EU Commissioner promises new "circular economy package" will be even more ambitious

The EU Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella i, has promised members of Committee of the Regions that the new circular economy package will be more ambitious and contribute to "putting Europe on a path of genuine sustainable growth". The Commissioner was speaking during a debate with the CoRs' Environment, Climate and Energy (ENVE) Commission which centred around the Commission's environmental plans for the coming year.

The waste package proposed by the preceding European Commission looked to update existing EU legislation on recycling and landfill. The new Juncker Commission i recently scrapped the plans - a move opposed by the CoR. Speaking at the ENVE Commission moderated by the new chair Francesco Pigliaru (PES/IT), President of Sardinia, Commissioner Vella played down fears that environmental protection was being cast aside and argued that "Protecting Europe's natural capital is a precondition for growth".

The Maltese Commissioner said that the new package would be unveiled by the end of the year and would include plans to improve the production life-cycle arguing that recycling would be more efficient if waste targets were complemented by improving the production of material. He also told members that, "Whenever we talk about ambition we always refer to targets but we need targets to be realistic". Referring to air pollution, the Commissioner reassured ENVE members that the Commission intended to pursue delivering current EU legislation as it recognised the damaging impact it had on citizens' health and the economy.

More must be done to protect Europe’s marine environment

How best to protect Europe’s marine life was also the focus of debate. A draft opinion led by Hermann Kuhn (DE/PES), Member of the Bremen City Parliament, reviews the implementation of the EU’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), introduced to make Europe's seas cleaner by 2020. The debate could not be timelier stressed Joachim D’Eugenio, representing the European Commission, since Member States are currently preparing their national programmes and their choices will have a direct impact upon regions. Kuhn stated that any failure to protect the seas could result in adverse economic consequences in coastal regions as well as regions far from the coast.

The opinion, to presented for adoption at the CoRs’ April plenary, " Better Protecting the Marine Environment", claims that Member States' national targets to achieve "good environmental status" lack ambition and calls for a political step-change in marine protection. Striking the right balance between protecting Europe’s marine life and economic development is essential. Kuhn further argues that the protection of EU waters require a strategy that engages all EU institutions, member states, local and regional authorities, civil society and businesses. The rapporteur is also “fully convinced that joint regional planning of measures for sea basins will be the key to ensuring shared success .

MEP Ricardo Serrão Santos i, who participated in the debate, stressed the need for a paradigm change to use marine resources in an efficient but sustainable manner. Along with the CoR Rapporteur, he also called for more transparency of available funding.

Nomination of ENVE new rapporteurs

"The Paris Protocol - A blueprint for tackling global climate change beyond 2020" - Annabelle JAEGER (FR/PES), Conseillère régionale de Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Own-initiative opinion on "Developing the potential of Ocean Energy" - Rhodri Glyn THOMAS (EA/UK), Assembly Member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr "Energy Union package" Pascal MANGIN (FR/EPP) Conseiller régional d'Alsace