19-20 June Environment Council

Date: 26/06/1997

MINISTERS reached unanimous agreement on a common position on the 'Auto-Oil Programme' to cut harmful emissions from cars. Changes made to the European Commission's proposals could, if made law, add 500 million ecu to the projected costs for improved fuel norms and between 30 and 50 ecu to the cost of new vehicles from 2002 for the introduction of a 'cold start' test. Ministers cut proposed mandatory limits on sulphur in petrol from the year 2000 from 200 to 150 parts per million (ppm), but included an opt-out to allow countries to delay the new standards for three years in the case of “severe socio-economic problems”. The meeting halved benzene levels in petrol to 1&percent; from the year 2000, cut proposed limits for aromatics by the same date, and set 2005 as the deadline for derogations to a year-2000 ban on leaded petrol. It set indicative fuel norms for 2005, including 50 ppm for sulphur in petrol and a “gradual phase-in and distribution” of 50 ppm diesel from the same date. On engine emission norms, ministers retained proposed limit values for 2000 and 2005, and delayed a planned review to mid-1999. Under the scheme, member states may offer tax incentives to encourage early sales of new engine technologies. The proposals will now go back to the European Parliament for a second reading.

DUTCH Environment Minister Margreeth de Boer told her colleagues that bilateral contacts had led her to conclude that a decision by the Council on the proposed humane trapping standards agreement with Canada and Russia was not possible at this stage and that the question would have to be considered further. It will now be up to the Luxembourg EU presidency to try to resolve this contentious issue.

COUNCIL adopted conclusions to establish the EU's negotiating position for the 'Earth Summit ± 5' meeting being held in New York from 23-27 June. Among the topics on the agenda were climate change, forests and finance. Ministers agreed that the EU would present initiatives on fresh water for sustainable development, sustainable energy production and eco-efficiency.

CONCLUSIONS were also adopted to prepare the Union's negotiating position for the Kyoto conference on climate change to be held in December. Following their decision to aim for a 15&percent; reduction in greenhouse gases by 2010 compared to 1990 levels, ministers agreed an interim target of half of this figure by 2005. But both Council and Commission expressed regret that not all industrialised countries had come forward with similar proposals. Ministers also noted with concern the development of self-chilling drinks cans using substances with a high global warming potential. Environment Commissioner Ritt Bjerregaard promised to look into the matter, saying it was “necessary to consider a ban on HFCs in these cans as the only way to solve the problem”.

IN THE absence of the European Parliament's first reading, the Council reached political accord on proposals for a directive to limit emissions of volatile organic compounds from industry. The agreement concentrated on what sectors should be covered, an investment safeguard clause and on the elaboration of national plans as a way of applying the proposed emission limit values.

THE Commission was given authorisation by ministers to participate in negotiations on the Montreal Protocol on substances which deplete the ozone layer in September this year. Council agreed that the use of methyl bromide should be phased out by 2005, including interim targets of a 50&percent; phase-out by 2001.

MINISTERS heard a presentation of the Commission's proposal to reduce the effects of acidification. There was broad support for Bjerregaard's plan to designate the North Sea and Baltic Sea as sulphur emission control areas under the

MARPOL Convention.

AUSTRIA raised the issue of its unilateral ban on genetically-modified maize. Bjerregaard explained the current state of play on the question and updated ministers on the planned revision of directive 90/220 on the deliberate release of genetically-modified organisms into the environment.