EEL News Service 2007/2, 25 January 2007 (http://www.eel.nl)
***************************************************************************
Upcoming Event:
* Tackling Climate Change – An Appraisal of the Kyoto Protocol and options for the future
Date: 30 and 31 March 2006
Location: T.M.C. Asser Institute, The Hague, The Netherlands
Click here for more detailed information
***************************************************************************
Added to Case law, ECJ
* Case C-313/05, Maciej Brezezinski vs. Dyrektor Izby Celnej w Warsawie
ECJ 18-01-2007, nyr
In a judgement of 18 January 2007 the Court ruled that Community law precludes any excise duty, in so far as the amount of the duty imposed on second-hand vehicles over two years old acquired in a Member State other than Poland exceeds the residual amount of the same duty incorporated into the purchase price of similar vehicles already registered in Poland. Thus, the court is basically reiterating the Community obligation to approach other Member States equally.
Sector(s): General
* Case C-183/05, Commission vs. Ireland
ECJ 11-01-2007, nyr
In a judgment of 11 January 2007 the Court has ruled that Ireland breached the 1992 Habitats Directive by not adequately protecting a number of endangered species. According to the second chamber of the ECJ, rules preventing the disturbance of species and the deterioration of their breeding sites have not been enforced properly by the Irish government
Sector(s): Nature
Added to Legislation, General
* IPPC releases Best Available Techniques reference (BREFs) documents
The EU’s integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC) bureau in Seville has agreed upon the application of the BAT-principle (Best Available Techniques) for installations producing ammonia, acids and inorganic fertilizers. In the so-called BREFs (BAT reference documents), guidance for the industry has been set out. A series of 32 BREFs intended to assist the industry comply with the 1996 IPPC directive, is now completed.
Added to Policy Areas, Climate Change
* Commission remains strict on carbon allowances appointed by two Member States
On 16 January 2007, the Commission decided on another pair of National Allocation Plans (NAPs) under directive 2003/87/EC, namely the Dutch and the Belgium one. The Netherlands proposed to allow industry to emit annually 90.4 million tonnes of CO2, which should be 5% according to the Commission Decision. For Belgium, the Commission decided that allocation may not exceed 58.5 million allowances against the 63.33 proposed in the Belgian NAP. Under the emissions trading Directive, the Commission has a right of veto over any plan considered to be too generous. So far the Commission merely approved of one proposal, and that was the NAP of the United Kingdom.
* Infighting causes delay in Commission proposal on cars
A paper proposing binding legislation forcing manufacturers to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from new vehicle models has been delayed. The Commission policy paper was due on the 31st of January 2007, but Barroso announced a short delay, due to infighting on the details of this paper. The main conflict is between environment Commissioner Dimas and industry Commissioner Verheugen. Hopefully the delay will lead to a compromise on how to achieve certain goals, and what should be included in the proposal. Both the car industry and the NGOs have already commented on this.
* Climate change as a major topic during the World Economic Forum
Environment is clearly gaining importance at the World Economic Forum (WEF). Especially Climate change gets a lot of attention during the meeting from 24 till 28 January 2007. During these days more than 2,400 global leaders will discuss issues related to improving the world situation. This year, 17 meetings on climate change are scheduled, which shows an increasing interest in the topic from the participants. Whereas merely 9% of last year’s participants thought WEF should concern the environment, 20% of this year’s participants supported that stance.
Added to Policy Areas, Water
* Parliament has little amendments to the proposal on environmental quality standards in the field of water policy COM(2006)397
In January 2007, the Parliament announced very little amendments to Commission proposal COM(2006)397. This document was discussed in the Parliament’s Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety on 23 January 2007 and more information will be available soon. On 17 July 2006, the Commission presented the directive proposal which shall support the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC and sets limits on concentrations of 33 priority substances and 8 other pollutants that threaten the aquatic environment and human health.
Added to Policy Areas, Nature & Agriculture
* Cultivation of GM-crops continues to rise quickly
The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA) states in its annual report of 18 January 2007 that land planted with biotech crops extended to 102 million hectares, a rise of 13% compared to 2005. In Europe, Spain is still planting the most GMO’s, 60,000 hectares, while Slovakia became the sixth Member State to plant the crops.
Added to National Pages, Denmark
* Denmark published an ambitious energy strategy
In a Danish press release of 19 January 2007 the Danish government iterated the aim of reducing fossil fuel consumption by up to 15 percent and doubling energy supply from renewable sources to 30 percent before 2025. The Danish minister for Transport and Energy said this was a clear example that Denmark is ready to take the lead in the future EU energy policy.
Added to National Pages, Slovakia
* Slovakia set to legally challenge Brussels’ NAP proposal
Slovakia is not happy with the Commission’s proposal to cut the amount of carbon dioxide that Slovak business will be allowed to emit in the second phase of the Emission Trading System that runs from 2008 until 2012. The Slovak Minister of Environment has claimed that cutting the emissions further would harm the country’s industry that is just now experiencing a boom.
Added to National Pages, Ireland
* Ireland reaches waste targets eight years ahead of schedule
The Irish government has presented positive results of their national programmes on municipal and construction waste recycling. Goals to recycle 35% of their municipal and 85% of their construction waste, that were set for 2011 have already been reached.
Added to Dossier/Links, European Climate Policy
* The updated version of the European Climate Policy Dossier
includes the following new developments:
· NAP-II (2008-2012) submitted to the European Commission as required under the European Emissions Trading Scheme (Directive 2003/87/EC)
· Commission Decision of 14 December 2006 determining the respective emission levels allocated to the Community and each of its Member States under the Kyoto Protocol pursuant to Council Decision 2002/358/EC
· An Energy Policy for Europe
Added to Who‘s who, National editors
* The EEL Team is delighted to welcome in the EEL Network the following national editors:
- Stefan Tormans (Belgium)
- Helle Tegner Anker (Denmark)
- Birgitte Egelund Olsen (Denmark)
- Julia Lietzmann (Israel)
- Kai Kokko (Finland)
- Teresa Amador (Portugal)
Added to Job Postings
* Chemicals Health Monitor Project Coordinator – HEAL
Full-time position to be filled as soon as possible.
Added to Upcoming Events
* Scottish Energy and Environment Conference
If you want to know how to strike the right balance between reducing carbon emissions, lowering costs and tackling problems of climate change and high energy prices go to www.seecon.org.uk.
Date: 7 February 2007
Place: Hilton Hotel, Glasgow
More information
* Clean Energy Power 2007
The International Conference and Exhibition for Renewable Energy will discuss innovative technologies and latest developments in the sector. Major topics will be Gasification of Biomass, Solar Power Plants and Renewable Seawater Desalination.
Date: 24-25 January 2007
Place: ICC Berlin More information
* Energy from Waste 2007
Conference on the forward development of the energy from waste industry in the UK.
Date: 14-15 March 2007
Place: Institute of Physics, London
More information
* World Biofuels Markets
Congress and Exhibition in Brussels for the Biofuels Industry, with over 250 speakers including Former Vice President of the United States Al Gore
Date: 6-9 March
Place: Brussels Expo
More Information
***************************************************************************
Editors-in-Chief:
Wybe Th. Douma (T.M.C. Asser Institute, The Hague)
Jens Hamer (Academy of European Law, Trier)
Editors:
Leonardo Massai (T.M.C. Asser Institute, The Hague)
Ruben Vermeeren (T.M.C. Asser Institute, The Hague)
Sara Woods (T.M.C. Asser Institute, The Hague)
Technical realisation:
Marco van der Harst (T.M.C. Asser Institute, The Hague)
e-mail: eelnewsservices@asser.nl