EU Environment Council
EU lacks vision for strategy after Copenhagen
The EU Environment Ministers met today in Brussels for a first analysis of the results of the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen. Reacting to their analysis, Rebecca Harms, co-president of the Greens/EFA, commented:
"The EU Environment Ministers came up with no solution today, nor even a vision on how to resolve the climate impasse after Copenhagen. The EU needs to return to its original plan to seize a leadership role in the negotiations. To do that, it must once and for all decide to unconditionally reduce our own emissions by 30% compared to 1990. We regret that such a decision was not made today by Environment Ministers and Greens/EFA in the EP call upon them to do so at the latest by the Council meeting of 15 to 17 January in Seville. This decision must be taken by 31 January 2010 at the latest in the international context.
"European leaders cannot use the failure of Copenhagen as an excuse to relax their efforts to combat CO2 emissions. The Greens/EFA in the EP demand that the new Commission to do whatever it can in the fight against climate change as well as provide support to developing countries.
"Greens will watch thoroughly if during their hearing the future commissioners will make coherent proposals for actions both here in the EU and on the international stage. We expect from EU governments a serious analysis of last week's failure and, as far as the future Presidency of the Council is concerned, that it adapts its programme in light of the Copenhagen Summit."
