Commission for the Environment, Climate change and Energy
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Opinion number:
CDR-1672-2018
Status:
Εγκρίθηκε
Objective
Advocate the development of an 8th Environment Action Programme (EAP);
Advocate an higher EU ambition in all relevant policy domains, especially on climate, biodiversity and environment, to achieve the aims of the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
Assess the 7th EAP;
Elaborate the main principles for developing an 8th EAP:
Assess the changed context of European environment policy and its regional and local impact;
Present proposals for the EAP to ensure policy integration;
Present proposals on funding environment and climate policies;
Recommend a place-based or area-oriented approach for the EAP;
Present proposals for a well-functioning multi-level governance framework for the 8th EAP;
Introduce a proposal for a new EAP:
Outline a new approach for the EAP;
Propose themes for the EAP;
Propose a structure for the EAP.
Advocate an higher EU ambition in all relevant policy domains, especially on climate, biodiversity and environment, to achieve the aims of the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
Assess the 7th EAP;
Elaborate the main principles for developing an 8th EAP:
Assess the changed context of European environment policy and its regional and local impact;
Present proposals for the EAP to ensure policy integration;
Present proposals on funding environment and climate policies;
Recommend a place-based or area-oriented approach for the EAP;
Present proposals for a well-functioning multi-level governance framework for the 8th EAP;
Introduce a proposal for a new EAP:
Outline a new approach for the EAP;
Propose themes for the EAP;
Propose a structure for the EAP.
Impact
The CoR opinion supported the preparation of an 8th Environment Action Programme (EAP).
The EAP proposal was published in October 2020 mentioning that the Council, the Parliament and the CoR have called for its presentation by early 2020 at the latest (the CoR opinion called for tis presentation but without a specific timeframe).
The CoR has appointed a Rapporteur-general that will present a legislative opinion on the new EAP in the Plenary of February 2021.
Please see below the main elements of the new proposal that are connected with the past CoR opinion. Some of them are being addressed by the draft of the new legislative opinion and consequently a futre assessment of the impact of that opinion will provide more information.
• The proposal mentions the CoR opinion and the study.
• The proposal does not include a reference to the Technical Platform for Cooperation on the Environment between the ENVE Commission and DG ENV. This platform is of significant importance for the CoR and the opinion called for its further enhancement.
• Coherently with the position of the CoR, the new EAP proposal remarks the need to improve policy integration.
• Health is mentioned in the new EAP proposal including as one of the elements of one of the 6 priorities. Health was a major aspect of the CoR opinion.
• The CoR opinion proposed alignment between the EAP and the Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF). The new EAP proposal covers the period 2021-2030 while the MFF covers the period 2021-2027. The proposal does advocate synergy with the European Semester coherently with the CoR opinion.
The CoR opinion called for 30% of the MFF reserved for climate. A similar provision was included in the MFF.
• The CoR opinion included multiple references to the general importance of climate policy. This appears to be coherent with the new EAP proposal in which the first two of the six main prioities are focused on climate.
• One of the main aspects of the new EAP proposal is a new Monitoring Framework. The CoR opinion had references to monitoring in connection with the Environmental Implementation Review (EIR) (the EIR is mentioned in the new proposal also in connection with monitoring).
• The new EAP proposal includes multiple references to local and regional level. Recital 11 indicates that Environmental policy is highly decentralized.
• The new EAP proposal includes a reference to national, regional and local authorities in urban and rural areas. The CoR opinion raised the issue that the 7th EAP focused on cities but not on other types of communities. However the CoR opinion included not just a reference to rural communities but to multiple typologies (coastal, mountain, island, archipelagic and outermost areas) and to hinterlands of cities.
• The new EAP proposal includes a reference to environmental crime coherently with the CoR opinion.
• Both the CoR opinion and the new EAP proposal mention sustainable investment.
• Both the CoR opinion and the new EAP proposal mention knowledge and research. The CoR opinion mentioned also education.
• Both the CoR opinion and the new EAP proposal include references to global action.
• The CoR opinion proposed 5 chapters: implementation, the transitions, innovation, wider global challenges and communication. In the new EAP proposal all 5 aspects are mentioned but with different degrees.
The EAP proposal was published in October 2020 mentioning that the Council, the Parliament and the CoR have called for its presentation by early 2020 at the latest (the CoR opinion called for tis presentation but without a specific timeframe).
The CoR has appointed a Rapporteur-general that will present a legislative opinion on the new EAP in the Plenary of February 2021.
Please see below the main elements of the new proposal that are connected with the past CoR opinion. Some of them are being addressed by the draft of the new legislative opinion and consequently a futre assessment of the impact of that opinion will provide more information.
• The proposal mentions the CoR opinion and the study.
• The proposal does not include a reference to the Technical Platform for Cooperation on the Environment between the ENVE Commission and DG ENV. This platform is of significant importance for the CoR and the opinion called for its further enhancement.
• Coherently with the position of the CoR, the new EAP proposal remarks the need to improve policy integration.
• Health is mentioned in the new EAP proposal including as one of the elements of one of the 6 priorities. Health was a major aspect of the CoR opinion.
• The CoR opinion proposed alignment between the EAP and the Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF). The new EAP proposal covers the period 2021-2030 while the MFF covers the period 2021-2027. The proposal does advocate synergy with the European Semester coherently with the CoR opinion.
The CoR opinion called for 30% of the MFF reserved for climate. A similar provision was included in the MFF.
• The CoR opinion included multiple references to the general importance of climate policy. This appears to be coherent with the new EAP proposal in which the first two of the six main prioities are focused on climate.
• One of the main aspects of the new EAP proposal is a new Monitoring Framework. The CoR opinion had references to monitoring in connection with the Environmental Implementation Review (EIR) (the EIR is mentioned in the new proposal also in connection with monitoring).
• The new EAP proposal includes multiple references to local and regional level. Recital 11 indicates that Environmental policy is highly decentralized.
• The new EAP proposal includes a reference to national, regional and local authorities in urban and rural areas. The CoR opinion raised the issue that the 7th EAP focused on cities but not on other types of communities. However the CoR opinion included not just a reference to rural communities but to multiple typologies (coastal, mountain, island, archipelagic and outermost areas) and to hinterlands of cities.
• The new EAP proposal includes a reference to environmental crime coherently with the CoR opinion.
• Both the CoR opinion and the new EAP proposal mention sustainable investment.
• Both the CoR opinion and the new EAP proposal mention knowledge and research. The CoR opinion mentioned also education.
• Both the CoR opinion and the new EAP proposal include references to global action.
• The CoR opinion proposed 5 chapters: implementation, the transitions, innovation, wider global challenges and communication. In the new EAP proposal all 5 aspects are mentioned but with different degrees.
Essential points
THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
- Points out that the EU must show a higher ambition in all relevant policy domains, especially on climate, biodiversity and environment, to achieve the aims of the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
- Calls on the European Commission, the Council and the Parliament to develop an 8th EAP;
- Points out that although the 7th EAP has identified better implementation as a key priority, insufficient implementation remains a significant problem. Supports effective implementation of the acquis. Argues that local and regional authorities (LRAs) are not given the necessary instruments in practice. In most cases the European and national levels have the appropriate resources and should therefore bear the responsibility for paying fines for non-compliance;
- Strongly believes that the 8th EAP should ensure policy integration;
- Supports more synergies between funding sources and stronger links between public and private financing. Welcomes the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) proposal with its focus on sustainable development and integrating environment policy into all budget headings, however calls for over 30% of the budget reserved for climate policy mainstreaming;
- Advocates a holistic place-based or area-oriented approach;
- Calls for a multi-level governance framework. Believes in incentives for over-performing;
- Proposes that the 8th EAP present an EU strategy to promote healthy living for all;
- Proposes a lean clean 8th EAP, with five main chapters: implementation, the transitions, innovation, wider global challenges and communication;
- Calls on the 8th EAP to further enhance the Technical Platform for Cooperation on the Environment established by the ENVE Commission and DG Environment; proposes to establish a network of ambassadors within the Platform to promote the implementation of the environment legislation at all levels of governance, complementing in this way the EIR and TAIEX;
- Proposes to focus more on the implementation aspects/challenges in the EU environment policies via CoR opinions as well as the work of the future regional hubs in order to address the gaps and find tailor-made solutions.