2-3 March Environment Council

Date: 06/03/1997

AFTER hours of talks late on Sunday and a closed-door session on Monday, environment ministers agreed to cut 'greenhouse gas' emissions by 15&percent; of 1990 levels by 2010, establishing the EU's negotiating position for international talks in Japan in December. They also agreed details of how to share out individual cuts between countries for two-thirds of the 15&percent; pledged. But Dutch officials stressed the Union would have to think again about its proposed 15&percent; reduction if the Kyoto meeting failed to back such a cut for all industrialised countries. UK Minister John Gummer stressed the attitude of the US would be crucial to the final deal. Hours of negotiations saw the Dutch presidency soften demands on individual countries and abandon a specific target for carbon dioxide within the overall 15&percent; figure. Germany and the UK had their allotted targets cut from 30&percent; to 25&percent; and 20&percent; to 10&percent; respectively. France's target was reduced to zero from the 5&percent; cut originally proposed. Ireland was allowed a 15&percent; increase, Greece a 30&percent; rise and Portugal an increase of 40&percent;.

MINISTERS discussed proposed improvements to the implementation of EU environmental law, following the Commission's communication on the issue, and promised to return to the topic in June. Environment Commissioner Ritt Bjerregaard denied suggestions that the text under discussion was a much watered-down version of what the Commission had wanted.

OVER lunch, the Council discussed the latest developments in the debate over leghold traps and the planned ban on fur imports from countries still using such methods. But there was no repetition of the strong words of last December, when ministers called for tougher norms to be negotiated between the EU, Canada, Russia and the US, while at the same time asking the Commission to prepare texts in case the ban had to be implemented. Ministers will return to the question in June to review any progress made in the multilateral talks, reserving the option of rejecting any compromise text by unanimity.

LACK of time limited talks on the proposals resulting from the 'Auto-Oil Programme' to cut emissions from cars and improve fuel standards. There was little opportunity to take the dossier much further, with ministers preferring to wait until the European Parliament completes its first reading of the plans.

Most countries supported the idea of a follow-up Auto-Oil II Programme.

MINISTERS held a working session with their counterparts from the ten applicant countries from central and eastern Europe (CEECs). Talks centred on their efforts to cut energy consumption while maintaining economic growth targets.

COUNCIL reached a political agreement on a common position for an action programme to promote non-governmental organisations in the environmental field. The programme is due to run from 1 January 1998 to the end of 2001 and will have a budget of 10.6 million ecu, allowing 50&percent; funding of an organisation's budgeted activity.

TALKS were held on the Commission's recent paper setting guidelines for environmental agreements between national governments and industry. Ministers focused on whether such accords can be effective instruments for implementing EU laws, and on whether they could represent an alternative to Union legislation. Ministers concluded they could serve best as a supplement to European law.

BJERREGAARD presented her proposal for a directive to limit emissions of organic compounds from solvents used in certain processes and industrial installations. She also put forward plans for a water framework directive and submitted a report on environmental taxes in the single market.

AUSTRIAN Minister Martin Bartenstein asked the Commission to present proposals on the labelling and security aspects of placing genetically-modified products on the market. Bjerregaard said that they were being prepared.

THE Commission told France that it is putting together an updated report on the state of the European agreement concerning CO2 car emissions.