Greenpeace EU: EU affairs

MEP proposals for van emissions ask for too little, too slow

edavitt — Tue, 07 May 2013 07:56:00 +0200

Brussels – The European Parliament environment committee today voted to support long-term targets to improve van fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emissions by 2025. However, the members of the European Parliament (MEPs) failed to tighten up the EU’s unambitious 2020 targets, and supported loopholes that would limit improvements in fuel efficiency. The standards for vans also fall far below equivalent emission standards for passenger cars backed by the same MEPs only last month [1].

MEPs supported unambitious targets for vans of 147g CO₂/km for 2020 and a range of 105 g to 120g CO₂/km for 2025. Last month, they supported a 95g CO₂/km target for cars by 2020, which would be equivalent to about 118g CO₂/km for vans [2]. A wide gap between cars and vans targets could also undermine the target for cars through ‘leakage’ – the reclassification of cars as vans so as to avail of the less strict regime. The committee’s support for loopholes known as supercredits also means that each van under 50g CO₂/km would count 1.3 times towards the average fleet target.

In addition, MEPs supported the introduction of speed limiters set at 120km/h for new vans from January 2014. The parliament will now negotiate a final deal with European ministers and the European Commission before the end of June.

Greenpeace EU policy director Franziska Achterberg said: “It is good that MEPs have now supported long term targets for both cars and vans. But with much weaker targets compared to those for passenger cars, van manufacturers are on a slow path to cleaner transport. The introduction of loopholes into the mix means that European vans will not benefit from the innovations that stricter standards have helped bring about in passenger cars. European governments must support stronger targets to encourage technological development and tackle rising emissions from road transport.”

The number of vans on Europe’s roads is steadily increasing [3]. The average emissions of new vans registered in Europe were 179 g/km in 2011 [4].

Notes:

[1] Greenpeace: MEPs bend but do not break under car lobby pressure, 24 April 2013 http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/en/News/2013/MEPs-bend-but-do-not-break-under-car-lobby-pressure/

[2] TNO 2012, Assessment of alternative targets and modalities for the CO2 regulation for light commercial vehicles, http://www.transportenvironment.org/sites/te/files/TNO%202012%20Vans%20report.pdf

[3] Anfac 2010, European Motor Vehicle Parc 2008, http://www.acea.be/images/uploads/files/20100427_EU_Motor_Vehicles_in_Use_2008.pdf

[4] ICCT 2012: European Vehicle Market Statistics, http://www.theicct.org/sites/default/files/publications/Pocketbook_2012_opt.pdf

Contacts:
Franziska Achterberg - Greenpeace EU transport policy director: +32 (0)498 362 403, Franziska.Achterberg@Greenpeace.org
Ed Davitt - Greenpeace media officer: +32 (0)476 988 584 Edward.Davitt@Greenpeace.org

For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organisation that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace. Greenpeace does not accept donations from governments, the EU, businesses or political parties.

MEPs bend but do not break under car lobby pressure

edavitt — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:03:00 +0200

Brussels, 24 April 2013 – Members of the European Parliament’s environment committee have voted in favour of long-term targets to improve car fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emissions by 2025. But MEPs also voted to weaken the EU’s 2020 target said Greenpeace.

MEPs agreed that average emissions for new cars in 2025 should be within a maximum range of 68-78 grammes of CO2 per kilometre. The exact target, they suggest, should be firmed up before 2017.

Reacting to the vote, Greenpeace EU transport policy director Franziska Achterberg said: “European parliamentarians have shown foresight by backing standards for 2025. This timeline would give carmakers enough time to clean up their act. But the range they indicate is still too high to truly drive investments in technological innovation. Greenpeace is calling for a target of no more than 60g CO2/km in 2025.”

MEPs also backed loopholes [1] that would weaken a previously agreed standard of 95g CO2/km for 2020. These loopholes, known as supercredits, would allow electric cars to count more towards the average emissions of a car fleet than SUVs. The effect of this accounting trick would be to increase carbon emissions, raise costs for drivers and drain the European economy with expensive oil imports. Volkswagen, Europe’s largest carmaker, has already committed to reach the 2020 target without loopholes [2].

“MEPs have fallen into the trap set by carmakers claiming that standards can only be met if they are riddled with loopholes. But carmakers have cried wolf before, proving themselves wrong by innovating faster than they said they could,” [3] added Achterberg.

Greenpeace calls on European governments and the European Commission to back stronger targets for 2025 and to reject loopholes that would weaken the existing 2020 target [4].

The Irish EU presidency has said it aims to broker a deal on car standards between the Parliament, European governments and the Commission by the end of June.

Notes:

[1] Compliance by creative accounting: How supercredits would undermine the EU’s car CO2 standards for 2020 (briefing), www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/en/Publications/2013/Supercredits-briefing/

[2] Volkswagen and Greenpeace underline strict CO2 limits for new cars,http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/news/2013/03/Volkswagen_and_Greenpeace_underline_strict_CO2_limits_for_new_cars.html

[3] Tired of hot air? Car industry claims vs. reality (briefing), http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/Global/eu-unit/reports-briefings/2013/A4_myths_reality.pdf

[4] The case for 2025 targets for CO2 emissions from cars and vans (briefing) http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/Global/eu-unit/reports-briefings/2013/20130130%20BR%202025%20car%20emission%20target_final.pdf

Contact:

Franziska Achterberg – Greenpeace EU transport policy director:

franziska.achterberg@greenpeace.org, +32 (0)2 274 1918

Greenpeace EU press desk: +32 (0)2 274 1911, pressdesk.eu@greenpeace.org

For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

Supercredits briefing

edavitt — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 06:30:00 +0200

Brussels – In advance of this week’s vote in the European Parliament environment committee on the car CO2 emission standards, Greenpeace is today releasing a briefing and infographic on the effect that so-called supercredits would have on the system. The car industry has convinced a number of decision-makers, including many of the Euro-parliamentarians voting today, to support supercredits.Compliance by creative accounting

Drawing from a recent study from Ricardo-AEA (jointly commissioned by Greenpeace and Transport and Environment), Low Emission Car Measures Under the EU’s CO2 Regulations for Passenger Cars, the attached briefing and infographic show that ‘supercredits’ would only undermine the benefits of the new law and delay the achievement of its 95 gram CO₂/km target by 2020. In particular, the less the EU improves the fuel consumption of European vehicles, the higher the costs that will be borne by drivers.

The briefing outlines why supercredits are the wrong proposal at the wrong time, highlighting their negative effects showing they would result in:

• A worse deal for the climate - more CO2 emissions

• A worse deal for Europe’s economy - higher oil import bills

• A worse deal for consumers - bigger fuel costs

• A worse deal for Europe’s competitiveness - loss of EU leadership on cleaner cars

Contacts:

Franziska Achterberg – EU transport policy director: franziska.achterberg@greenpeace.org, +32 (0)2 274 1918

Ed Davitt – EU communications officer: edward.davitt@greenpeace.org, +32 476 988584 (mobile)

For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

Report: Low Emission Car Measures Under the EU’s CO2 Regulations for Passenger Cars

edavitt — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 09:53:00 +0200

Ricardo-AEA report for Greenpeace and Transport & EnvironmentRicardo-AEA_Low-Emission-Car-Measures_final

Passenger cars and vans together account for more than half of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the transport sector in Europe. While GHG emissions from other sectors are generally falling, those from transport have increased by 23% since 1990. In response, the European Union has implemented regulations to reduce CO2 emissions from cars and vans.

This report from Ricardo-AEA, their fourth in a series commissioned by Greenpeace and Transport and Environment, explores the impacts of different systems that are supposed to incentivise more rapid uptake of ULEVs, according to their proponents, to better understand their potential impacts in a range of areas. In particular three main areas that have been explored as part of this study:

1) Analysis of the impacts (on actual CO2 emissions achieved and additional manufacturing costs) of the following supercredit design options, depending on take-up of ULEVs:

a. Qualifying thresholds used to define ULEVs (in gCO2/km).

b. Caps in the numbers of qualifying vehicles.

c. Annual or cumulative credits.

d. The multipliers applied for supercredits.

e. Different uptake scenarios for ULEVs in 2020.

2) Analysis of the impacts (on actual CO2 emissions achieved and additional manufacturing costs) of the following flexible mandate design options, depending on take-up of ULEVs:

a. Qualifying thresholds used to define an ULEV (in gCO2/km).

b. Central, lower and upper thresholds/targets for % sales of ULEV.

3) Analysis of the wider EU-wide impacts of the different supercredit or flexible mandate options in comparison with those for the Commission’s proposal (EC 2012, EC 2012a, EC 2012b) in terms of estimations of:

a. Average new car gCO2/km in 2020.

b. Total car fleet CO2 emissions in 2020 and 2030.

c. Typical fuel costs over the lifetime of the vehicle produced in 2020 and 2030, and average annual fuel costs for the whole EU car fleet in 2020 and 2030.

d. The level and cost of oil imports in 2020 and 2030.

Green paper kicks-off boxing match on Europe’s energy future

edavitt — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 10:12:00 +0100

Brussels – Greenpeace welcomes the Commission’s decision to start defining Europe’s energy choices and climate action past 2020. However, given the Commission’s low objectives [1] regarding concrete numbers, Greenpeace urges EU governments to step into the ring to set ambitious climate and energy targets for 2030. Such targets will be crucial to steer the EU towards a clean and more stable economy based on renewables and less dependent on polluting and dangerous energy technologies, while keeping climate change to safe levels.

Commenting on the release of the Commission’s green paper, A 2030 framework for climate and energy policies [2], Greenpeace EU energy policy adviser Frederic Thoma said: “The Commission has sounded the start of round one but EU governments will decide if Europe goes into the ring ready for victory or with one arm tied behind its back. As it stands, the Commission’s lack of ambition on 2030 climate, renewables and energy efficiency targets make the EU a lightweight.”

Greenpeace supports at least a 55% cut in domestic carbon emissions by 2030, a 45% share of renewables in the energy system and a binding commitment to cut energy waste across the EU. Energy and environment ministers from EU countries will voice their views on the Commission’s green paper at their Informal Council meeting in April.

Notes:

[1] The scenarios used in the green paper make reference to a renewable share of 30% and cuts to greenhouse gas emissions of 40% by 2030.The green paper fails to recognise the need for a binding efficiency target.

[2] Commission green paper: A 2030 framework for climate and energy policies: link

Contacts:

Frederic Thoma – Greenpeace EU energy policy adviser: +32 (0)486 401895 (mobile), frederic.thoma@greenpeace.org

Ed Davitt – Greenpeace EU communications officer: +32 476 988584 (mobile), edward.davitt@greenpeace.org

For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

DR Congo logging

edavitt — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 10:25:00 +0100

The Democratic Republic of Congo's logging sector is in a state of “organised chaos” according to a new report from Greenpeace Africa, threatening to cut off trading with the European Union (EU), the world’s largest timber market. A new regulation banning illegal timber came into effect in the EU on 3 March.

Cut It Out: Illegal Logging in the DRC details how the so-called “battle against illegal logging” launched by the DRC government is failing and reveals the devastating impact that the lack of governance, law enforcement and transparency is having on part of the world’s second largest rainforest.

“Logging companies, including multinationals, are routinely flouting Congolese law, with complete impunity,” said Irène Wabiwa, forests campaigner with Greenpeace Africa. “Many are involved in large-scale timber laundering and as a result, the government is denied tax revenues. Illegal logging is impacting directly on millions of Congolese citizens who depend on forests for their livelihoods.“

Compiled through research and field trips to Bandundu province, the report shows how companies are getting around a moratorium on new industrial logging permits in the country through the illegal use of artisanal permits, which are officially only to be used for small scale logging. Upon visiting Kinkole port near Kinshasa, Greenpeace Africa witnessed log ends being removed and painted with new markings to hide illegal activities and to enable export.

The European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR) prohibits illegally harvested timber (and timber products) from being traded on the European market. Timber traders are required to act with due diligence to minimise the risk of illegal timber from entering their supply chains.

The state of the sector in the DRC and the lack of independent systems there to verify legality mean it is extremely difficult under current circumstances, if not impossible, for traders based in the EU and dealing in timber from the DRC to comply with the legislation.

Companies in Europe need to ensure they fulfill all requirements in the new law to avoid being liable and prosecuted. If they continue with 'business as usual' they will be found out.

“This law ends a long period of impunity in the timber industry. Any timber operators caught selling illegal timber on the EU market will now risk being prosecuted and facing sanctions. There is no other option for the industry but to comply,” said Danielle Van Oijen, forests campaigner with Greenpeace International.

“With strict enforcement from EU governments, this new law can promote a change of behaviour in the global timber industry, including in the DRC and to help stop forest destruction.”

A total transformation of the logging sector in the DRC is needed. To achieve this, Greenpeace is calling on the government to reinforce the existing moratorium and cancel all existing illegal permits, prosecute infractions, publish all logging contracts, strengthen anti-corruption measures, and enable communities to manage their forests for their own benefit.

To read Cut it Out: Illegal Logging in the DRC:
http://www.greenpeace.org/africa/Global/africa/publications/forests/CutItOut.pdf
To view and download news video: http://tinyurl.com/d266rdo

For press enquiries contact:
Irene Wabiwa, Forests Campaigner, Greenpeace Africa, phone: +243 997 853 171, irene.wabiwa@greenpeace.org
Danielle Van Oijen, Forests Campaigner, Greenpeace Netherlands. Mobile: + 31 6 15 00 74 04,Danielle.van.oijen@greenpeace.org
Greenpeace International pressdesk hotline: +31 (0)20 718 24 70

Briefing: Tired of Hot Air?

edavitt — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 08:00:00 +0100

A briefing sheet on the myths and realities of car emissions in Europe since 2007.A4_myths_reality

EU deal could discourage oil drilling in Arctic waters

edavitt — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 13:44:00 +0100

Brussels, 21 February 2013 – Greenpeace has welcomed a preliminary agreement between the European Parliament and the Council over an EU law on oil and gas offshore drilling. If confirmed, the law could limit or even prevent oil drilling under harsh conditions, such as those in the Arctic, where cleaning up an oil spill is impossible.

The agreement, negotiated between the representative of the European Parliament, Ivo Belet, and the Irish presidency, representing EU governments, would oblige oil companies to assess the ability to clean up an oil spill in difficult conditions, such as prolonged darkness, ice cover or rough seas, where standard response procedures cannot be used. The agreement also calls for international political action to promote the highest standards on prevention, preparedness and response to Arctic oil pollution.

However, the proposed agreement would still allow discrepancies between safety regimes in different EU countries. The European Maritime and Safety Agency (EMSA) will not have an increased role in supervision and control. Greenpeace also regrets that compensation for oil spill damages for affected fishermen or tourism operators is not included in the deal.

Greenpeace EU climate policy director Joris den Blanken said: “This deal on the EU safety law for offshore drilling would go some way to ensuring that oil companies think long and hard before they embark on a risky adventure in the Arctic. Recent incidents off the coast of Alaska show that companies like Shell should simply not operate in one of the planet’s most fragile environments. Unfortunately, this deal still leaves too much wiggle room in its implementation.”

To become law, the agreement must now be endorsed by the European Parliament and governments. Once this happens, Greenpeace urges EU governments to implement this law in the strictest possible manner, setting in place a real safety regime.

Contacts:
Joris den Blanken – Greenpeace EU climate and energy policy director: +32 (0)476 961375 (mobile), joris.denblanken@greenpeace.org

Ed Davitt – Greenpeace EU communications officer: +32 (0)476 988584(mobile), Edward.davitt@greenpeace.org

For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

EU Ombudsman launches investigation into Commission’s alleged failure to curb conflicts of interest via the revolving door

mbreddy — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 09:30:00 +0100

Brussels - The European Ombudsman has launched an investigation into the European Commission's alleged failure to prevent conflicts of interest among staff as a result of the revolving door - where EU staff take up jobs with lobby firms and vice-versa.

The complaint was filed by Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO), Greenpeace, Lobbycontrol and Spinwatch, who argue that the Commission's failure to properly address conflicts of interest allows private interests undue access and influence in public policy-making. The complaint focuses on the Commission's failure to implement rules in its internal staff regulations to guard against the revolving door problem [1].

CEO and other watchdog groups have documented a number of cases where staff rules have been breached [2], or where the Commission has clearly failed to ensure staff were aware of, or complied with the rules. As part of the inquiry, the Commission will be required to disclose a list of all revolving door cases that have taken place over the last three years. Transparency campaigners have previously been denied access to this list. If there is evidence of systemic failure in the Commission's handling of the revolving door, the Ombudsman could take the exceptional step of launching a more far-reaching own initiative inquiry [3].

According to current Commission rules, staff must be scrutinised for potential conflicts of interest, both when starting a position, and for two years after leaving, when taking up a new job. If such jobs could potentially lead to a conflict with “the legitimate interests of the institution”, the Commission can forbid it, or approve it subject to appropriate conditions.

Jorgo Riss, director at Greenpeace EU, said: “The Ombudsman investigation based on our complaint is good news for transparency. For too long, the Commission has turned a blind eye to the conflicts of interest that can arise when EU bureaucrats change job to become lobbyists, or when lobbyists start working in the EU administration. The Ombudsman's investigation should lead the Commission to close the revolving door to private lobbyists who put the public interest at risk.”

The investigation by the European Ombudsman comes at a time when the problem of undue access and influence is already in the public eye, following the mysterious resignation of former health Commissioner John Dalli in October 2012, over a tobacco lobby scandal, and just months after the European Court of Auditors criticised EU agencies for failing to take adequate action to tackle revolving door-type conflicts of interest [4].

Rachel Tansey, lobbycracy campaigner at Corporate Europe Observatory, said: “Dalligate has shown us that personal contacts in the Commission are extremely useful to lobbyists wishing to promote their interests. Many lobby consultancies headhunt Commission staff because they provide them with invaluable inside knowledge and contacts. It is a profitable business strategy and one the Commission cannot afford to ignore."

To shed light on the revolving door problem, transparency organisations call on the Commission and the European Parliament to require lobby groups, companies and consultancies signed up to the EU's transparency register to disclose if their lobbyists have previously worked as EU officials [5]. The EU register is currently under review (two years after it was launched), offering an opportunity not only to make the register mandatory, but also to include new provisions.

The review of the Staff Regulations, expected to be completed in the coming months, also offers a crucial opportunity to include stricter revolving door rules.

Contact:

Rachel Tansey, Campaigner, Corporate Europe Observatory, tel: +32 2 8930930,

email: rachel@corporateeurope.org

Jorgo Riss, Director, Greenpeace EU, tel: +32 2 2741907,

email: jorgo.riss@greenpeace.org

Nina Katzemich, Campaigner, Lobbycontrol, tel: +49 221 1696507,

email: nina.katzemich@lobbycontrol.de

Notes:

[1] The complaint, filed by Corporate Europe Observatory, Greenpeace, Lobbycontrol and Spinwatch on 16th October 2012, is available here: http://corporateeurope.org/publications/ombudsman-complaint-against-european-commission-revolving-door

[2] ALTER-EU. 2011. Block the revolving door: why we need to stop EU officials becoming lobbyists. www.alter-eu.org/sites/default/files/altereu_revolving_doors_report.pdf
For an updated list of cases, see Corporate Europe Observatory's RevolvingDoorWatch: http://corporateeurope.org/projects/revolvingdoorwatch

[3] The Ombudsman stated in correspondance with transparency organisations, 1 February 2012: “If there are indications of such a systemic problem, I will close the inquiry into the present complaint and open an own initiative inquiry, thereby giving me greater procedural flexibility to pursue my inquiry in the public interest; address all aspects of the issue; and assist the Commission, if necessary, to improve its procedures. If I decide to open an own initiative inquiry, I may decide to invite the public to comment on the general issues raised.”

[4] European Court of Auditors. Special Report No 15/2012: Management of conflict of interest in selected EU Agencies. Page 35, para 88. http://eca.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/pressroom/PresspackSR152012

[5] This provision exists in the Canadian Lobbying Act, which includes a mandatory lobby register, requiring entities to list the names of lobbyists as well as any former public offices held by the lobbyists identified on their registration. Detailed in Lobbying and transparency: A comparative analysis of regulatory reform, Craig Holman and William Luneburg, 2012, http://www.palgrave-journals.com/iga/journal/v1/n1/full/iga20124a.html

Briefing: The case for 2025 targets for CO2 emissions from cars and vans

edavitt — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 08:00:00 +0100

The EU has set a legally-binding target for new cars to emit no more than 95 grammes of CO2 per kilometre (g/km) by 2020. The target for vans is 147g/km. In July 2012, the European Commission announced its proposals on how these targets should be met. These proposals are currently being considered by the European Parliament and Council. The Commission did not propose further standards for 2025.20130130 BR 2025 car emission target_final

This briefing outlines the arguments for setting strong 2025 targets and explains why industry arguments for delaying these targets are unfounded and would set back progress. It is based on new research by consultancy Ricardo-AEA4, as well as other evidence.

Greenpeace comment on the release of the Irish EU presidency programme

mbreddy — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 14:15:00 +0100

The Irish government has released the detailed programme at the start of its six-month presidency of the European Union.

In an initial reaction after the publication of the programme, Greenpeace adviser for the Irish presidency Dónall Geoghegan said: "There is certainly a lot to do for Ireland on the environment and this programme reflects that. We're particularly pleased to see that the presidency will seek agreement on legislation to make cars more fuel efficient by reducing their carbon emissions. We also welcome that the presidency recognises the need to manage European fisheries more sustainably in order to preserve our seas for future generations. The European Parliament has already signalled that overfishing cannot continue and we hope that the Irish government will follow this approach in its work towards the adoption of reformed fishing rules in the EU."

On energy and climate change policy, Geoghegan added: "We certainly also expect the presidency to lay the foundations for the next set of 2030 objectives on climate change and for the uptake of renewables. Steady progress is needed to secure the environmental and jobs potential in the energy sector."

The full Irish EU presidency programme is available here.

Contacts:

Dónall Geoghegan: +353 87 222 5691
Greenpeace EU pressdesk: +32 (0)2 2741911, pressdesk.eu@greenpeace.org

For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

Irish government unveils ‘trio’ EU presidency programme

mbreddy — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:45:00 +0100

Brussels – Today the Irish government laid out plans for its presidency of the Council of the European Union, which is due to begin on 1 January 2013. Statements today by Irish Tánaiste (deputy prime minister) and foreign minister Eamon Gilmore highlighted the need to focus on ‘jobs and growth’, but Greenpeace is concerned that the plans as outlined today still lack direction and fail to address the drain on the economy from expensive imports of natural resources. They also fail to recognise the opportunity for greater prosperity from the greening of the European economy across all sectors, warned Greenpeace.

The six-month presidency will allow Ireland to direct much of the policy focus of the Union for the first half of next year, within an 18-month joint 'trio' programme with the subsequent presidencies of Lithuania and Greece.

Greenpeace welcomes that the Irish presidency, as part of the trio programme, recognises that "the challenges posed by the current economic and financial situation cannot be addressed effectively in the long term without a continuing emphasis on green growth and resource efficiency" [1].

However, in a letter to Irish Taoiseach (prime minister) Enda Kenny last week, Greenpeace joined nine other leading environmental NGOs in expressing concern about the lack of focus on how greening the economy can shape Europe's recovery and highlighting some of the areas where the Irish government needs to focus special attention [2]. Europe's energy policy is central to its economic future – the EU currently spends €1 billion a day on fossil fuel imports from places like the Middle East and Russia, despite the fact that the OECD and the EU's own 2020 strategy specifically underline the need for greater energy efficiency and independence if the EU is to stabilise its economic position. The recent EU Energy Revolution report from Greenpeace highlights the potential for 1.5 million jobs in a new, modern European energy system based on renewables, energy efficiency and sustainable, independent energy [3].

Greenpeace adviser for the Irish presidency Dónall Geoghegan said: "What Ireland promotes as its themes and priorities for the presidency is important. There needs to be focus on a more sustainable direction for Europe's economy. We hope that as detailed plans are worked out by the Irish presidency, emphasis will go into ways to pursue lasting economic benefits and sustainable employment from clean and efficient economic systems that produce sustainable jobs. There is a risk that without such focus, EU countries would once again subsidise old polluting technologies that will do nothing to solve the underlying problems in the European economy. The Irish presidency needs to focus on things that work and benefit everyone, not just the banks: paying less for fuel, saving energy and creating jobs with better insulation, and cutting food and resource waste."

Notes to editors:
[1] http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/12/st17/st17426.en12.pdf
[2] http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/Global/eu-unit/reports-briefings/2011%20pubs/2012%20Nov-Dec/201212%20letter%20to%20Irish%20Taoiseach%20Enda%20Kenny.pdf
[3] http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/en/News/2012/ER-PR/

Contacts:
Dónall Geoghegan - Greenpeace adviser for the Irish presidency: +353 87 222 5691
Greenpeace EU pressdesk: +32 (0)2 2741911, pressdesk.eu@greenpeace.org

This press comment is also available on: www.greenpeace.eu
For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

Green NGO letter to Taoiseach Enda Kenny on the Irish EU presidency

mbreddy — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 09:57:00 +0100

Letter on behalf of the Green 10.201212 letter to Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny

The Green 10 is the group of leading environmental NGOs active at EU level, with a combined membership of over 20 million citizens.

Exploring possible car and van CO2 emission targets for 2025 in Europe

edavitt — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 08:00:00 +0100

Ricardo AEA_2025 targets_Dec 2012

Final report for Greenpeace and Transport & Environment

Campaigners file Ombudsman complaint on European Commission’s failure to curb revolving doors

mbreddy — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 09:25:00 +0200

Brussels/Cologne/London - Lobby transparency campaigners have filed a complaint with the EU Ombudsman, raising concerns about the European Commission's failure to deal with the problem of Commission staff going through the ’revolving door‘ to jobs in the private sector [1].

The complaint comes just days after the European Court of Auditors criticised the Commission's agencies for failing to take adequate action to tackle 'revolving door' type conflicts of interest [2].

A large number of senior staff have moved through the revolving door to jobs in industry, or vice versa, including as lobbyists, creating potential conflicts of interest [3]. Campaigners say the Commission has failed to implement its own rules or adequately scrutinise the moves [4].

The complaint refers to ten cases which highlight these concerns. These include senior Commission officials moving straight into, or setting up, lobby consultancies after leaving office, without appropriate scrutiny or restrictions by the Commission.

The complaint argues that the cases create potential conflicts of interest, where the former staff member is able to exploit their knowledge and contacts to lobby for their new employer. This provides the potential for excessive and undue influence.

Civil society groups are campaigning for the Commission to take firmer action against revolving door cases, but Commissioner Šefčovič, in charge of transparency issues, has repeatedly rejected these concerns, precipitating the complaint to the Ombudsman.

Rachel Tansey from Corporate Europe Observatory said:
"The Commission's laissez-faire approach to the revolving door has failed to prevent former employees from selling their knowledge and influence to industry lobby organisations. Rules exist, but they are not being properly implemented - and when breaches do occur, no proper sanctions are being imposed. We have submitted a complaint to the Ombudsman as we believe this situation undermines the credibility of the Commission and EU decision-making."

Transparency International has described the "excessive and undue influence of lobbyists in the European corridors of power" as a form of "legal corruption" [5].

Contacts:
Rachel Tansey, Corporate Europe Observatory: +32 2 8930930, rachel@corporateeurope.org
Nina Katzemich, Lobbycontrol: +49 221 1696507, nina.katzemich@lobbycontrol.de

Notes:
[1] The complaint, which was filed today by Corporate Europe Observatory, Greenpeace, Lobbycontrol and Spinwatch is available here: http://corporateeurope.org/publications/ombudsman-complaint-against-european-commission-revolving-door
[2] European Court of Auditors. Special Report No 15/2012: Management of conflict of interest in selected EU Agencies. Page 35, para 88. http://eca.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/pressroom/PresspackSR152012
[3] The OECD defines a conflict of interest as occurring: "when an individual or a corporation (either private or governmental) is in a position to exploit his or their own professional or official capacity in some way for personal or corporate benefit."
[4] ALTER-EU. 2011. Block the revolving door: why we need to stop EU officials becoming lobbyists. www.alter-eu.org/sites/default/files/altereu_revolving_doors_report.pdf
For an updated list of cases, see Corporate Europe Observatory's RevolvingDoorWatch, http://corporateeurope.org/projects/revolvingdoorwatch
[5] Transparency International. 2012. Money, politics and power: corruption risks in Europe. Page 10. http://www.transparency.org/whatwedo/pub/money_politics_and_power_corruption_risks_in_europe

EU wins Nobel Peace Prize

jhunter — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 11:30:00 +0200

Brussels - Commenting on news that the European Union has today won the Nobel Peace Prize, Greenpeace EU director Jorgo Riss said:

"The union has helped cement peace in Europe over the last sixty years. But with climate change and other grave environmental pressures threatening to become major new sources of conflict, we now look to Europe’s leaders to play a truly transformative role on the environmental stage, within and beyond its borders. The bloc has won this prize for deeds in the past. Through future actions, it must prove it deserves it."

Contacts: Greenpeace EU pressdesk - +32 (0)2 274 1911, pressdesk.eu@greenpeace.org

For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organisation that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace. Greenpeace does not accept donations from governments, the EU, businesses or political parties.

Laws to fast-track major energy projects win support in Parliament committee

edavitt — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 12:30:00 +0200

Draft EU legislation to speed up major energy infrastructure projects was voted through the European Parliament’s lead committee today.

The Industry, Trade, Research and Energy committee backed the Guidelines for Trans-European Energy Infrastructure regulation, a proposal to establish rules for identifying important energy projects and streamlining permitting procedures. Greenpeace welcomes most of the proposal, saying that a modern energy grid is essential for the continued growth of renewable energy.

Greenpeace spokesperson Tara Connolly said: “All sides agree that an efficient, modern European energy grid is a top priority. This law is about removing hurdles, opening up energy markets and allowing more renewable power into the system. So long as environmental protection is not compromised, we strongly support it.”

The committee failed to reject preferential treatment for carbon capture and storage infrastructure under the current proposal. This technology could provide a lifeline to polluting coal power plants and divert investment away from proven clean energy projects, Greenpeace said. Energy ministers should remove such support when they consider the draft legislation.

Grid operators across Europe are reporting that a third of big infrastructure projects are beset by years of delay. The law aims to shorten planning consent from a current average of over seven years to a maximum of three. It should help investment towards the estimated €200bn needed by 2020 to modernise Europe’s energy infrastructure [1].

Ends

Notes
[1] See the Commission’s impact assessment here: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=SEC:2011:1233:FIN:EN:PDF

Contacts
Tara Connolly – Greenpeace EU energy policy adviser: +32 477 790 416,tara.connolly@greenpeace.org
Greenpeace EU pressdesk: +32 (0)2 274 1911, pressdesk.eu@greenpeace.org

This press release is also available on: www.greenpeace.eu
For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

Green groups: no medals in sight for Barroso II

jhunter — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 09:30:00 +0200

Brussels – Halfway through its term in office, the European Commission is falling behind in the race to create sustainable long-term prosperity in Europe, warn Europe’s leading green groups in a critical assessment of the Commission’s environmental performance since 2010.

The report released today finds that the Commission has so far acted to protect the environment even less than the first Barroso Commission [1], according to environmental organisations.

Unless it changes track, the Barroso II Commission could have one of the worst ever environmental records, said the Green 10 coalition [2].

The report, inspired by a topical Olympic theme, assesses progress in nine EU policy fields with impacts on the environment and reviews the track record of 13 European Commissioners and Commission President José Manuel Barroso. Each policy field is given a mark out of ten based on two main factors: environmental ambition and the extent of environmental issues that the Commission has addressed.

Faced with the breakdown of an economic system operating beyond planetary limits, the Commission has so far lacked the courage to propose legislation for a new, sustainable economy and has continued to favour short-term fixes over long-term solutions for people’s health and the planet, said green groups. Despite encouraging statements on the need for a smart, inclusive and sustainable economy, the Commission has so far failed to harness the potential for environmental policies to create jobs, improve health and reduce energy and resource use. Industry lobbyists have continued to pull the strings on many political files, leading to woefully inadequate policies, according to the Green 10.

While the Commission has in some measure recognised the environmental, health and economic impact of enduring problems linked to resource depletion, pollution and ecological destruction, swifter action is required. Its flagship reform proposals on EU fisheries and agriculture policies would not put an end to industrial overfishing, nor halt animal and plant extinctions, nor soil, water and food pollution from pesticides. The Commission therefore only scores a 3.5/10 on agriculture and a 4.5/10 on fisheries.

The Commission has acknowledged the economic and environmental rewards offered by clean energy and transport and an end to fossil fuel subsidies. But its mixed record on energy policy has not delivered clear measures to bring Europe closer to a modern energy system built around renewables and efficiency, and free from expensive energy imports and polluting greenhouse gases. Failure to live up to its own rhetoric has contributed to another low score of 4.5/10 for energy policy.

The Green 10 assessment includes a series of policy-specific recommendations for the remaining two-and-a-half years of the Commission’s term that will help Europe successfully tackle the economic, climate and resource challenges facing the continent.

To download the Green 10 report, click here.

Versions of this press release are available in French and German.

Notes to editors:
[1] To view the Green 10 assessment of the outgoing Barroso Commission in 2009, click here.
[2] The Green 10 is an alliance of ten of the largest European environmental organisations and networks, with a membership of over 20 million people. www.green10.org

For media enquiries: +32 (0)2 274 1911, pressdesk.eu@greenpeace.org

Off Their Game

jhunter — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 09:30:00 +0200

This report is a mid-term assessment of the environmental performance of the Barroso II European Commission, covering the period from early 2010 to mid-2012. It is issued by the Green10, a platform of environmental organisations active at EU level, with a membership of over 20 million EU citizens.

Individual sections in this report summarise the Commission’s activities in different policy areas and set out our recommendations for the remainder of its term in office. We have also briefly assessed the performance of many European Commissionersand the Commission President.

For a print version, click here.

For a screen version, click here.

Green stimulus measures needed to exit crisis, warn leading environmental groups

mbreddy — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 09:30:00 +0200

Brussels - Ahead of this week’s EU Summit, the Green 10 network of leading environmental organizations encourages EU heads of government to break the link between the banking and the sovereign debt crises. Governments must regain the ability to implement policies that will transform the EU economy to make it more resource efficient and resilient to worsening environmental conditions. The green groups also welcome that the debate is moving beyond austerity and consider that an EU stimulus agenda, if devised correctly, would help solve the interlinked environmental and economic crises.

Measures which the Green 10 proposes for an EU stimulus package include:

A green tax shift to address the problem of high unemployment and pollution.

Conditionality for any financial support to banks to ensure investment in green sectors of the real economy.

Priority support to energy savings and renewable technology, sustainable transport and renewable energy infrastructure for electric vehicles.

No public subsidies for fossil fuels and unsustainable activities.

Green public procurement as a fundamental principle to boost the economy.

A continental tax or levy on financial transactions to provide additional financing for green stimulus measures and to fight climate change.

Supporting sustainable activity in rural and maritime regions.

At a time of critical economic challenges, including rising unemployment and dwindling natural resources, the Green 10 considers that Europe needs to transform its economy to become more resilient, to operate more efficiently and within planetary limits. Degradation of nature will cost the EU €1 trillion every year by 2050 [1]. Any EU stimulus plan must halt this destruction of natural wealth and its harmful impacts on human health [2], while creating millions of new jobs in green sectors such as renewable energy and energy savings, nature conservation and restoration, as well as sustainable transport. It should also make the European economy less dependent on energy imports, saving hundreds of billions of euro annually [3].

However, environmental groups warn that EU governments have a poor track record in finding long term solutions that benefit the environment and the economy [4]. Badly devised financial and regulatory support in the energy sector could lead to a technological 'lock-in', keeping the EU saddled with high energy costs for decades, preventing the rapid expansion of renewable technologies and related jobs.

Notes to editors:
[1] Cost of policy inaction (COPI): The case of not meeting the 2010 biodiversity target. L. Braat & P. ten Brink (eds.) http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/biodiversity/economics/teeb_en.htm (chapter 6, p. 140)
[2] Almost half a million European citizens die every year solely due to air pollution. See European Topic Centre on Air Pollution and Climate Change (2009): http://acm.eionet.europa.eu/docs/ETCACC_TP_2009_1_European_PM2.5_HIA.pdf (p. 20)
[3] The International Energy Agency estimates oil imports into the EU to cost more than 500 billion dollars in 2012. http://www.iea.org/Speech%5C2012%5CBirol_2nd_set_oil_slides.pdf
[4] For example, the costly car scrappage schemes introduced in 2008/9 were environmentally and economically ineffective. See OECD Interim Report of the Green Growth Strategy, p.30.

For media enquiries: +32 (0)2 274 1911, pressdesk.eu@greenpeace.org

The Green 10 is an alliance of ten of the largest European environmental organisations and networks, with a membershipof over 20 million people. www.green10.org

Green 10 members organisations include:
BirdLife International, Climate Action Network Europe, CEE Bankwatch Network, European Environmental Bureau, Friends of the Earth Europe, Greenpeace, Health and Environment Alliance, Naturefriends International, Transport and Environment, and WWF.

Briefing on the European Citizens' Initiative

jhunter — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 06:00:00 +0200

A concise two page briefing on the European Citizens' Initiative.

201203 BR ECI

The Lisbon Treaty, which came into force in December 2009, enshrines the right for a million Europeans to petition the European Commission and require it to draft legislation on the basis of their demands (or justify its refusal to do so). This right is known as the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI).

In December 2010, Greenpeace and Avaaz submitted a one million signature ECI in accordance with the rules established by EU treaties (http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/en/News/2010/first-citizens-initiative/). The ECI was in response to the first authorisation by the Commission in March 2010 for the cultivation of a genetically modified (GM) crop in Europe in 12 years. This authorisation was in direct breach of a request by all 27 member states for a review of the approval system for GM crops. It also raised serious health and environmental concerns. The ECI therefore called for a moratorium on all new authorisations and a review of the GM approval process.

On 1 April 2012, new operating rules on the work-ings of the ECI will come into force. This briefing clarifies Greenpeace’s position on the ECI and the status of the initiative on GM crops.

Danish EU presidency - Greenpeace priorities for the environment

mbreddy — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:39:00 +0100

Denmark will take the helm of the Council of the European Union from January 2012 at a crucial time for the future of Europe and its citizens. As government cuts start to bite and the debt and Euro-zone crises unfold, Europeans continue to be concerned about the environment. A recent survey found that 95% of Europeans think that environmental protection is important (Eurobarometer, June 2011). Over three quarters also believe that environmental measures would help boost economic growth.120101 Danish EU presidency priorities

The new Danish government will lead the political debate on fundamental issues that will help determine whether Europe banks on short-term financial gain at a great environmental cost or whether it favours long-lasting economic and environmental recovery supported by innovation, resource efficiency and clean development.

This paper briefly highlights some of the main environmental issues that will feature prominently on the EU agenda during the Danish EU presidency. These include: the future make-up of the EU energy sector; Europe’s impact on the world’s oceans; the freedom of Europeans to choose how their food is produced; and the elimination of toxic pollution in Europe’s waterways.

European Parliament adopts proposals to improve EU transparency rules

mbreddy — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:58:00 +0100

Amsterdam/Brussels/Madrid – The European Parliament today adopted its 1st reading position on proposals to improve the EU’s access to documents rules by a convincing 2:1 majority. [1]

The proposed reforms, contained in a report drawn up by Michael Cashman MEP already adopted by the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee, are now the Parliament’s formal position and will be negotiated with the Council of the European Union, under the upcoming Danish Presidency.

Access Info Europe, ClientEarth and Greenpeace welcomed the European Parliament vote, noting that some proposed amendments to the Cashman Report which would have restricted transparency were defeated in the voting.[2]

The positive aspects of the European Parliament’s position include:

Improved definition of a document which covers electronic systems, including databases stored on "off-site" servers;

Expanded scope of the right of access to documents to cover all EU bodies in line with the Lisbon Treaty;

Strikes the right balance between EU institutions’ “Space to think” and transparency of the legislative process required by the Lisbon Treaty;

Upholds the pro-transparency decisions of the European Court of Justice, particularly on disclosure of legal opinions issued in the course of legislative procedures;

Rejects the member state transparency veto proposed by the Commission, which could have been based on weak national access to information laws;

Ensures a rapid appeal process for members of the public denied information: confirmatory applications will still need to be responded to within 15 working days;

Establishes Information Officers to improve efficiency in responding to requests from the public;

Preserves existing legitimate exceptions which protect privacy, business secrets, and genuinely sensitive information in the context of competition and staff cases whilst ensuring that information which should be made public is automatically released.

“We are very happy with this result. We now have high hopes that the Danish Presidency will work in favour of strong transparency rules in line with the guarantees of the right of access to documents contained in the EU Treaties and international law,” commented Helen Darbishire, Executive Director of Access Info Europe.

For further information, please contact:
Helen Darbishire, Executive Director, Access Info Europe
email: helen@access-info.org
tel: + 34 667 685 319

Notes for Editors:

The adoption of the proposals contained in the Cashman Report in the European Parliament in Strasbourg was carried by 394 votes in favour, 197 against with 35 abstentions.

The defeated proposals had been put forward by the European People’s Party.

Block the revolving door: why we need to stop EU officials becoming lobbyists

CEO — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 17:07:00 +0100

This new ALTER-EU report urges greater transparency and stricter rules to prevent Commission officials going through the revolving door into lucrative lobby jobs in the private sector.AlterEU_revolving_doors_report

This report includes details of 15 cases of senior EU officials (see Annexe 1) who have moved through the revolving door. The EU institutions have rules to govern the revolving door, but these are weak and are poorly implemented. In the cases documented in this report, many officials were allowed to move into lobbying jobs without any restrictions being imposed. In other instances, the rules appear to have been ignored entirely, until civil society groups and the media raised the cases. Overall, between January 2008 and July 2010, only one official was prevented from taking up a new position under the revolving door rules, out of 201 requests made.

Hidden Consequences - The costs of industrial water pollution on people, planet and profit

jhunter — Wed, 25 May 2011 13:53:00 +0200

Industrial pollution is a severe threat to water resources around the world, particularly in the Global South where the view prevails that pollution is the price to pay for progress. The only way to address these hidden dangers in our water is through a preventative approach: Taking action to phase out the use and discharge of hazardous chemicals, rather than attempting to control the damage with end-of-pipe treatment methods.Hidden Consequences

Greenpeace's call for 'zero discharge' is built upon three decades of exposing and addressing the problems of hazardous chemicals. Case studies from the Global North show the extent to which persistant and bioaccumulative chemicals have contaminated entire regions. If we fail to learn from the mistakes of the past, then we are doomed to repeat them. This is especially the case in those regions of the world where much chemical and manufacturing production has now relocated - namely, Asia and the wider Global South.

Greenpeace is calling on governments to adopt a political commitment to 'zero discharge' of all hazardous chemicals within one generation, based on the precautionary principle and a preventative approach to chemicals management.