I. White paper “
2030 climate and energy goals for a competitive, secure and low-carbon EU economy†came into light on 22 January 2014. A reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 40% below the 1990 level, an EU-wide binding target for renewable energy of at least 27%, renewed ambitions for energy efficiency policies, a new governance system and a set of new indicators to ensure a competitive and secure energy system. These are the pillars of the new EU framework on climate and energy for 2030 presented by the European Commission (
more info) The European Council is expected to consider the framework at its spring meeting on 20-21 March. According to the EEB it is a setback in EU’s climate leadership (
more info)
II. The Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Yiannis Maniatis, on Thursday, January 23, presented the
priorities of the Greek Presidency in the field of Environment before the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety of the European Parliament, in Brussels (
more info).
III. All around the globe people are flocking to cities. In 2007, UN population figures showed that more than a half of the world’s population for the first time lived in urban areas. That proportion is set to rise to 60% by 2030 and 67% by 2050. The new study by Arthur D. Little, the Global Management Consultancy highlights what is holding cities back, and, together with its partner the UITP – the International Association of Public Transport – identifies
three strategic directions for cities to better shape the future of urban mobility. The study also describes 25 imperatives to consider when defining sustainable urban mobility policies and case studies of cities demonstrating good practice
(more info)
IV. Draft EU rules requiring member states to
clamp down on illegal waste shipments within the EU and to non-EU countries were backed by the Environment Committee on 22 January. The vote by the EP will be during the 14-17 April plenary session in Strasbourg (
more info)
V.
Negotiations with Serbia on its accession to the European Union were opened on 21 January at the first meeting of the Accession Conference at Ministerial level. At that meeting, the EU presented its Negotiating Framework, which was agreed by the Council on 17 December. The Negotiating Framework takes account of the experience of past enlargements and on-going accession negotiations, as well as the evolving acquis, and duly reflects Serbia's own merits and specific characteristics (
see further)
VI.
European Commission sets out the rules on State aid to promote Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEIs) and is consulting the public on a draft communication on how Member States can support the execution of such projects. The draft communication is part of the State Aid Modernisation (SAM) agenda, which aims to modernise state aid control in order to foster smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. The draft communication provides guidance to Member States on how they can support, in line with EU state aid rules, transnational projects which are of strategic dimension for the EU and for the realisation of the objectives of Europe 2020, the EU's growth strategy. To read the document,
click here, to read the consultation
click here
