 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||
EPAGMA Update
August 2007
EPAGMA meets EU officials on ETS review
Between April and June, EPAGMA Members have met with key officials from the European Commission in order to discuss and express the concerns of the peat industry regarding the review of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. By the end of 2007, the Commission will present a legislative proposal to revise the scheme. The legislative proposal will be discussed at the European Parliament and Council after its publication. EPAGMA will therefore organise meetings with Members of the European Parliament to present its position. EPAGMA is also developing information materials to distribute to EU officials and other interested stakeholders.
EPAGMA contributed to European Commission ETS review consultation
In spring 2007, the European Commission launched a Public consultation on the ETS review to which EPAGMA participated. In its submission, EPAGMA has highlighted the commitment of the industry to sustainability and has called on the Commission to ensure that an all encompassing as well as sector specific approach is taken into account in the consideration of the factors which bring to the allocation of emission rights to the different industrial sectors. The factors which should be taken into consideration should include security of supply, research and investment in new technologies and, in the case of peat, the very unique nature of the industry with an emphasis on the Life-cycle approach.
EPAGMA contributed to European Commission consultation on Biofuels
On 10 January 2007, the European Commission published proposals for a new Energy Policy for Europe. In this context, the Commission organised between April and June a consultation on how such a biofuel sustainability system should be designed. EPAGMA submitted its comments on the sustainability criteria proposed, on certification and on second generation biofuels. The European Commission is expected to propose in the fall a comprehensive directive on renewable energies which will include the guidelines for the sustainable production of biofuels in the field of transport in the EU. The draft directive will then be discussed by the European Parliament and the European Council.
EU initiative on Business and biodiversity - EPAGMA gets involved
The European Commission together with the Portuguese Presidency of the European Union have decided to launch at the end of this year a "Business and Biodiversity Initiative" which will propose measures to protect biodiversity and integrate the issue into the decision-making processes of businesses. At a workshop organised to prepare the initiative, EPAGMA, among other industries representatives, has participated in the preparations. It will very likely attend the International Conference on Business & Biodiversity hosted by the Portuguese Presidency on 12 & 13 November in Lisbon (Portugal).
European Commission prepares Biowaste management guidelines
As foreseen in the Thematic Strategy on the prevention and recycling of waste, the Commission is preparing guidelines addressed to policy makers on the application of life cycle thinking to biowaste management policies. Despite delays, the Commission still plans to submit the draft guidelines to a large stakeholder consultation to which EPAGMA may participate.
EPAGMA meetings
- The EPAGMA Executive Board last met in Brussels on 29 August 2007.
- The next meeting of all the EPAGMA members will take place on 2 October 2007 in Brussels.