The European Parliament’s Environment Committee has overwhelmingly adopted Gaston Franco’s report on the major orientations of European environmental policy by 2020, a priority issue for the Irish Presidency of the European Union.
“I am pleased with this very positive vote on such a crucial issue. With the previous environmental action program having expired in July 2012, it was important to quickly reach a strong agreement in the European Parliament,” said the European Deputy upon returning from the Environment Council meeting in Dublin where he was the special guest of the Irish Minister for the Environment.
“On the basis of the 500 amendments submitted, I have endeavored to advocate for a European environmental policy that is both ambitious and realistic, considering the difficult economic context and the international challenges post-Rio+20,” he added.
In his report, Gaston FRANCO called for high protection of natural capital and biodiversity, efficient resource use, strengthening the link between environmental and industrial policy for a true European ecological “New Deal,” leading to more sustainable growth and job creation.
The European Deputy also emphasized the need to consider environmental aspects in European trade policy to combat environmental dumping and unfair competition that European companies face. He also secured the relaunch of discussions on a carbon tax at the EU borders to tackle carbon leakage and company relocations.
Following the vote on the report, the members of the Environment Committee mandated Gaston FRANCO to promptly begin negotiations with the Council to reach a political agreement on the new environmental action program by the end of June.
