INTERNAL INTERNAL UPDATE week 7, 2011

Transcription

1 INTERNAL 2011 INTERNAL UPDATE week 7, 2011 The internal update structure follows our Active and Monitoring Policy Issues. Other issues and themes will just as before include information in the areas of waste, environment, public services and procurement; reports, conferences and other issues discussed in Brussels each week. Currently the update has the following structure: * Active issues: WEEE, Producers responsibility, Services of General Interest, Biodegradable waste * Monitoring issues: End of waste criteria (- biodegradable waste, - metal scrap, - paper and cardboard) Waste Framework directive implementation * Other issues: Reports, Conferences, Other issues currently discussed * Report from the secretariat: This week, Next week BIODEGRADABLE WASTE Biofuels, their landuses and the environment to be re-evaluated by Commission The association Transport & Environment (T&E) accused the Commission to delay any action towards the analysis of Indirect Land-Use Change (ILUC) to be integrated in the EU biofuel policy. The concept of ILUC means that the use of fields for growing biofuel crops can lead to increased greenhouse gases as new land will have to be cleared to grow food crops. The Commission was expected to release a detailed impact assessment in December on how to change biofuels sustainability criteria taking into account ILUC, however the, publication of the study has been further postponed to July. Therefore, we remind you that there is still time to address directly the Commission on the important issue of obtaining biofuel from waste, as one of the most efficient sustainable energy source. According to T&E, Europe s biofuels policy currently causes more environmental problems than it solves. Unless we have reliable sustainability criteria for biofuels, we will end up with fuels being produced that create more greenhouse gases than they save, said T&E. Find more information on the issue here: Big potentials of biogas from waste The Swedish government has set up a new strategy to use household rubbish and food waste from restaurants as a source of energy. This would double Swedish biogas production and reduce environmental damage by cutting methane emissions from landfill.

2 Diversification of energy sources and a more sustainable energy are key EU priorities. Waste can play a fundamental role in reaching those objectives. To do so, the production of biogas should receive incentives through feed-in tariffs for biogas producers, as it is currently in Germany. Read the article here: OTHER ISSUES DISCUSSED EU Waste legislation implementation and Green Growth One element of the Thematic Strategy on Waste and Recycling, it the ambition of full implementation of the EU waste legislation in all Member State. In preparation for the interim report targeting especially green growth, the European Commission arranged a workshop this week. The interim report will include estimates on implementation and green growth based on two scenarios, unfortunately both completely hypothetical. One is no more implementation and capacity building from the 2006 level and the other is complete and full waste legislation and application by all member states and operators by the year The conclusions made may unfortunately lead to suggestions on need for further actions, when the full implementation of the landfill directive and the application of the waste hierarchy are of the highest priority. The speakers at the workshop included VROM, the Netherlands on the enforcement of Waste Shipment regulations in the port of Rotterdam. Although covering only 0,9% of the EU territory, and 4,3% of its GNP, approximately 50 % of all the waste export comes from the Netherlands. The reason is of course the port of Rotterdam and the fact that most traders and dealers in waste shipments operate out of the Netherlands. In discussions, it became clear that legal, controlled collection dissuades illegal shipments and low-level waste treatment. Other interesting speakers came from the Spanish Ministry of Environment, as well as the Irish Environmental Protection Agency. The Interim Study for Waste Legislation (as well as policy) Implementation will include a chapter on barriers and drivers (including missing drivers) for implementation. The draft included the statement that among the barriers for implementation is the Diffusion of responsibility for waste management (liberalisation of waste management services = too many actors). This statement naturally created an outburst of protests from the representatives of private waste management, such as FEAD and Waste Denmark, who could not see the difference between responsibility and operation. The day ended in an energetic discussion on the need for drivers for green growth, targeting producers responsibility, including full financial coverage of collection as well as protection against theft, intensified production and minimisation programmes and an up-stream resource efficiency thinking, not necessarily involving waste management. The presentation materials as well as the interim report will be sent out to all when published. The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the Europe 2020 Strategy During its plenary session in Strasbourg, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the Europe 2020 strategy. The Parliament stressed the need of increasing investments in research, innovation and development. Of particular interest for Municipal Waste Europe is the flagship initiative called Resource-efficient Europe that is part of the Europe 2020 strategy.

3 On this regard, the Parliament asked the Commission to propose concrete policies to ensure a switch to a resource-efficient and renewable-based economy as well as to ensure that the agreed targets are met. The Parliament recalled that energy supply securities as well as energy efficiency are key priorities. It accuses member states for not doing enough to reach the 20% energy efficiency target. The resolution stresses that the EU needs to start moving towards a recycling economy, ensuring reduction in waste production, and the value of reusing resources. In order to reach this objective, the Parliament asked the Commission to come up with a set of indicators so that they can be monitored in the National Reform Programmes. Background The Europe 2020 strategy should help Europe recover from the crisis and come out stronger, through job creation and smart, sustainable and inclusive growth based on five EU headline targets as regards promoting employment, improving the conditions for innovation, research and development, meeting climate change and energy objectives, improving education levels and promoting social inclusion, in particular through the reduction of poverty. Read the European Parliament press release here MEPs-want-specific-measures-with-firm-funding-commitments Read the Parliament Resolution here Find an article on the expected Low-carbon roadmap here: news ?utm_source=EurActiv+Newsletter&utm_campaign=5b64a01ac4- my_google_analytics_key&utm_medium= Energy Efficiency Action Plan The Commission is preparing publication of the strategy for future Energy Efficiency measures through the new Strategy. Rumours form inside the Commission, say quite clearly that it will be published on 10 March (press release on 9 March). The plan has already leaked but the political discussions are still ongoing both within the Commission and with member states. The final text will not be ready until it is actually published in the European Official Journal. DG Energy on Renewables place in the Energy Strategy The newly formed General directorate on Energy has under its commissioner Günter Öttinger, presented a report explaining the European Renewable Energy Strategy. Under the heading Renewables make the difference, and includes organic waste as a part of biomass and emphasises the extraction of biogas. It is an easy read and a good introduction to the discussion and importance of a sustainable energy policy in Europe. Read the report here: What do you want the EU to tell the United Nations on the environment?? The European Commission has opened a consultation regarding the content of their future Communication containing the EU position for the 2012 United Nations Conference on

4 Sustainable Development (UNCSD "Rio+20"). The aim of the summit will be to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development. The EU communication is to be finalised towards the middle of 2011, and therefore they have now opened a consultation on their environmental approach towards the United Nations. This public consultation serves to provide the Commission with initial views from stakeholders on, for instance, the priorities for a greening economy. The questionnaire is available for answers until 10 April There is the possibility to propose waste as a new sector in part of the consultation where UNCSD can propose new initiatives. Find all information as well as the questionnaire here: Municipal Waste Europe will not participate in this consultation. Do you want EU funds? LIFE+ funds to be published shortly The call for proposals Life is expected to be published in Mid-February 2011 and the deadline for submission is Mid-July. A detailed calendar on selection procedure is available on the website. National seminars with further information will be arranged in all Member States in the national language, in February, March and April The calendar is also available on the website. Financial support can be available for projects within the following three areas: Nature and Biodiversity Environment Policy and Governance Information and Communication Please note that the second area Environment Policy and Governance includes, as main objectives, the sustainable management and use of natural resources and waste as well as waste prevention, recovery and recycling. All information and application forms will be available here: A recycling society provides raw materials The Council, consisting of representatives from the Member States, have presented their draft conclusions on how to tackle the challenge on raw material and the commodity markets. The Council stressed that safe, open and undistorted access to raw materials at affordable prices is crucial to the sustainable competitiveness of the European industry. It considers that the two main issues to be addressed are: price volatility and risk of interruptions of supplies. The Council called on the Commission to present further actions with regard to resource efficiency and recycling, in order to move the EU closer to a recycling society. One of the Council main priorities is Boosting resource efficiency and promoting recycling. The Council asks the Commission to prevent leakage of waste, remove obstacles to the development of the recycling industry, stimulate innovation in recycling and apply a lifecycle method. Read the draft Council Conclusion here: Commission takes Slovakia to Court for failing to comply with EU landfill legislation The Commission has brought Slovakia to the European Court of Justice for failing to comply with the Landfill Directive. The case concerns the landfill site in Považský Chlmec because

5 the plan on the operation of the landfill and its measures to apply the landfill directive has not been sent to the competent authority for approval. Read the Commission press release here &language=en&guilanguage=en Greece again accused for not complying with waste management rules Municipal Waste Europe Internal Update reported that the Petition Committee of the European Parliament addressed petitions including illegal landfills in the Attica region of Greece. Now the Commission is urging Greece to comply with the European Court of Justice ruling to ensure proper urban waste water treatment in nine towns and cities, also in the Attica region. If Greece will not comply with the ruling in two months, the Commission could refer the case back to the Court and ask for financial penalties. Read the Commission press release here &language=en&guilanguage=en REPORT FROM THE SECRETARIAT External meetings this week: Energy network presentation of DG Environment on Energy Efficiency Strategy European Commission Workshop on Implementing EU Waste legislation for green growth Next week (7, March): Meeting Norwegian Association of Municipalities Meeting Waste Policy Officer from ETUC European Trade Union Confederation Finalising Draft positions, presentations and preparatory documents for all open consultations and workshops. Preparing documents for PC meeting Lisbon Attempting further positive reactions from several prospect members Best regards, Gunnel Klingberg office phone: , mobile phone: