16th Franco-German Environment Council in Goslar
Both France and Germany advocate an ambitious European climate policy. This was underlined by French Minister for Ecology, Sustainable Development and Planning, Vice Prime Minister Jean-Louis Borloo, and German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel today at the conclusion of the 16th Franco-German Environment Council in Goslar.
The ministers expressly welcomed the climate and energy package presented by the EU Commission at the end of January. "This underpins the willingness of the EU to actively contribute to a positive outcome of the international climate negotiations", they state in the final declaration of the meeting. France will take over the Presidency of the EU in the second half of 2008, when a key stage in the negotiations on the package will be reached. German Environment Minister Gabriel assured Minister Borloo of his full support. France wants to do everything in its power to reach agreement on the package between the EU Member States, the European Parliament and the EU Commission during its upcoming Presidency. In any event, the package should be adopted before the elections to the European Parliament next summer and the decisive international climate negotiations in Copenhagen at the end of 2009.
With regard to CO2 emissions from cars, Sigmar Gabriel and Jean-Louis Borloo voiced their support for the integrated approach, which will permit a reduction of average CO2 emissions from new passenger cars in the EU to 120g CO2/km by 2012. This integrated approach comprises provisions for the limitation of average CO2 emissions from new passenger cars to 130g CO2/km as well as further measures, such as the use of biofuels, to achieve an additional reduction of 10g CO2/km.
Both ministers emphasised their intention to jointly move the project forward in order to meet the timetable adopted at the Council in June 2007. To this end, they plan to organise a meeting in Paris at the end of February.
The second major topic discussed at the Franco-German Environment Council was the UN Conference on Biological Diversity, which will take place in Bonn in May. The Ministers welcomed "the conference as the prominent event in 2008 to significantly promote the conservation of global biodiversity". They agree that the network of protected areas must be expanded and that adequate financial resources must be made available to developing countries for this purpose.
Both Ministers would like the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to be fully committed to ensuring that the scientific basis and the transparency of the European approval procedure for genetically modified organisms are improved and that greater consideration is given to the positions of the EU Member States in such procedures. Questions and concerns raised by the Member States must be carefully examined by EFSA in the course of the approval procedure, and a satisfying response must be given. This also applies to the genetically modified MON 810 maize.
Further Information:
- Kommuniqué (in German only)