Memo: Environment Council, 20 December 2010

The final Environment Council under the Belgian Presidency will be held on 20 December 2010 in Brussels. Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik, Health and Consumer Policy Commissioner John Dalli, and Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard will represent the European Commission.

The Council will open with a progress report on CO2 emissions from light commercial vehicles, followed by an attempt to reach a political agreement on the Biocides Directive. A progress report on the recast of the WEEE Directive will then be presented by the Presidency. Ministers will then adopt conclusions on the outcome of CBD COP 10, the Nagoya biodiversity conference, sustainable materials management and resource efficiency, and better instruments for environmental governance. Views will be exchanged on the outcome of the COP 16 climate change negotiations in Cancun, and on GMOs. Hungary will then present the environmental priorities to be pursued during its term as holder of the Presidency. During lunch, the Director of the European Environment Agency will present the latest 5-yearly State of the Environment Report.