcome of the Warsaw Climate Conference that took place on 11-22 November 2013 ().
Aviation emissions trading
The Council took note of the information provided by the Commission on the latest developments at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and in the EU emissions trading system (ETS) for aviation and by the presidency on the latest state of play and way forward ().
In October, the ICAO General Assembly agreed to develop a global market-based measure (MBM) to limit C02 emissions from international aviation. This measure is expected to be agreed upon in 2016 and implemented as of 2020. The EU will contribute actively to this work and offer expertise and resources. The ICAO Council in November agreed that work on some technical elements should start immediately
Following the ICAO Assembly, the Commission submitted a legislative proposal to adapt the EU ETS directive to the new situation and to replace the "Stop the clock" decision with appropriate measures. The proposal is designed to take into account the ICAO's work on a global measure and to follow the ICAO timetable
PROVISIONAL VERSION 13 December 2013
– Plastic carrier bags
The Commission informed ministers of its proposal for a directive to reduce the consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags (). Several ministers intervened to support the proposal and to outline the efforts already undertaken at national level to deal with the issue. Some ministers considered that the proposal could be more ambitious, mentioning the need to define a target for reduction at EU level
The proposal is a response to the discussion which took place at the Environment Council in March 2011, where the Commission was invited to analyse possible action against plastic bag consumption. Its objective is to limit negative impacts of plasti carrier bags' littering on the environment, to encourage waste prevention and a more efficient use of resources, while limiting negative socio-economic impacts. The proposal aims in particular at reducing the consumption of plastic carrier bags with a thickness of below 50 microns (0.05 milimeters), as these are less frequently reused as thicker ones. According to the Commission, in 2010, over 8 billion plastic carrier bags were littered in the European Union. They accumulate in the environment, in particular in the form of marine litter. Once discarded, plastic carrier bags can last for hundred yers before being totally degraded
– Work programme of the incoming presidency
The Greek delegation presented the incoming presidency's work programme for the environment sector. It will focus in particular on the following legislative proposals: draft directive to adapt the EU ETS Aviation directive , draft regulation on shipment of waste, draft regulation on CO2 emissions from maritime transport and a draft regulation on invasive alien species
The informal ministers' meeting will take place on 14-15 May 2014 and the Environment Council on 3 March 2014 in Brussels and on 12 June 2014 in Luxembourg
PROVISIONAL VERSION 13 December 2013
OTHER ITEMS APPROVED
VIRONMT
Water Convention
The Council adopted a decision on the acceptance on behalf of the EU of the amendment to Articles 25 and 26 of the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) to allow accession to the Convention to all United Nations member states
The Convention is intended to establish a framework for bilateral and multilateral cooperation to prevent and control the pollution of transboundary watercourses and to ensure the rational use of water resources in the member countries of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
For more details see the Convention's website . NUCLEAR ERGY
Instrument for nuclear safety cooperation
The Council today adopted a regulation establishing an instrument for nuclear safety cooperation ().
Under the new instrument, the Union will finance measures to support the promotion of a high level of nuclear safety, radiation protection, and the application of efficient and effective safeguards for nuclear material in third countries. A total of EUR 225 321 000 has been set aside for the implementation of this regulation for the period 2014-2020
For more information see press release .
PROVISIONAL VERSION 13 December 2013
Nuclear decommissioning assistance programmes in Bulgaria, Slovakia and Lithuania
The Council today adopted two regulations on Union support for the nuclear decommissioning assistance programmes respectively in Bulgaria and Slovakia as well as in Lithuania, covering the period 2014-2020 (,COR 1, , COR 1).
For more information see press release . FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Restrictive measures against Syria
The Council adopted several amendments to EU restrictive measures against Syria. It permitted the import or transport of chemical weapons or related material from Syria into the EU if such movements are in support of the work of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on the elimination of Syria's chemical weapons
In addition, the Council prohibited the import and export of cultural property and items of archaeological, cultural and religious importance, which have been illegally removed from Syria since the outbreak of the crisis
Finally, the Council took steps to require that where frozen funds or economic resources are unfrozen to provide humanitarian assistance, this will be done to ensure the maximum humanitarian benefit and safeguard against the risk of misuse by releasing these to the United Nations for delivery of assistance in Syria under the Syria Humanitarian Assistance Response Plan (SHARP). 179 persons and 54 entities associated with the repression in Syria currently have their assets frozen in the EU
PROVISIONAL VERSION 13 December 2013
RESEARCH
ITER experimental reactor: joint undertaking "Fusion for Energy"
The Council adopted a decision amending the decision establishing the European joint undertaking for ITER (called "Fusion for Energy") in order to provide a better basis for the financing of the activities of this joint undertaking for the period 2014-2020 ().
The new decision will enable the transfer of funds from the Commission to Fusion for Energy for the European contribution to the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) without the requirements specific to research programmes
The European Council conclusions of 7-8 February 2013 stated that ITER will be financed under the EU general budget for 2014-2020 and not through the Euratom research and training programmes
Differently from what has been done under the Seventh Framework Programme for research (2007-13), the proposal is not designed as a research programme under Article 7 of the Euratom Treaty. It is instead based on Article 47 and refers to the participation of Euratom in the financing of the joint undertaking
ITER is a first-of-a-kind global collaboration project to build and operate an experimental reactor with the aim of demonstrating the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion energy for peaceful purposes. Europe, as the main contributor -providing around 45% of the whole investment-has a particular responsibility to make ITER a success
Further information on ITER:
http://ec.europa.eu/research/energy/euratom/index en.cfm ?pg=fusion§ion=iter
PROVISIONAL VERSION 13 December 2013
EDUCATION
Participation of the Swiss Confederation in Erasmus+ programme
The Council adopted a decision authorising the Commission to open negotiations, on behalf of the Union, on a bilateral agreement between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation on participation of this country in the Erasmus+ programme for education, training, youth and sport, on the basis of the negotiating directives set out by the Council
The new Erasmus+ programme will enter into force in January 2014 and has a total budget of about €14.7 billion. It brings together in a single programme activities previously covered by a number of separate programmes (including the Lifelong Learning Programme, Erasmus Mundus and Youth in Action) and it also includes activities in the new area of European competence, sport
TRANSPARCY
Public access to documents
On 13 December 2013, the Council approved: the replies to confirmatory applications
No 23/c/01/13 (); No 24/c/01/13 ().