Added to Case Law, ECJ
C-193/07 R-2, Commission v. Poland
ECJ 25-01-2008
On 25 January 2008 the European Court of Justice delivered an order acknowledging that Poland agreed to suspend the woks on the road building in the Rospuda Valley nature conservation area until the dispute on that project with the European Commission is over. Warsaw lodged a claim under case number C‑193/07 before the ECJ on 5 April 2008 and decided to abstain from further constructions until the case is decided upon. After Poland proposed to wait for the ruling, the ECJ rescinded the order blocking the road construction plans.
Sector: Nature
Added to Legislation, General
* Commission’s Communication Towards a Shared Environmental Information System
On 1 February 2008 the Commission issued the Communication Towards a Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS) (COM(2008)46). This Communication aims to improve the quality and the availability of environmental information in Europe. It is designed to simplify the collection, exchange and use of this information in order to implement correctly environmental policies. Information will be stored in environmental databases throughout the EU. Formats and interoperability of data systems will be harmonised to allow for integrated analyses and shared use. SEIS is expected to be implemented through the revision of the Standardised Reporting Directive 91/692/EC.
Added to Legislation, Chemicals
* Commission proposes paint stripper ban
On 14 February 2008 the European Commission proposed a partial ban on paint removals containing dichloromethane (COM(2008)80). This substance is toxic to the central nervous system and is responsible for numerous accidents occurred in the past years. The Commission proposal would allow for the professional use of dichloromethane under more stringent criteria, especially with regards to workers’ protection, but it would prohibit their purchase by consumers. The legal basis of the Commission proposal is Directive 76/769/EEC on restrictions on the marketing and use of certain dangerous substances.
Added to Sectors, General
* OECD issues principles and guidelines to promote sustainable lending to Low Income Countries (LICs)
On 11 January 2008 the Working Party on Export Credits and Credit Guarantees (ECG) of the OECD presented a set of principles and guidelines to ensure that commercial loans to LICs do not hamper the sustainable development of these countries. Loans shall support the economic and social progress of the borrowing country without endangering its financial future and without causing debt distress in the future. One of these principles is that these loans should not surpass the maximum that has been agreed between the LICs and the IMF and World Bank. The Agreement on sustainable loans for LICs has been developed in close cooperation with the IMF and the World Bank which will participate in the planned negotiations about the practical implementation of the Agreement.
Added to Sectors, Climate Change
* Commissioner speaks up for climate change proposals
On 15 February 2008, the third anniversary of the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol, Stavros Dimas environment commissioner emphasised the need to quickly adopt EC legislation to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, so that the EU can meet its commitments made under the Kyoto protocol. The first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol (2008-2012) started on 1 January 2008 and on 23 January 2008 the European Commission presented a legislative package on the new integrated climate and energy package which is now discussed in the European Council and Parliament.
Added to Sectors, Water
* Commissioner highlights obstacles for sustainable fisheries
On 18 February 2008 Joe Borg, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, addressed the shortcomings of the present EU fisheries policy. At an informal Council on the Control of fisheries activities, organised by the Slovenian Presidency, the commissioner expressed his regret that in the chain from the fisherman to the consumer there is a lack of compliance culture. He promised a global and integrated approach of control to be presented in October 2008 by the European Commission.
National Pages
The following national pages have been updated: Denmark, Hungary, Spain and the United Kingdom
Added to National pages, Denmark
* Shipping company emits as much as the rest of Denmark
Danish shipping conglomerate A.P. Moller-Maersk is responsible for generating greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to what the rest of the country produces, news sources reported on 15 February 2008. Denmark’s largest company is estimated to consume 200,000 liters of fuel daily and produce between 40 and 50 million tonnes of carbon dioxide yearly. Emissions from the transport sector are not included in national climate statistics and are thus exempt from emission reduction targets under the Kyoto protocol. Neither is this tendency foreseen to be changed, as the climate and energy proposal package presented by the European Commission on 23 January 2008 does not take in consideration these endeavours.
Added to National pages, Hungary
* Hungarian climate change strategy adopted
On 13 February 2008 the Hungarian Ministry of Environment announced the adoption of a national strategy on climate change. The strategy covers the period between 2008 and 2025 and is intended to facilitate Hungary’s compliance with the energy and climate package tabled by the European Commission on 23 January 2008 and in particular the 18% greenhouse gas emissions target by 2020 compared to 1990 levels.
Added to National pages, United Kingdom
* UK aims at reducing water consumption
On 14 February 2008 the UK government presented a strategy to reduce water consumption in order to tackle climate change. According to Environment Secretary Hilary Benn, “securing and maintaining water supplies is vital to the prosperity of the country and to the health of people and the environment.” The strategy includes reducing per capita water consumption by 30 liters per day by 2030, a review of the water charging system and proposals to tackle water surface drainage and water pollution. This strategy is part of a greater scheme as the UK government is considering to raise its carbon dioxide emission reduction commitments up to 80% by 2050.
News and events
Added to Events
* BioPower Generation – International Meeting for Utilities to share large scale biomass strategies
The main focus of this conference is how biomass can be integrated into mainstream power generation. An overview of the biomass for power regulation in Europe will be provided. A broad range of topics related to biomass will be dealt with, such as current and future regulations in Europe, financing trends, resources, co-firing and biomass gasification.
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Date: 9-10 April 2008
* SustainIT – The European Sustainable ICT Forum Conference
The first part of the conference will focus on the Leaning of IT Departments – essentially an auditing of IT services, user behaviour and data retention policies to determine effective energy baselines. The second part will take a more proactive approach and look at Silicon Offsetting by examining how ICT transforms business processes & models, and be driver of enterprise-wide environmental strategy.
Location: London, UK
Date: 22-23 February 2008
* Applied Environmental Economics Conference
Now in its 6th year, this one-day conference will bring together environmental economists from public and private sectors, academia and consultancy to share results of recent research and to discuss issues relevant to the practical application of environmental economics in the UK and elsewhere. By creating a mutual platform for those who commission work and those who undertake it, the conference aims to contribute to the effective use of environmental economics for environmental policy and management, as well as influence the research agenda.
Location: London, UK
Date: 14 March 2008
Added to Vacancies
* Community Fisheries Control Agency (CFCA) – Administrative Assistant
The Community Fisheries Control Agency is organising selection procedures with a view to drawing up a reserve list for the post of Administrative Assistant. He/she will carry out tasks of both internal and external characteristics, in an international setting. The work is distinguished by a high level of service attitude, discretion and multi tasking ability.
Location: Vigo, Spain (temporarily Brussels, Belgium)
Deadline: 22 February 2008
* European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) – Administrative Assistant – Legal Affairs
ECHA is organising the current call for expressions of interest to constitute a reserve list for Administrative Assistants in the legal field. The selected Assistants will work in the Registry of the Board of Appeal of the Agency on activities relating to appeal proceedings against certain decisions of the Agency or in the Office of the Executive Director on activities relating to the Management Board or legal issues in general.
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Deadline: 5 March 2008
* European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) – Project Officer for Port State Control
European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) – Assessor in the Maritime field
The EMSA has two vacancies: one for a project officer in connection with port state control and one for an assessor in the maritime field. The function of project officer involves the assistance in an overall monitoring of the implementation of EU maritime safety legislation related to the operation of ships, and the preparation of assessment visits to Member States. Furthermore, the project officer will participate in and lead a technical working group under the framework of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on port state control. The function of Assessor in the Maritime field involves inspection visits inside and outside Europe.
Location of both posts: Lisbon, Portugal
Deadline: 7 March 2008
* UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) – Director, United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat, D2
The director will manage the UN Forum on Forests Secretariat which supports the UN process that is related to the development and implementation of international forest policy on management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forest and will take the lead in establishing collaborative arrangements with interested governments and IOs. He/she will support the interagency Collaborative Partnership on Forests and coordinate related UNFF activities.
Location: New York, USA
Deadline: 18 March 2008
* United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) – Associate Administrative Officer, P-2
The Associate Administrative Officer will be responsible for managing human resources, the budget and finance as well as will carry out tasks related to general administration.
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Deadline: 22 March 2008
* UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) – Director, Division for Sustainable Development, D-2
The Director of the Division for Sustainable Development will manage the implementation of the work programme of the Division in the context of among others Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. He/she will also provide policy advice to the Under-Secretary-General and, if required, to the UN Secretariat, on substantive and policy aspects of sustainable development.
Location: New York, USA
Deadline: 23 March 2008
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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)
Marianna Kondas (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