Written Ministerial Statement by Hilary Benn on the Environment Council 5 June 2008 - 4 June 2008
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Hilary Benn)
I will be representing the UK at the Environment Council in Luxembourg on 5 June.
At this Council, the Slovenian Presidency will hold a policy debate on the Climate and Energy Legislative Package. The policy debate will focus on the following key areas: improving and extending the greenhouse gas emission allowance trading system of the Community; Member States’ efforts to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to meet the Community’s reduction commitments up to 2020; carbon capture and storage, and; the promotion of renewable energy.
There will also be a progress report by the Presidency and public deliberation on the Commission’s proposal for setting emissions performance standards to reduce CO2 emissions from new passenger cars. Ministers will consider the current state of play of the Commission’s proposal.
An exchange of views will be held on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) looking at the way forward.
Under ‘any other business’, the Presidency will update the Council on: the Euro VI regulation; the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity; the Conference of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety; progress under the Bali road map; the outcome of the “Bridging the gap” conference, and; the Implementation of the Action Programme for the implementation of the Territorial agenda of the EU. The Presidency and the Commission will also provide information on the Environmental Crime Directive, and the Commission will also update the Council on proposals for sustainable consumption and production and sustainable industrial policy. Information on the Fourth Meeting of the Parties to the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context has been requested a Member State.
Page published: 4 June 2008