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PRIORITIES FOR THE IRISH PRESIDENCY
MINISTERS' EU POLICY PRIORITIES FOR THE IRISH PRESIDENCY
STATEMENT BY THE DEPUTY MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
MINISTERIAL PRIORITIES FOR THE IRISH PRESIDENCY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
Prospects for Environment
The top priorities as stated by the Presidency
The Presidency will focus on three main environmental themes:
- Environmental aspects of the Spring European Council;
- Development of a range of current environment proposals; and
- Increasing the visibility of the EU in an international context.
A number of dossiers relating to Waste, Climate Change and Air policy will be prioritised and progressed. In addition, a First Reading agreement on an extension to the LIFE funding programme on nature conservation and environmental protection projects in the EU and a Second Reading agreement on the proposed Directive on Volatile Organic Compounds in Paints may be reached. The conciliation process on the proposed Directive on Environmental Liability should also be concluded.
The Presidency will strive to make progress on the proposed Regulation on Chemicals (REACH) and the proposed Groundwater Daughter Directive. Following the deadlock at December Council, progress is unlikely to be made on the revision to the Bathing Waters Directive.
Important Environmental issues for the Scottish Executive during the Irish Presidency
The Executive has considerable interest in the Commission Communication "Towards a Thematic Strategy on Prevention and Recycling of Waste" . The Communication addresses issues such as how to avoid generating waste, how to reduce the use of resources and which wastes to recycle. The Executive contributed to the UK response to the Commission consultation on the Communication (which concluded 31/11/03) and ensured that key stakeholders in Scotland were aware of the consultation being carried out. The Presidency will arrange for discussions on the Communication and adopt Council Conclusions in June. The full Thematic Strategy, setting out a proposed approach to encourage recycling and waste prevention, will be adopted by the Commission in September.
The European Parliament is due to deliver its First reading on the proposed Groundwater Daughter Directive at the 19-23 April plenary. The Daughter Directive should provide for measures in line with the Water Framework Directive's objectives for groundwater: to prevent or limit the input of pollutants; to prevent the deterioration of the status of groundwater bodies; and to reverse significant and sustained upward pollution trends. Groundwater is used for drinking water relatively less in Scotland, compared to England and other European countries. We will accordingly look to ensure that protection should be risk-based and proportionate. Substantive progress is however unlikely to be made on the proposal during the Irish Presidency.
The Scottish Executive has an interest in the recently proposed Regulation to establish a system for the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). Negotiations are now underway in the ad-hoc group established under the Competitiveness Council; these are likely to take a considerable time and the Presidency is thus discussing handling of the dossier with future Presidencies. The Scottish Executive has three priorities regarding the REACH proposal:
- to develop a fast, efficient and workable process to test and screen chemicals and tackle those of most concern;
- to minimise animal testing; and
- to maintain the competitiveness of the chemicals industry and downstream users.
We have significant interest in the proposed Directive on Environmental Liability, which should go through the conciliation process under the Irish Presidency. The final text is likely to closely resemble the Council Common Position, which the Scottish Executive supports. The proposed Directive will provide for an EU liability regime dealing with damage to biodiversity, pollution of water and damage to land. We expect the Directive to come into effect in 2007-08, allowing for preparatory activity by public authority and business sectors affected.
The Executive supports the proposed Regulation to extend from 2004-2006 the period of the LIFE funding programme, supporting projects for nature conservation and environmental protection measures in Member States. The Irish Presidency is in discussions with the European Parliament about the dossier and hopes to be able to agree the dossier at First Reading. This proposal will allow, for example, major innovative environmental projects to continue to be funded while the EU plans arrangements for the period beyond 2006. One such project was approved last year in Scotland and two bids have been made for a start in 2004.
Finally, given the extent of Natura 2000 protected species and habitats in Scotland, we will have considerable interest in the imminent Commission Communication on Financing Natura 2000. This will consider how to ensure the future financing of the network, looking at the possibility of obtaining money from existing Community funds and from elsewhere. The Communication will build on the conclusions of the EU working group chaired by John Markland, Chairman of Scottish Natural Heritage.
Prospects for the Agriculture Policy
The top priorities as stated by the Presidency
While the framework for CAP reform was agreed in June 2003, the Irish Presidency faces the challenge of concluding work on the detailed implementing rules. These need to be in place quickly to allow Member States to develop the mechanisms necessary to introduce the much changed CAP package from 1 January 2005. In addition, the Presidency will hope to conclude arrangements for reform of the olive oil, hops, cotton and tobacco regimes.
Elsewhere, the emphasis is on a package of Veterinary and Food Safety matters the most pressing of which relate to welfare of animals in transit and tightening up of food and feed controls.
Important issues for the Scottish Executive to be dealt with by the Presidency
CAP Reform
Development of the CAP Reform Implementing Regulations is a key priority for the Presidency and of considerable importance to all Member States. It is important that these regulations are finalised as soon as possible to allow the Executive to take final detailed decisions on the shape of CAP reform in Scotland and to develop the systems required for implementation from 1 January 2005. As part of this process, we must participate fully in the development of the detailed implementing regulations to ensure that they will meet the needs of Scotland.
Welfare of animals during transport
Under the Italian Presidency the Commission proposed a package of measures designed to improve the welfare of animals during transport. The Irish Presidency considers this issue to be a high priority and is aiming to have new measures agreed at the April Council. These proposals have been discussed at Council Working Groups and two CVO meetings so that much of the detail has already been considered and general agreement reached. The two outstanding issues of importance to livestock farmers in the remote parts of Scotland relate to travel times and rest periods. The original Commission proposals for a 12 hour rest period, on board the vehicle after every travel period of 9 hours has received very little support from Member States. The general preference is to reduce considerably the first rest period and to allow the second travel period to be increased to 12 hours to reach the destination. The Scottish Executive will, within the Council Working Group, continue to argue the case for such a change but if unsuccessful will seek to secure a derogation for geographically remote areas.
Implementation issues
A very considerable amount of work will be required in preparation for the implementation of the CAP Reform agreement in January 2005. That apart, there are no major implementation issues to be addressed.
Prospects for Fisheries Policy
The top priorities as stated by the Presidency
The Irish Presidency will focus on maximising sustainable fishing opportunities for the European Union's fishing industry. This will be achieved by the implementation, in consultation with stakeholders, of development, conservation and control measures which take full account of regional socio-economic and environmental policy.
On external policy, the Presidency will seek to conclude new fisheries agreements with a number of third countries. Advancing the interest of the Community in Regional Fisheries Organisations with a view to enhancing the role such organisations play in the sustainable management of international fisheries will also be a key area for the Irish Presidency.
Particular aims of the Presidency include the following:
- To establish Regional Advisory Councils under the Common Fisheries Policy
- To establish measures for the recovery of cod stocks
- To establish an observer scheme for NAFO (the Northwest Atlantic)
- To establish measures for the recovery of the Northern hake stock
- To regulate the management of fisheries in the Mediterranean Sea
- To modify the Fourth Protocol with Greenland
- To decide Community financial contribution to fisheries control programmes
- To fix the fishing effort in Western Waters
- To protect the Darwin Mounds
- To lay down measures concerning incidental catches of cetaceans
- To lay down detailed rules for structural assistance in fisheries ("FIFG")
- To debate technical measures for environmentally friendly fishing
- To debate the recovery of sole stocks
- To debate the recovery of Southern hake stocks
- To debate the recovery of Norway lobster
- To debate the recovery of stocks in the Cantabrian Sea
- To debate eco-labelling of fishery products
- To debate report on access restrictions ( Shetland Box)
- To debate fishery resources in third country waters
- To debate technical measures in the Baltic Sea, the Belts and the Sound
Important issues for the Scottish Executive to be dealt with by the Presidency
The development of Regional Advisory Councils, which are designed to give stakeholders a proactive role in fisheries management, is of prime importance in achieving the continuing reform of a Common Fisheries Policy. The Scottish Executive actively promoted the development of such Advisory Councils in preceding Presidencies, and expects the regulation to be adopted during the Irish Presidency - with the establishment of an Advisory Council for the North Sea soon thereafter.
We will also contribute to deliberations on the planned establishment of an EU Fisheries Control Agency, where it appears a decision in principle has been taken (including to site the Agency in Spain), but decisions about its scale and remit remain to be taken following detailed examination and discussion.
The establishment of additional measures for the recovery of cod stocks should include resolution of some issues flowing from decisions taken at the December 2003 Council on days at sea (effort control) measures; agreement on haddock management measures ("spatial management", to allow prosecution of increased haddock fishing opportunities); and the development and adoption of a more flexible system of fishing effort, based on kilowatt days rather than simple (average) days at sea. This change of approach would permit account to be taken of differing vessel circumstances and be of benefit to the Scottish whitefish fleet. There will also be detailed discussions on arrangements (including benchmarks) for monitoring cod recovery measures, with implications for enforcement practices and resources.
Scottish Executive will maintain an active interest in the ongoing review of the FIFG (Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance) Regulation. This will include ensuring that the laying down of additional, detailed rules for structural assistance to aquaculture will continue to allow necessary measures in support of the Scottish salmon-farming industry in line with the Strategic Framework for Scottish Aquaculture.
Measures to protect the Darwin Mounds from damaging trawling activity have been actively promoted by the Scottish Executive. Long term protective measures are required to replace the emergency measures that were successfully introduced under the preceding Italian Presidency; the Scottish Executive's promotion of this issue reflects a policy commitment to sustainability through the adoption of the ecosystem approach to fisheries management.
Environmental policy underpins the Scottish Executive's active support for measures concerning incidental catches of cetaceans (including dolphins and porpoises) in fisheries. Fisheries Research Services, with the active co-operation of the Scottish fishing industry, observes the relevant Scottish fisheries. Consultation on a strategy for reducing incidental catches of cetaceans has issued, pre-empting Community measures.
Scottish Executive maintains an interest in the forthcoming report on conservation value of the access restrictions allowed under the Common Fisheries Policy, including the Shetland Box. Although adjustments to the rules governing access restrictions will not be made under the Irish Presidency, the Shetland Box is an area of ecological importance and local economic significance; it is essential to ensure that fishing effort in the area is not increased in the future.
Implementation issues
The priority for the Irish Presidency with a significant impact on delivery plans is that for Regional Advisory Councils: an operational Advisory Council for the North Sea is expected to come into being soon; it will require both technical and financial support. Full representation of the Scottish fishing industry can only be assured if such support is forthcoming from the Scottish Executive. The development of Regional Advisory Councils offers an opportunity to promote any appropriate recommendations for the regional management of the fisheries, as are expected to be made by the Cabinet Office's forthcoming study of the fishing industry.
The Scottish Executive will maintain a strong interest in the sustainable development of aquaculture as we implement the strategic framework. We have submitted a safeguards application in co-operation with Ireland. This application is designed to provide short term stability in the European salmon market, as we seek to provide a breathing space to allow the Scottish industry to develop and diversify into areas such as new species.
ALLAN WILSON
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