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Green Plans in Action: European Union: Beyond the Borders
Global Climate Change
The EU is a committed leader in fighting climate change. (More...#1) The EU's target is to limit global temperature rise by 2°C, and focus on how developing countries can achieve development goals while keeping carbon emissions down. An ad hoc working group of Protocol parties is underway looking at measures to be taken by industrialized countries after 2012 with the EU promoting a goal of reducing emissions by 15-30% by 2020, and 60-80% by 2050. The EU ministers have made it clear that a global approach is needed by all large industrialized countries as well as new emerging economic powers such as China and India. The EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) is a unique system adopted by the EU aimed at cost-effectively reducing green house gas emissions from industrial and power plants, and meeting EU Kyoto commitments on climate change. Large plants in the EU buy and sell permits to release carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere, and companies exceeding their CO2 emission targets buy allowances from 'greener' companies. (More...#2) In October 2007, the Commission set an EU-wide CO2 cap of 2.08 billion tonnes for 2008-2012, giving member states 10% less CO2 allowances than previously granted for that period. Current projections for carbon pricing are €22.78 per-tonne.
International Sustainable Development
The EU actively promotes sustainable development worldwide by striving to have internal and external policies consistent with global sustainable development. This can be achieved through continuing to make significant progress toward meeting internationally agreed upon goals and targets. In part, the renewed EU Sustainable Development Strategy (EU SDS) provides an external policy structure for overall objectives, targets and actions to aid in achieving these external goals. This includes implementing EU sustainable strategies in Africa, Latin America and the Pacific. In addition, the EU is working with its trading partners to improve environmental and social standards and use full potential of trade or cooperation agreements at regional or bilateral levels. For example, a report by TRAFFIC calls on the EU to adopt a "clear strategic plan that guarantees external assistance to countries where wildlife products originate, to ensure their trade is sustainable." This is a response to the Commission's 2006 Action Plan on biodiversity in order to better conserve biodiversity and sustain ecosystem services in the longer term. The MEPs are also calling on the Commission to improve the regulation of introducing invasive species into the ecosystem. This includes the introduction of genetically modified organisms, as well as monitoring deep-sea bottom trawling and setting catch quotas. The overall maintenance of ecosystems will be a fundamental goal of all EU sectoral and horizontal policies. (More...)
EU's Neighbor Policies
The European Security Strategy of 2003 addressed global security's key threats of terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, regional conflicts, state failure, and organized crime. The following year after enlargement of the EU, the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) was developed to support the European Security Strategy. ENP's objectives are to further avoid the emergence of new dividing lines through strengthening stability, security, and well-being with neighbors to the east and on the southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean. The ENP builds upon commitments to mutual values of democracy and human rights, good governance, market economy principles, and sustainable development. It offers neighbors deeper political relationships, and economic integration to the extent to which values are effectively shared and does not include an accession perspective. (More...#1) Russia is also a high priority interest in external relations of the EU. The EU-Russia Summit of 2005 adopted a package of Road Maps for the creation of EU-Russia Common Spaces. One of its objectives is to create the EU-Russia Information Society Dialogue as a framework to address issues, promote mutual understanding of legislation and field policy, and exchange best practices on objectives of mutual interest. (More...#2)
GMO Precautions
EU legislation on genetically modified organisms has been in place since the early 1990s to protect human health and the environment, and ensure free movement of safe GMO products in the EU. EU regulatory framework strictly follows an internationally recommended approach (More...#1) and reflects the requirements of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, to which the EU is a signatory. It is the task of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to carry out scientific risk assessments and give scientific advice on GMOs in the EU. (More...#2) The purpose of the EU's stringent science-based risk assessment on a case by case basis is to avoid the potential failure of the regulatory system, such as those experienced by the US in the recent past when non-approved GMOs entered the US food chain. In addition, labeling and traceability are required for pre-packaged products consisting of or containing GMOs. (More...#3) Thusfar, GMOs are only used as animal feed and for industrial processes. (More...#4) In 2007, there was a 77% increase in biotech crop cultivation in Europe over last year, totaling 110,077 hectares in 7 EU Member States. Out of 209 biotech crops under cultivation or development in 46 countries around the world, the only type of biotech crop grown in the EU to date is Bt maize.
International Economic Cooperation
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations. It is a forum where 55 countries of western, central and eastern Europe, central Asia and North America come together to create tools of economic cooperation in the areas of economic integration, energy, environment, human settlements, population, statistics, timber, trade, and transport. The Commission's experts provide technical assistance to the countries of Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA), and of southeastern Europe. This assistance takes the form of advisory services, training seminars and workshops where countries in transition can share their experiences and receive support from other countries in the region. (More...#1) In addition, through its common trade policy the EU supports global trade and was a key player in the creation and development of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The EU promotes a model balancing market forces with multilateral governance to ensure that globalization benefits are distributed fairly. The EU's strategy for sustainable development aims at reconciling economic growth, social cohesion, and environmental protection. (More...#2)
External Assistance
The EU recognizes that poverty, conflict, and instability affect everyone, and in the context of globalization it is in the common interest to address these issues. Each year the EU provides over €7 Billion in external assistance to more than 150 countries and territories to support meeting the daily challenge of improving lives worldwide through building long-term partnerships. The EuropeAid Cooperation Office was created in 2001 to implement the external aid instruments of the European Commission through programs, with funding by the European Community budget and European Development Fund. It is responsible for all phases of project cycles. Main areas of action include: Access to clean and safe water, rural development and food security, accessible quality health care, education systems and access to school, trade and the private sector prosperity, freedom, human rights, good governance, security, justice, and regional cooperation. This vital contribution supports global stability and security given the serious implications of poverty and inequality, beyond the moral imperatives they raise. (More...)
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