Santer pushes environment up the agenda

Date: 29/05/1997

EUROPEAN Commission President Jacques Santer will take the opportunity presented by World Environment Day next week to bring renewed vigour to the 'green' debate within the Union.

In a keynote address next Wednesday (5 June), Santer will attempt to push the EU's international environmental credentials. He is anxious to ensure the quest for a greener treaty does not get lost in the morass of negotiations at next month's Amsterdam summit.

On a global level, Santer will underline four policy areas which will feature most prominently at next month's 'Rio±5' conference.

“It is absolutely essential to fix rapid targets for cuts in greenhouse gases, decide on a legally binding instrument on forestry, come up with new initiatives on fresh water and regain the momentum on how to reconcile international trade rules with environmental protection,” explained an official.

But Santer will also have more immediate domestic concerns. Coming just ten days before the EU treaty revision process is due to end, his speech will reinforce the Commission's efforts to integrate the environment more fully into other areas of Union policy. “We need to keep up the pressure, because this was on the verge of dropping from the draft treaty text over the last couple of weeks,” said another official.