WWF - Environmental Policy News in the EU

World Heritage Committee requests cancelation of Virunga oil permits

2013-06-17

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA – The international body that oversees World Heritage Sites today requested the cancelation of oil exploration permits in Virunga National Park, some of which are currently held by international petroleum conglomerates, including UK-based Soco International PLC and French oil giant Total SA.

Located in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Virunga is Africa's oldest national park and one of the continent's first World Heritage Sites. It was inscribed in 1979 in recognition of its extraordinary landscapes, and because it is home to more species than any other place in the continent.

The World Heritage Committee, a rotating group of countries that manages the UNESCO World Heritage List, said it is deeply concerned that Virunga could be degazetted or that laws could be changed so that oil concessions covering 85 per cent of the park's territory could be exploited.

Conservation organizations warn that oil exploration could cause the site to lose its World Heritage status and would put in peril local livelihoods and rare species. Total SA last month pledged to stay out of the park's current boundaries, but remains active just outside its borders. Soco International PLC has not made a commitment to respect the integrity of the park.

"Virunga National Park is one of the last places on Earth you should go looking for oil," said René Ngongo, mining and extractives policy advisor at WWF-DRC. "The park is of global conservation importance and is vital for the livelihoods of many people living around it. We are urging alternative development models that are sustainable for the long term -- development that provides real benefits to local communities and does not put endangered species at risk."

The World Heritage Committee also turned its attention to the responsibilities member countries have as parties to the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. Governments were urged in a decision "to do their utmost to ensure that the mining or petroleum companies established on their territories do not damage World Heritage properties."

During debate over potential oil exploration in Virunga, the one committee member stressed the particular responsibility of corporations based in countries that are signatories to the World Heritage Convention. "World Heritage Sites have been recognized for their outstanding universal value. We are monitoring closely the situation in African World Heritage Sites, including Virunga, and reiterated today that oil exploration is incompatible with the spirit of the convention," the committee member from Estonia said.

""The World Heritage Committee has made it clear today that these precious places are no-go areas for damaging extractive activities," said Christof Schenck, Chief Executive Officer of Frankfurt Zoological Society. "Oil exploration could destroy Virunga forever and must not go forward."

WWF: IEA stop-gap measures not enough to tackle climate change

2013-06-10

Commenting on the International Energy Agency (IEA) report Redrawing the energy-climate map released today (10 June), WWF said that although the short-term measures proposed by the IEA were welcome, countries need to move further and faster to keep climate change within 'safe' levels.

Samantha Smith, Leader of the WWF Global Climate & Energy Initiative, said: "This is a welcome intervention by the IEA, particularly the focus on energy efficiency standards for lighting, cars and appliances as well as cutting methane losses in oil and gas production.

"Unfortunately, the other policies are incomplete, not ambitious enough or regionally biased. With the world on track for catastrophic levels of global warming, as the IEA says, these stop-gap proposals simply don't go far enough.

"Addressing the phase out of fossil fuel subsidies is also a critical part of the jigsaw. The IEA should back the full phasing out of all fossil fuel subsidies by 2020 globally, including in OECD countries, with the money being channelled into support schemes for renewables, energy efficiency and clean energy access for the poor in developing countries."

Smith said that WWF's Seize Your Power campaign [1], launched on 5 June, addresses these shortcomings with a clear focus on clean renewable energy instead of oil, coal or gas for further energy infrastructure investments by public and private financial institutions. The group is calling for new and additional commitments of at least $US40 billion in renewables by June 2014.

WWF Director for Global Energy Policy Dr Stephan Singer said: "Renewable energy must become the single largest recipient of new energy supply financing within the next decade in order to avoid disastrous climate change."

Subsidies

Singer said the IEA report does not go far enough on subsidy reform and is biased, as the IEA only looks at fossil fuel consumption subsidies in developing countries, the Middle East and Russia and ignores the huge subsidies in OECD states. He said International Monetary Fund (IMF) research [2] suggested that global fossil fuel subsidies are about four times higher than those assessed by the IEA and that many OECD nations are among the top wasters of money for dirty fuels.

Renewables

Singer said the IEA was missing the most important policy measure to close not only the short term 2020 climate gap but also to address climate change for the decades ahead. The group said that the IEA should back the enhanced expansion of clean renewables as an additional key policy. He said the world had a slight dip in investments in renewables in 2012 while fossil fuel investments keep on growing and are now more than three times higher. WWF strongly backed an IEA assessment from last year that in order to keep climate change below 2°C, more than two-thirds of all global fossil fuel reserves should be left in the ground [3]. Singer said the only alternative to fill the void for the world's continued energy supplies are clean renewables and energy efficiency.

Coal

On coal, Singer said although it was important to phase-out all inefficient coal plants, mainly in developing countries, it would be better to cut the overall coal CO2 emissions of all existing power plants by about 20% by 2020. This would be a fairer measure and include also the 'efficient' coal plants in many OECD nations, as coal is the single largest climate polluter and its non-CO2 emissions have huge health implications for people.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1.WWF calls for major investment in clean and renewable energy with launch of new global campaign (05 June 2013): http://wwf.panda.org/?208925/WWF-calls-for-major-investment-in-clean-and-renewable-energy-with-launch-of-new-global-campaign

2.IMF: Energy Subsidy Reform: Lessons and Implications (28 January 2013): http://www.imf.org/external/np/pp/eng/2013/012813.pdf

3.IEA: World Energy Outlook 2012 http://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/English.pdf

For more information:

George Smeeton, Media Relations Manager WWF-UK
Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk

Mandy Jean Woods, Head: Communications & Campaigns,
WWF Global Climate & Energy Initiative
Mob: +27 82 553 4211, email: mwoods@wwf.org.za

EU Shale Gas: Don't open Pandora's box

2013-06-07

Brussels, Belgium: On the day of the European Commission's stakeholder event on shale gas and other unconventional fossil fuels [1], WWF calls on EU decision makers to leave them in the ground.

"Not only is shale gas dirty, it's unnecessary. As Europe converts to renewable energy we will be using less gas [2]. Our main challenge in avoiding dangerous global warming is keeping fossil fuels in the ground [3], not finding new ways to get them out", said Jason Anderson, Head of Climate and Energy for WWF's European Policy Office.

WWF's position paper [4] outlines four key reasons to oppose shale gas exploitation:

it could derail efforts to prevent dangerous climate change;
it will waste scarce energy investment capital;
it could delay the development of a sustainable European energy system;
it poses unacceptable risks to local populations and their environment;

"Tackling Europe's energy price and economic competitiveness challenges is best done by redoubling efforts to remain the world leader in energy efficiency and renewable energy [5]", continued Jason Anderson. "Overspending on fossil fuels while accelerating climate change and polluting the environment is both economically and environmentally illiterate."

ENDS

Contacts:

Jason Anderson
Head of Climate & Energy
WWF European Policy Office
janderson@wwf.eu
Phone:+32 2 740 09 35
Mobile:+32 4 74 837 603

Audrey Gueudet
Communication and Media Officer
WWF European Policy Office
agueudet@wwf.eu
Phone: +32 2 743 88 06 |
Mobile: + 32 4 94 03 20 27

Notes to Editors

[1] Stakeholder event - "Unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in Europe: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/energy/uff_event_7june2013_en.htm

[2] European Commission Energy Roadmap 2050, as analysed in 'Re-energising Europe' figure 7, page 19. Online at: http://www.wwf.eu/what_we_do/climate/publications_climate/?206942/WWF-report-Cutting-energy-related-emissions-the-right-way

[3] See 'Unburnable Carbon' http://www.carbontracker.org/wastedcapital

[4] WWF position paper on shale gas in the European Union: keep Pandora's Box firmly shut. Online at: http://www.wwf.eu/what_we_do/climate/publications_climate/?208954/WWF-position-on-shale-gas-in-the-EU

[5] WWF position paper on a post-2020 climate and energy package and competitiveness in the EU: http://www.wwf.eu/what_we_do/climate/publications_climate/?207856/WWF-Briefing-paper-Re-energising-Europe-with-a-post-2020-climate-and-energy-package

New WWF campaign: Invest in renewable energy!

2013-06-05

On World Environment Day, WWF calls on the EU to prioritise investments in renewable energy while immediately phasing out investments in coal.

This European call to action is part of WWF's new international campaign under the slogan Seize Your Power [1]. WWF is urging governments and financial institutions to increase investment in renewable energy by at least US$40 billion over the next 12 months.

"Unless we act now to ensure that renewable energy replaces fossil fuels, dangerous climate change will become inevitable. As the world's third largest greenhouse gas emitter, the European Union and its 27 member countries have a crucial role to play. Europe can boost its competitiveness by leading the world in the highly profitable and low risk sustainable renewable energy sector," said Tony Long, Director of the WWF's European Policy Office.

In Europe, WWF is looking to change the investment decisions of the European Investment Bank [2] and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development [3]. The banks' boards must change the investment model of their respective institutions and support renewable energy. A firm decision to phase out coal immediately and devote energy investments to renewable energy generation, grids and energy savings is needed [4].

"All Europeans can join WWF by signing the "Seize Your Power" pledge calling for more investment in renewable energy and the end of wasting money on a short sighted and unnecessary addiction to coal, oil and gas", continued Tony Long.

A recent WWF study clearly shows that the EU has the potential to generate at least 40% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030 and 100% by 2050 [5].

"Over the next year of WWF's campaign, the EU will take crucial decisions about its energy future. It is vital that an ambitious 2030 framework for climate and energy policy is agreed, so investors have the confidence to follow political leadership. Europeans won't forgive any caving in to vested interests who pollute for profit", added Jason Anderson, Head of climate and energy at WWF's European Policy Office.

ENDS

Contacts:

Jason Anderson
Head of Climate & Energy
WWF European Policy Office
janderson@wwf.eu
Phone:+32 2 740 09 35
Mobile:+32 4 74 837 603

Audrey Gueudet
Communication and Media Officer
WWF European Policy Office
agueudet@wwf.eu
Phone: +32 2 743 88 06 |
Mobile: + 32 4 94 03 20 27

Note to the editors:

[1] At global level, WWF will campaign to seek major public commitments from governments and international financial institutions to make new investments of $40 billion USD beyond business-as-usual in the renewable energy sector. The public campaign will feature in more than 20 countries, where WWF is targeting public finance, pension funds and sovereign wealth funds. By establishing a business case for moving new money into renewable energy, the campaign will show the environmental, social and economic risks of the dependence on dirty energy such as coal, oil and gas.

[2] WWF's position paper on the European Investment's energy lending review:
http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/wwf_recommendations_eib_energy_lending_review_feb13_1.pdf

[3] WWF's position paper on the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's energy lending review:
http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/wwf_recommendations_ebrd_energy_lending_review_may13.pdf

[4] In 2012, the European Investment Bank devoted 42% of its energy portfolio to renewable energies and energy savings, down from 52% in 2011. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development devoted 55% of its energy portfolio for renewable energies and energy savings in 2012. But both still support coal.

[5] WWF report: "Putting the EU on track for 100% renewable energy": http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/res_report_final_1_1.pdf

WWF's European Policy Office "Seize Your Power" campaign webpage: www.wwf.eu/seizeyourpower

Related images can be downloaded here: https://photos.panda.org/gpn/external?albumId=4417

Follow @WWFEU, Jason Anderson (@climatepanda) and Audrey Gueudet (@AudreyGueudet) on Twitter for more updates

Commission's punitive duties on Chinese solar panels deliver a blow to European renewables growth

2013-06-05

Brussels, Belgium: The European Commission announced last night that it is would impose punitive import tariffs of 11,8% until the 6th of August on Chinese solar panels, after which tariffs will increase to 47.6%. Over two thirds of Members States and the wider renewable energy sector strongly opposed the move as it would undermine the growth of this renewable form of energy in the EU.

The Commission's decision risks undermining the rapid adoption of solar power in Europe as it prices their use out of the reach of most consumers but it will also destroy jobs. This move brings into question the continued path to a clean and renewable energy economy in Europe.

Stephan Singer, Director of Global Energy Policy at WWF said:

"If the proposal doesn't change any further, there would not be much difference between what was threatened by the Commission and the decision finally made. While the WWF is glad that some breathing space has been granted to the solar market with this temporary regime of lower tariffs, Europe's ability to produce cheap, reliable clean solar energy has been compromised.

WWF therefore calls on the European Commission, Member States and Chinese authorities to reach an amicable solution as soon as possible in order to get all import restrictions on clean solar power removed. Without that, a quarter of a million European jobs in the renewables energy sector would be put at risk.

In these times of record fossil fuel subsidies, carbon pollution, and Europe's inability to support its 2020 climate target with effective measures, the European Commission would be best advised to focus on solving the real problems affecting clean energy development and job retention in Europe."

Further information:

Dr Stephan Singer
Director of Global Energy Policy
WWF
ssinger@wwf.eu
Phone:+32 2 743 88 17
Mobile:+32 4 96 550 709

Audrey Gueudet
Communication and Media Officer
WWF European Policy Office
agueudet@wwf.eu
Phone: +32 2 743 88 06 |
Mobile: + 32 4 94 03 20 27

Late night deal on fisheries lacks decisive action on fish stocks

2013-05-30

Political compromise risks continuing malaise of fishing communities

(Brussels, Belgium) Early this morning negotiations between the Irish Presidency and the European Parliament concluded with an agreement on the basic regulation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). While some parts of the deal are required, WWF is concerned that some key issues are being ignored such as the decisive action badly needed to replenish seriously depleted fish stocks.

Despite Trojan efforts to reach a deal on this issue by MEP Ulrike Rodust and her parliamentary negotiating team, the Irish Presidency, representing a divided Council, led by Member States with large fishing industries, preferred to defend a business as usual approach that might delay stock recoveries. The new EU-CFP reform cannot continue the 40 year pattern of negotiations and self-congratulation by politicians, while fish stocks continue to decline.

The European Parliament and Mrs Rodust's negotiating team and the Irish Presidency should be commended for their endeavour to provide a real transition to a sustainable CFP despite the Fisheries Council inability to support ambitious goals. The agreement includes some positive elements but fails to end overfishing over the next generations. The new deal needs to become a legal framework that helps reverse the current frenzied grab for threatened fish, the overcapacity of fishing fleets and a regime whereby the industry is forced into noncompliance.

Quote: Tony Long, Director of the European Policy Office:

"WWF acknowledges the constructive role played by the European Parliament in its attempt to bring about a deal that would reinvigorate a failed fisheries policy. While almost two-thirds of the assessed fish stocks in the EU are overexploited and many fishermen face bankruptcy, the majority of EU's governments have decided to stonewall negotiations and have refused to accept an agreement that would allow a full recovery and increased income for fishermen within the next 10 years."

"Even if the new Common Fisheries Policy does not address the deep problem of overcapacity, WWF hopes that we do not return to the old wasteful way of managing EU's fish stocks. We will continue to ensure that fishermen, and stakeholders, with the support of the scientific community, will have a decisive say over how the industry is run."

"We call on all concerned stakeholders to quickly start working within the new legislative framework for Multi-Annual Plans (MAPs) - to be drawn up and implemented urgently. MAPs need to become the backbone of the new CFP. They must be framed to deliver on the most urgent needs for fish stocks and the marine environment recovery. We also hope that the new CFP provides the basis for forging a truly sustainable foreign dimension for the EU's fleets. While negotiating partnership agreement with Third Countries, the EU shall act in line with international commitments, obligations and policy objectives to achieve sustainable fishing operations outside EU's waters".

Philippe Carr,
Media & Communications,

WWF European Policy Office,

Tel: +32 476 25 68 79
E-mail: pcarr@wwf.eu

About WWF

WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

wwf.eu for latest news and media resources

EU meets 2020 climate target, and faces 7 lost years

2013-05-29

Brussels, Belgium: Data released today by Eurostat and the European Environment Agency show that in 2011 the EU's total greenhouse gas emissions were 18.4 % below 1990 levels, and that energy-related CO2 emissions are estimated to have dropped 2.1% in 2012. On this basis, WWF estimates the EU has already surpassed its target of cutting total greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020.

Jason Anderson, Head of Climate and Energy - WWF European Policy Office said:

"The trend of falling emissions continued even as the EU's GDP rose back above pre-recession levels. There's no reason now to go sit on our hands for 7 years, knowing that by keeping up the recent pace we could reach the 95% cuts needed by 2050 to keep Europe in line with efforts to avoid dangerous global warming."

"Parties to the UN climate conference are committed to finding ways to close the huge gap between the meagre emissions cuts countries have promised by 2020 and what's needed to keep us on track to staying below 2 degree warming. As a leader in that process the EU should turn its record of falling emissions into a success story by describing how it will go further, rather than undermining its credibility by pressing the snooze button."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Eurostat data on energy related emissions for 2012 can be found here: http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_PUBLIC/8-29052013-AP/EN/8-29052013-AP-EN.PDF

European Environment Agency data on all emissions 1990-2011 can be found here: http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/european-union-greenhouse-gas-inventory-2013

Total GDP data can be found in Eurostat (Graph code nama_gdp_c): http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/statistics/search_database

A graph representing total EU-27 greenhouse gas emission (excluding land use change and offset use) is shown below. The 2012 emissions estimate is based on an extrapolation of CO2 emission data from energy uses to GHG emissions from all sectors.

Further information:

Jason Anderson
Head of Climate & Energy
WWF European Policy Office
janderson@wwf.eu
Phone:+32 2 740 09 35
Mobile:+32 4 74 837 603

Audrey Gueudet
Communication and Media Officer
WWF European Policy Office
agueudet@wwf.eu
Phone: +32 2 743 88 06 |
Mobile: + 32 4 94 03 20 27

Do something historic. End overfishing. Now

2013-05-29

Dear Mr. Simon Coveney,
President of the Council of European Fisheries Ministers:
Do something historic. End overfishing. Now.

The European Parliament and the Fisheries Ministers now have the responsibility to end overfishing by 2015. In the European Parliament, an overwhelming majority voted for a strong Common Fisheries reform. Millions of concerned EU citizens actively support the recovery of European fish stocks. Make their views count!

WWF calls on the Fisheries Ministers and the European Parliament to agree on the fastest full recovery targets for fishery stocks. They have it within their powers to ensure that discards, subsidies and stock management are addressed immediately and effectively so that we can reverse, within ten years, the situation where almost two out of three assessed stocks are at crisis level. If we follow the current Council proposal this will not happen for another 100 years.

EU backs new approach to global sustainable development

2013-05-29

Brussels, Belgium: Following on from last year's historic Rio+20 summit on global development, development Ministers meeting at the Foreign Affairs Council late last night agreed on a new approach towards global sustainable development after 2015 and endorsed the European Commission proposal "A Decent Life for All: Ending poverty and giving the world a sustainable future". [1]

Originally issued by the EU Commission in February, the communication sets out the European Union's vision for the follow up to Rio +20 commitments and the successor to the 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Instead of two agreements with a similar mandate, European leaders are looking at a single solution that puts environmental sustainability at the forefront of development and central to the eradication of global poverty.

WWF welcomes the Council's elaboration of a set of key principles for the global overarching sustainable development framework after 2015. We are also looking to see how this is due to be financed which will partly show how serious Member States are in supporting the commitments.

Sally Nicholson, Manager of Development Policy & Finance at WWF European Policy Office said:

"The WWF welcomes the announcement but is aware that the success of this strategy, when finally agreed at the UN, will only be measured by results. Goals should not only include actions in developing countries but also at home. Right now, for example, the EU is deciding on a Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and Biodiversity policy which falls short of any sustainable development model. On the CAP alone Ministers are happier to green wash policy rather than take the necessary and sometimes painful steps to a sustainable and healthy environment."

"Member States now need to "walk the talk". Over the last years the industrialised world has been consuming resources at a greater level than the world can afford to sustain. The ecological footprint of Europe is 2.7 times bigger than the earth can support. We would like to see the ambition and intentions proposed by the EU also translated into action at home as well as abroad, respecting planetary boundaries and reducing Europe's global impacts on natural resources."

"Even though we welcome the big step made by the European ministers last night, Member States will only show that they are serious with their pledges once they decide how this sustainable development framework will be financed. We need measurable results and resource mobilisation but also an EU financing plan."

Editor's note:

The conclusions will also be endorsed at the next Environment Council in Luxembourg (18 June) and adopted at the General Affairs Council (25 June). The final EU position on the formulation of a new global development framework will be taken in September to New York where the United Nations will carry out a further review of progress towards the MDGs and will start planning a global development framework post-2015.

WWF Position:

WWF calls on the Council to ensure an EU position to the UN that emphasises the following principles:

1.One single overarching post 2015 framework which integrates the follow up to the MDGs and the elaboration of Sustainable Development Goals.

2.The integration of the three pillars of sustainable development and the recognition of the need for all development to recognise planetary boundaries.

3.The framework should address the drivers of poverty, environmental degradation and current unsustainable models of production and consumption and the need to decouple economic development from environmental degradation.

4.The need for measures of development and wellbeing which are broader than GDP alone.

5.These goals should be global in nature and have universal application while recognising different levels of development, differing national contexts and promoting national ownership.

6.Policy coherence for development will be a critical component of the next development framework and is one of the enabling conditions to achieve long-lasting sustainable development.

7.Recognition of the essential contribution that can be made to the future development framework through the full implementation of existing multilateral environmental agreements.

Notes:

[1] Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: "Ending poverty and giving the world a sustainablefuture"
http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/documents/2013-02-22_communication_a_decent_life_for_all_post_2015_en.pdf

-Ends-

For further information:

Sally Nicholson

Manager, Development Policy & Finance

WWF European Policy Office

snicholson@wwf.eu

Phone: +32 2 740 09 37

Mobile: +32 492 591 401

Alba Màlaga Homs

Communication and Media

WWF European Policy Office

amalaga@wwf.eu

Phone: +32 2 743 88 15
Mobile: +32 484 641 060

Source of the article

EU Farm Ministers act as mouthpieces for farm unions at informal Council meeting in Dublin

2013-05-28

(Tuesday May 28, Brussels, Belgium) As EU Farm Ministers met this Monday and Tuesday at an informal Council in Dublin, the opportunity to discuss meaningful environmental reform of the EU's Agriculture Policy was missed. Ministers instead decided on using this informal Council to reaffirm their support for practices that harm nature and do little for or struggling rural communities. The plan of Ministers seems to be to ram home a deal with the European Parliament and European Commission that merely delivers the short-sighted goals of farming unions.

Also in attendance at the informal Council were European Commissioner for Agriculture, Dacian Cioloş, and the European Parliament negotiating team led by Paolo De Castro. Mr De Castro has a firm mandate from his colleagues in the European Parliament to defend a robust package of three greening measures and to ensure a minimum budget allocation to environmental measures under the Rural Development. It however seems that the Parliament negotiating team is looking to give in quickly to Ministers and farm union demands as these negotiations take place away from the public eye.

Tony Long, Director of the European Policy Office: "Yet again Agriculture Ministers have proven to be unwilling negotiators, and completely uninterested in finding a compromise that delivers for the environment and society. Furthermore it seems that the Parliament negotiators are happy to play along in this. It is evident that even at this late stage powerful agricultural lobbies have managed to put their interests ahead of all the other stakeholders."

"It looks like EU Farm Ministers are clearly hell bent on killing off the original greening proposals but also want to starve the Rural Development pillar of funding which provides finance to rural communities and sustainable farming. Instead they are trying to rig a system that will syphon off as much money to farmers directly with as few strings attached as possible."

"One example is the double payments scandal. Under Council proposals farmers could receive two cheques for the same environmental activity, one from the Rural Development agri-environment measure and one from the Direct Payments system. This will result in billions of wasted taxpayers money and little additional environmental benefit."

"Negotiators must ensure that all farmers undertake similar and ambitious greening practices to ensure a fair level playing field for farmers and the environment. Under the Rural Development Fund money must be secured for farmers willing to further green their businesses. So far the Council has only managed to weaken nearly every proposal."

SOURCE

Philippe Carr, Communications and Media,
WWF European Policy Office
pcarr@wwf.eu
+32 476 25 68 79

About WWF

Parliament needs to stand firm against Fisheries Ministers weak fisheries reforms

2013-05-27

European negotiators must agree on effective and enforceable commitments to stop overfishing

(Brussels, Monday) During the final Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) negotiations between Council and Parliament, it is becoming clear that certain Member States with large fishing industries, supported by the Irish Presidency, are using bully tactics with MEPs to push them into accepting a deal that will result in overfishing until 2020, and does little to support hard pressed coastal communities. Threats by some Fisheries Ministers to walk out of negotiations and thus abandon the whole reform are a slap in the face of the widespread public support for an ambitious deal which spurred an overwhelming majority of 500+ MEPs in favour of strong reform earlier this year.

WWF calls on the Fisheries Ministers and the European Parliament to agree on the fastest full recovery targets for fishery stocks. They have it within their powers to ensure that discards, subsidies and stock management are addressed immediately and effectively so that we can reverse, within ten years, the situation where almost two out of three assessed stocks are at crisis level. If we follow the current Council proposal this will not happen for another 100 years (please read WWF publication, Recovery of European fish stocks and the Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, 2013).

Quotes
According to Roberto Ferrigno, WWF's Common Fisheries Policy reform coordinator: "MEPs like Ulrike Rodust have admirably defended their Parliamentary mandate in negotiations over recent weeks, and have strongly resisted pressure from Council to throw in the towel and reach a quick but weak compromise. The Council's attitude of non-negotiation goes completely against the spirit of co-decision with Parliament and is completely unacceptable."

"WWF calls on Parliament and Council to agree on a policy that effectively stops overfishing and allows fish stocks to recover in order to support fishermen in the long term."

Andrea Kohl, Programme Director with the WWF European Policy Office added: "This is not just the view of WWF, it is also held by progressive fishermen, scientists, industry and the public who all want real and sustainable reform. This deal will guide EU fisheries policy for the next 10 years and in the current situation of depleted fish stocks, we may not have another chance to get it right.

"We need a strong reform allowing fish stocks to recover. WWF is looking very carefully at the non-transparent negotiations which appear to contradict the principle of co-decision and permit blackmail threats to the MEPs by certain Member States."

Background

Nearly two out of three assessed fish stocks in Europe are overfished. WWF believes that the current reform of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy must aim to ensure that by 2020 no more stocks are overfished through meaningful reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. Building on a draft European Commission plan, the European Parliament adopted a legislative proposal in February with an overwhelming majority that would end overfishing in Europe. According to recent research, the current position of the European Fisheries Ministers, would allow overfishing to continue for more than 100 years. Ministers and Mrs Rodust, should respect their democratic mandate and look for real compromise in negotiations this Tuesday and Wednesday. The agreed package could be ratified as by the end of June.

How it works

In the Trilogue negotiations, the Council of Ministers of the 27 EU Fisheries Ministers is represented by Simon Coveney (Irish Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine Affairs), who holds the Presidency of the Council and speaks for all of the EU's fisheries ministers.

The European Parliament is represented in the negotiations by Ulrike Rodust (Rapporteur of the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy and a member of the European Parliament).

The Council of Ministers is not willing to negotiate with the parliament on an equal basis, as provided by the Lisbon Treaty, and is trying to force the parliament to drop its ambitions to achieve a swift recovery of fish stocks, and accept a reform that will continue the status quo. Otherwise, they threaten to stop the entire reform process.

For further information or interview requests:

WWF EUROPEAN POLICY - www.wwf.eu/fisheries

Philippe Carr, Communications and Media, WWF European Policy Office pcarr@wwf.eu +32 476 25 68 79

European Council must recognise smart markets, energy efficiency and renewables as key priorities

2013-05-21

European Council must recognise smart markets, energy efficiency and renewables as key priorities

MEDIA ADVISORY:

Who? European Council - EU Heads of State or Government chaired by Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council

When? Wednesday 22 May 2013, +/- 12h15 - 17h00

What / issue? Tomorrow the European Council will discuss energy, focusing on the completion of the internal market, infrastructure, diversification and prices. WWF calls on the Council to continue resisting the clamour of a powerful few, and formally recognise the vital importance of a 2030 package of climate and energy measures that pushes forward Europe's drive to sustainable, affordable, indigenous energy services through energy savings and renewable energy.

The European Council will likely call for further investigation on the structure of energy prices, in response to a vocal minority arguing that the economic burden of climate and energy policy is too high. However, recent research has already indicated that climate change, energy efficiency and renewables policy have only been minor contributors to energy price rises [1]; and are essential to freeing us from rising fossil energy import bills and to tackling climate change. The proposed alternative of shale gas, meanwhile, is a phenomenon that is peaking in the United States [2], but could only ever play a minor role in Europe [3], and at a potentially high cost to the environment and our progress towards competitive sustainable energy supplies.

Quote

Ahead of the EU Council, Jason Anderson, Head of Climate and Energy at WWF's European Policy Office said:

'Those with narrow vested interests are trying to hang progressive climate policies with the rope of rising energy prices. They demand a halt to climate policy and a focus on new fossil fuels in order to maintain competitiveness; but this is a deliberate diversion from the real challenges Europe must overcome to secure prosperity for all: rising fossil fuel bills, slow progress creating modern integrated and competitive markets, and continued weakness on energy savings.'

Important links:

European Council meeting - Agenda and relevant documents: http://www.european-council.europa.eu/council-meetings?meeting=4aa156c3-db37-4231-9b32-a90114a48bce&lang=en&type=EuropeanCouncil

Note to the editors:

[1] For Germany, the WWF report 'Myths and Facts about renewable energy in the Energiewende' outlines this and other related information: available in English and German on http://www.wwf.de/themen-projekte/klima-energie/energiepolitik/mythen-und-fakten/. A relevant calculation for the UK was conducted by the Climate Change Committee: http://www.theccc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/1672_CCC_Energy-Bills_bookmarked.pdf, see figure 4.2, page 44.

[2] See http://www.postcarbon.org/drill-baby-drill/ for the most extensive survey of shale prospects yet published.

[3] See the presentation by Dr. Werner Zittel in the European Parliament on 14 May 2030: http://www.slideshare.net/gdecock/zittel-shale-gaseuropeanperspective14may20132

SOURCE

Further information:

Jason Anderson

Head of Climate & Energy

WWF European Policy Office

janderson@wwf.eu

Phone:+32 2 740 09 35

Mobile:+32 4 74 837 603

Audrey Gueudet

Communication and Media Officer

WWF European Policy Office

agueudet@wwf.eu

Phone: +32 2 743 88 06 |

Mobile: + 32 4 94 032 027

Time to Seize Opportunity to Slash Carbon Emissions from Global Aviation

2013-05-21

Environmental groups take to the streets to call on ICAO to agree on a global plan at upcoming meeting in Montreal

Joint News Release: World Wildlife Fund, Équiterre, AQLPA and David Suzuki Foundation

Montreal (May 21, 2013) - Governments charged with developing a global plan to reduce carbon pollution from the airline industry need to seize a historic opportunity to slash those emissions coming up next week, according to a group of environmental organizations rallying this morning in Montreal.

WWF, Équiterre, Association québécoise de lutte à la pollution atmosphérique (AQLPA) and the David Suzuki Foundation and their supporters are calling on delegates to the Montreal-based International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to agree on a global approach that requires airlines to ratchet down emissions of greenhouse gases. Carbon emissions from aviation contribute nearly five percent of the global warming effect our planet experiences and is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions in the world.

"With skyrocketing carbon emissions from aviation continuing to climb, there's an immense amount of a pressure on ICAO delegates to agree upon a bold solution in the next 30 days," said WWF Quebec Director Marie-Claude Lemieux. "Canada and the U.S. must take a leadership role within ICAO at this meeting and deliver a global solution to slash the fastest growing contributor to our planet's global warming crisis."

"ICAO has been working on a global emissions reduction plan for 15 years and has not yet been able to rally its member nations around a solution to this rapidly growing problem," said Équiterre's Steven Guilbeault. "Right now, however, ICAO delegates have the opportunity to deliver an ambitious plan that that sends a clear signal to the aviation industry that it needs to accelerate efforts to reduce emissions."

"Canada should advocate for -- or even propose -- an ambitious global market-based approach with an aggressive implementation timeline at the upcoming meeting," said David Suzuki Foundation's Director Karel Mayrand. "Canada should stand up and lead, rather than simply following along with U.S. positions on climate change as it has done in recent years."

"U.S. representatives to ICAO are pushing the weakest of policy options that would only cover the portions of flights within countries' airspace and would delay implementation of pollution reductions," said Keya Chatterjee, WWF climate and sustainability expert. "Not only does their current stance highlight the lack of U.S. commitment to a global solution, it also provides cover to other nations seeking to delay progress reducing emissions."

Cutting aviation pollution is a big part of what's needed to curb global climate change. If aviation were a country, it would be the 7th largest contributor to climate change on the planet. ICAO experts estimate that, if unchecked, emissions will increase by 70 percent in the next 7 years and by between 300-700 percent by 2050. This astronomical increase could lead to a very different planet than the one know today.

Movement toward a final plan at ICAO's May-June Council meeting is crucial if the organization wants to adopt a strong plan by year's end, before a regionalized approach takes effect in the European Union.

At Tuesday's rally, activists from WWF, Équiterre, AQLPA, and David Suzuki Foundation urged delegates to push for the strongest agreement possible, one that creates a global market-based mechanism that sets a price for carbon pollution and funds projects across the globe to assist developing nations address the challenges climate change poses.

"With climate change fueling warmer temperatures and increasing extreme weather events like record floods, droughts, blizzards and hurricanes, reducing carbon emissions from aviation is critical," said AQLPA's Louise Levesque. "We cannot allow the politics of delay to stand in the way of cleaning up our skies."

About WWF

WWF is creating solutions to the most serious conservation challenges facing our planet, helping people and nature thrive.

About Équiterre

Équiterre's mission is to help build a social movement by encouraging individuals, organizations and governments to make ecological choices, equity and solidarity. By its action, Équiterre wants to bring attention to the fundamental aspects of life. Eat, move, live, and eat garden: vital needs, but also the means to reach everyone to act responsibly and change the world one step at a time.

About AQLPA

For the past 30 years, the Association québécoise de lutte contre la pollution atmosphérique (AQLPA) has been a leading organization working against atmospheric pollution. Over this period, the AQLPA team has developed a solid expertise on air quality issues and climate change, among others, through research, publications and many delegations at meetings. The organization has developed numerous effective programs to reduce atmospheric pollution, promotes clean energy and public transportation. It has also participated in various governmental consultations on energy issues.

About David Suzuki Foundation

We work with government, business and individuals to conserve our environment by providing science-based research, education and policy work, and acting as a catalyst for the change that today's situation demands. Our vision is that within a generation, Canadians act on the understanding that we are all interconnected and interdependent with nature.

Contacts :

Marie-Claude Lemieux, WWF-Canada, MCLemieux@WWFCanada.org,

Tel:00-1-514-260-6233

Steven Guilbeault, Equiterre, guilbeault@equiterre.org
Tel: 00-1-514-522-2000 x291

Total to keep out of Virunga World Heritage Site

2013-05-17

Addressing investors in Paris today, Total Chairman and CEO Christophe de Margerie affirmed that the company will not explore for oil within the boundaries of Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Responding to questions posed by conservation group WWF, de Margerie told the annual shareholder meeting that Total is making a "commitment to respect the current limits" of the park, which is Africa's oldest World Heritage Site.

"We welcome Total's clear and comprehensive assurance that no oil exploration or exploitation activities will be conducted by the company within Virunga National Park. We urge British oil exploration company Soco International PLC immediately to stop all activities in the park and to make a similar commitment," said Lasse Gustavsson, Executive Director of Conservation at WWF International.

"Virunga National Park has been recognized by UNESCO and the DRC government as a place of outstanding natural value, and we will continue to fight to preserve it for the people that depend on it for their sustainable livelihoods. This is our line in the sand. Oil exploration in Virunga National Park is simply unacceptable," Gustavsson said.

WWF presses Total for protection of World Heritage Sites

2013-05-16

WWF today has issued an open letter to investors in French oil giant Total expressing concerns over the company's ongoing activities on the edge of a prized national park in Africa. The conservation group is calling for assurances from Total that it will keep out of Democratic Republic of the Congo's Virunga National Park.

WWF believes that the area currently covered by Africa's first national park and the continent's oldest World Heritage Site is a 'no go' zone for oil exploration. The organization fears that possible future changes to park boundaries could open a loop hole that would allow for drilling in sensitive habitats, which would endanger wildlife and local livelihoods.

"At its annual general meeting, Total has a unique opportunity to live up to the expectations of our fellow citizens and some of its shareholders and financial partners," said WWF-France's J.B. Roelens. "By making a public commitment never to operate within the current boundaries of Virunga National Park, nor any other UNESCO World Heritage Site, Total could make May 17th a landmark date in corporate social and environmental responsibility."

An opinion poll conducted by an independent surveyor this month on behalf of WWF has revealed significant public support for protection of World Heritage Sites from oil and gas extraction. Fully 8 out of 10 French citizens say they would "very much" like French companies to promise not to exploit such places. Even more think that the financial partners of these companies bear some of the responsibility for the environmental impact of exploiting these hydrocarbon deposits. Similarly, 80 per cent of the French declare that they would be more likely to buy petrol or heating oil from an oil company if it promised never to engage in oil or gas extraction in UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

WWF message to Total investors in advance of tomorrow's meeting is that the risks inherent in exploration activities could compromise the integrity of Virunga National Park. WWF is seeking a clear and comprehensive guarantee by Total that this exceptional natural place and all other World Heritage Sites will remain forever untouched by the company.

Regional Funding Negotiations – Green Groups Warn Against Last Minute Reintroduction of Fossil Fuel Subsidies

2013-05-16

BirdLife Europe, CEE Bankwatch Network, Friends of the Earth Europe, WWF

(Thursday, May 16, Brussels, Belgium) – With the final negotiations aimed at sealing agreement on the EU budget for 2014-20 now underway, environment NGOs are warning that a last minute amendment aimed at permitting EU subsidies for fossil fuels that are devastating for the climate must be rejected by negotiators of the future EU Cohesion Policy's regional development funds.

The overall multi-annual financial framework package for 2014-2020 includes spending under the Cohesion Policy. NGOs have discovered that negotiations on the European Regional Development Fund (part of Cohesion Policy) have recently seen the reintroduction by Polish MEP Jan Olbrycht of a proposal that could open the door to EU funding for oil, coal and gas. (1)

The negotiations on the next European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) – taking place in the form of a 'Trialogue' between the European Council, Parliament and Commission – should conclude by the end of May. (2) The ERDF is expected to amount to around EUR 200 billion in the next seven year budgetary period.

Markus Trilling, EU funds coordinator for Bankwatch and Friends of the Earth Europe, said:

"The Trialogue negotiations on the European Regional Development Fund, part of the EU budget, are at a crucial stage now, and despite the European Parliament having closed the door on future potential subsidies for fossil fuels last summer, certain fossil fuel advocates are refusing to lie down."

Ariel Brunner, Head of EU Policy in BirdLife Europe, continues:

"It is unbelievable that at a time when public spending is under unprecedented scrutiny, some politicians are trying to pump taxpayers' money into keeping the EU hooked on outdated and environmentally damaging sources of energy."

Sébastien Godinot, EU budget coordinator in WWF European Policy Office, added:

"The future EU budget must be fully weighted behind cutting EU carbon emissions and support for 'smart energy'. This should first and foremost mean developing and expanding electricity infrastructure to increase the uptake of renewable energy across member state grids. Gas is a mature energy source which does not need taxpayer support. Oil and coal, the fuels of the past, have no place in a clean energy future for Europe and must not receive a further lifeline from the EU budget."

Markus Trilling concludes:

"This should not be tolerated by Trialogue negotiators. Abolishing subsidies for fossil fuels has now become a totemic issue in and outside of Europe, with organisations such as the International Energy Agency and the International Monetary Fund issuing warnings that such subsidies cannot continue if the climate crisis is to be contained, and Europe's clean energy sector is to be competitive."

For more information, contact:

Markus Trilling, Bankwatch/Friends of the Earth Europe

Tel: 00 32 (0) 484 056 636

Email: markus.trilling@bankwatch.org

Philippe Carr, WWF European Policy Office

Tel : 00 32 (0) 476 25 68 79

Email : pcarr@wwf.eu

Ariel Brunner, BirdLife Europe

Tel : 00 32 (0) 486 63 0042

Email: ariel.brunner@birdlife.org

Notes for editors:

1. Regarding negotiating texts on the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Trialogue, specifically on energy infrastructures (article 5-7 e), the European Commission's drafting suggestion was as follows in the last trialogue:

"(e) improving energy efficiency and security of supply through the development of smart gas and power distribution, storage and transmission systems and by supporting the integration of distributed generation;"

ERDF rapporteur, Jan Olbrycht MEP, recently proposed the following suggestion instead for the ERDF trialogue:

"(e) improving energy efficiency and security of supply through the development of smart energy distribution, storage and transmission systems and by supporting the integration of distributed generation"

NGOs point out that Rapporteur Olbrycht's proposal is counterproductive as replacing "gas and power" by "energy" not only keeps gas in the scope of the article, but also potentially reopens the door to coal and oil that were previously rejected – making the Parliament's position even worse than that of the Council.

2. There are several ongoing "Trialogues" related to the EU Budget for 2014-2020 taking place at the moment, with one of them being devoted to the next European Regional Development Fund.

Member states finally agree on fisheries deal but fail to bridge gap with ambitious Parliament

2013-05-15

Brussels, Belgium: After pulling yet another all-nighter, Fisheries Ministers finalised their negotiating mandate with regards to the current EU fisheries reform. Despite the agreement between Members States being a positive step forward, unfortunately the Ministers - who generally don't like to compromise - remained predictable with little effort being made to meet the European Parliament half way on their ambitious proposal to save fisheries in Europe.

"The devil is in the detail as they say, but in this case it's the lack of detail, as Fisheries Ministers decided on a legally neutral text with few binding timelines and concrete measures. If implemented it would enable them to continue badly managing our oceans and ruining our fish stocks for yet another decade. On the opposite side of the coin, the European Parliament demands an ambitious reform that would deliver new fishing laws aimed at restoring fish stocks, through transparency, fixed timelines, accountability and enforceability", says Roberto Ferrigno, WWF's Common Fisheries Policy reform coordinator.

"This new law that is currently in the making will be used for the next 10 years to protect our oceans and fish stocks. A new WWF analysis¹ shows that recovery of fish stocks could take more than 100 years under current proposals by EU Fisheries Ministers, whereas with the Parliament's offer, it could only take 10 years for 75% of the stocks to recover – the latter is by far the better deal and it's what we urgently need", concludes Ferrigno.

The Council has dealt its cards and it is now up to the European Parliament, led by MEP Ulrike Rodust, to decide whether they accept the so-called 'compromise' that the Council is offering - or whether they reject it and stand their ground by sticking to their ambitious position for reform. It remains to be seen if they will use their new co-decision powers to say "no deal now is better than a bad deal for the next 10 years", or not.

1. WWF analysis of EU proposals for fish stock recovery

For further information or interview requests:

WWF EUROPEAN POLICY - www.wwf.eu/fisheries

ALEXANDRA BENNETT, Communications Director, WWF European Policy Office, abennett@wwf.eu, +32 477 393 400

Source of the article

Ending overfishing may take more than 100 years says WWF analysis of EU proposals for fish stock recovery

2013-05-13

Brussels, Belgium: New scientific analysis from environmental organisation WWF reveals recovery of European fish stocks will take more than 100 years under current proposals by EU Fisheries Ministers.

"No law can end overfishing in one fell swoop but Ministers appear to be actively sidelining stock recovery", says Roberto Ferrigno, WWF's Common Fisheries Policy project coordinator. "For the sake of fishermen, coastal communities and the health of our oceans, Ministers must set targets for the fastest possible recovery. 100 years plus is too long."

Two out of three fish stocks in European waters are considered overfished. Ambitious reform of Europe's Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) could reverse this situation over the next 10 years. But core elements of the reform package relating to discards, subsidies and stock recovery are under dispute, and negotiations between the European Parliament and Fisheries Ministers over what shape future EU fishing laws should take, may collapse.

Parliament wants to reduce fishing activity to allow stock recovery by 2020, with stock size and catches managed according to the principle of 'maximum sustainable yield' (MSY). WWF analysis suggests implementation of Parliament's ambitious proposals, could result in the recovery of three-quarters of overfished European stocks within the next 10 years.

In contrast, Fisheries Ministers want to reduce fishing pressure gradually without any binding measures before 2020, resulting in an uncertain century-long recovery process.

"Procrastinating until 2020 would sanction continued overfishing," says Ferrigno. "Ministers risk losing perhaps the last opportunity to ensure Europe once again has healthy and economically viable fisheries." Currently, European fisheries produce only about 60 percent of what could be landed if stocks were allowed to recover.

CFP reform is faltering due to contrasting socio-economic interests of individual Member States. "Some fishing nations want to maintain the status quo and thwart reform," says Ferrigno. "Real change is hanging by a thread. Failure to deliver now will be a massive setback in the fight against overfishing, threatening the health of our oceans as well as the future of the fishing industry."

The upcoming Fisheries Council meeting on May 13-14th may be the last chance Ministers have to collaborate with Parliament, revive the CFP reform process, deliver meaningful targets for stock recovery, and end overfishing.

For further information:

WWF EUROPEAN POLICY - www.wwf.eu/fisheries

ALEXANDRA BENNETT, Communications Director, WWF European Policy Office, abennett@wwf.eu, +32 477 393 400

ROBERTO FERRIGNO, Common Fisheries Policy Project Coordinator, WWF European Policy Office, rferrigno@wwf.eu, +32 497 433 688

Civil society, citizens, children, fishermen and politicians urge Fisheries Ministers to "get on board and end overfishing!"

2013-05-13

For photos from the "All aboard!" live action in Brussels go to: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjF4vYfK

13 May 2013 - Brussels, Belgium: this morning civil society, citizens, children, fishermen and politicians met in front of the Council building in Brussels, where Fisheries Ministers are meeting over the next two days, to urge them to put an end to 30 years of ocean mismanagement and "get on board to end overfishing!"

The reason for concern is that political negotiations have hit a deadlock: the European Parliament endorsed a far-reaching overhaul of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) by 507 to 137 votes in February, whilst the Council on the other hand, has been unwilling to propose any kind of acceptable compromise.

NGOs said "Time is running out and there is a real danger the reform process may stall or worse still collapse, if Fisheries Ministers continue playing chicken. Ministers are not being asked to do the impossible; many fishing nations outside Europe have outlawed overfishing and worked to rebuild their fish stocks."

Since the trilogue negotiations started, the Parliament's negotiator, MEP, Ulrike Rodust, has signalled that she would be prepared to compromise, but that a significant strengthening of the Council's position would be needed to broker a deal. However the reluctance of some countries, including France, Spain and Poland, to find common ground with the Parliament on key issues of the reform is threatening the negotiations.

"We are calling on the fisheries ministers to back fish stock recovery by 2020, reduce fishing capacity in accordance with agreed guidelines and support financial penalties for countries that fail to implement agreed rules and abandon loopholes that weaken the proposed discard ban", said the NGOs

"Sustainable fishing is possible but governments need to reform the rules to stop destructive overfishing. The low impact fishing that we practice is the future", said Gerry de Ruiter – a Dutch fisherman from LIFE, a new network of Low Impact Fishermen in Europe.

"For the first time ever, Europe and its politicians recognise the importance of artisanal fisheries; and artisanal fishermen support the proposed reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, even if it not a perfect one. If nothing is done to stop overfishing, careers linked to artisanal fisheries will likely disappear, which would be disastrous for our fishing activity and jobs. Artisanal fisheries represent 80% of fisheries and the majority of fishing jobs in Europe", said Christian Decugis, a fisherman from the South of France and a founding member of "MEDARNET", a Mediterranean artisanal fishermens platform.

The European Commission and Parliament, as well as millions of EU citizens, fishermen, businesses and chefs who rely on healthy fisheries, support this reform and want to see an end to the misuse of taxpayers' money and improvements in enforcement and fisheries control.

BirdLife Europe – Caroline Jacobsson - http://europe.birdlife.org

Fish Fight – Adam Scott +44 (0) 774 841 8552 - www.fishfight.net

Greenpeace – Mark Breddy +32 (0) 496 156229 - www.greenpeace.eu

Oceana – Angela Pauly +32 (0) 2 513 22 42 - http://oceana.org

OCEAN2012 – Mike Walker +32 (0) 476 622575 - http://ocean2012.eu

Paintafish – Fernanda Balata +44 (0) 796 905 0524 - www.paintafish.org

WWF – Alexandra Bennett +32 (0) 477 393 400 - www.wwf.eu

Source of the article

EDITORS NOTES

Agenda EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting 13-14 May 2013

Background note EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting 13-14 May 2013

	European Parliament position (6 February 2013)	Council position (26 February 2013)
Stock recovery	Seeks to eliminate overfishing by 2015 to recover fish stocks above levels that can produce the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) by 2020 at the latest.	Seeks to eliminate overfishing by 2015 "where possible" and in other cases, allow overfishing to continue until 2020; does not include any stock recovery target.
Fleet capacity	Member States are to: i) report their fishing capacity annually by fleet segment, using Commission guidelines to ensure the quality of reporting is improved; ii) to reduce fleet overcapacity; and iii) subsidy payments are to be suspended if a country has not complied with above.	Member States are to: i) report their fishing capacity annually by fleet segment, but rejects the mandatory use of agreed Commission guidelines; ii) opposes suspensions of subsidies to countries that have not reported or failed to reduce their fishing capacity.
Low-impact fishing	Promotes low-impact fishing methods, including through preferential access to fishing quotas.	Opposes preferential access for fishermen that use low-impact fishing methods.
Discards	Has expressed zero tolerance for discards; wants discard ban to apply to all fish species.	Accepts only a partial discard ban for species governed by a quota or a minimum landing size (which is the case for just 15 per cent of stocks in the Mediterranean) and is pushing for major loopholes, including a maximum discarding rate of 7-9 per cent.

European Parliament position (6 February 2013)

Council position (26 February 2013)

Stock recovery

Seeks to eliminate overfishing by 2015 to recover fish stocks above levels that can produce the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) by 2020 at the latest.

Seeks to eliminate overfishing by 2015 "where possible" and in other cases, allow overfishing to continue until 2020; does not include any stock recovery target.

Fleet capacity

Member States are to:

i) report their fishing capacity annually by fleet segment, using Commission guidelines to ensure the quality of reporting is improved;

ii) to reduce fleet overcapacity; and

iii) subsidy payments are to be suspended if a country has not complied with above.

Member States are to:

i) report their fishing capacity annually by fleet segment, but rejects the mandatory use of agreed Commission guidelines;

ii) opposes suspensions of subsidies to countries that have not reported or failed to reduce their fishing capacity.

Low-impact fishing

Promotes low-impact fishing methods, including through preferential access to fishing quotas.

Opposes preferential access for fishermen that use low-impact fishing methods.

Discards

Has expressed zero tolerance for discards; wants discard ban to apply to all fish species.

Accepts only a partial discard ban for species governed by a quota or a minimum landing size (which is the case for just 15 per cent of stocks in the Mediterranean) and is pushing for major loopholes, including a maximum discarding rate of 7-9 per cent.

Fisheries Council: threat of collapse hangs over fisheries reform

2013-05-10

WHAT? EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council
WHEN? Monday 13 & Tuesday 14 May
WHERE? Brussels, Belgium

Fisheries ministers will meet in Brussels next Monday and Tuesday to revise their position on the reform of EU fishing rules. The reluctance of some countries, including France, Spain and Poland, to find common ground with the Parliament on key issues of the reform is threatening to cause the collapse of negotiations on a new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), warned NGOs.

The Parliament's negotiator, MEP Ulrike Rodust, has signalled that she would be prepared to compromise, but that a significant strengthening of the Council's position would be needed to broker a deal [1]. On 6 February, the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in support of a comprehensive and ambitious overhaul of the CFP to rebuild fish stocks by 2020, promote low-impact fishing, strengthen fleet management and ban discards [2].

NGOs are calling on the Council to back fish stock recovery by 2020, reduce fishing capacity in accordance with agreed guidelines, support financial penalties for countries that fail to implement the rules and abandon loopholes that weaken the proposed discard ban. A breakdown of negotiations would only satisfy the short-term interest of countries that want to avoid new measures to end overfishing, recover fish stocks and rebuild a sustainable fishing sector, said NGOs.

NGO press invite – Monday photo opportunity:
http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=ea404aee9c118a31232e854a0&id=d16dfc887f&e=

Fisheries Council agenda:
www.eu2013.ie/media/eupresidency/content/documents/AGRIFISH-Agenda--13-14-May.pdf
www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/en/agricult/137054.pdf

Contacts:

Greenpeace – Mark Breddy: +32 (0)496 156229 - www.greenpeace.eu
WWF – Alexandra Bennett: +32 (0)477 393 400 - www.wwf.eu
Oceana – Angela Pauly: +32 (0)478 03 84 90 - http://oceana.org
OCEAN2012 – Mike Walker: +32 (0)476 622575 - http://ocean2012.eu
BirdLife Europe – Caroline Jacobsson: +32 (0)478 20 62 84 - https://europe.birdlife.org

Notes:
[1] Rodust writes letter to ministers: Parliament is ready to compromise, http://cfp-reformwatch.eu/2013/05/rodust-writes-letter-to-ministers-parliament-is-ready-to-compromise/
[2] Euro MPs back large-scale fishing reform to save stocks, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21352617

WWF - Environmental Policy News in the EU

World Heritage Committee requests cancelation of Virunga oil permits

WWF: IEA stop-gap measures not enough to tackle climate change

EU Shale Gas: Don't open Pandora's box

New WWF campaign: Invest in renewable energy!

Commission's punitive duties on Chinese solar panels deliver a blow to European renewables growth

Late night deal on fisheries lacks decisive action on fish stocks

EU meets 2020 climate target, and faces 7 lost years

Do something historic. End overfishing. Now

Dear Mr. Simon Coveney,President of the Council of European Fisheries Ministers:Do something historic. End overfishing. Now.

EU backs new approach to global sustainable development

EU Farm Ministers act as mouthpieces for farm unions at informal Council meeting in Dublin

Parliament needs to stand firm against Fisheries Ministers weak fisheries reforms

European Council must recognise smart markets, energy efficiency and renewables as key priorities

Time to Seize Opportunity to Slash Carbon Emissions from Global Aviation

Total to keep out of Virunga World Heritage Site

WWF presses Total for protection of World Heritage Sites

Regional Funding Negotiations – Green Groups Warn Against Last Minute Reintroduction of Fossil Fuel Subsidies

Member states finally agree on fisheries deal but fail to bridge gap with ambitious Parliament

Ending overfishing may take more than 100 years says WWF analysis of EU proposals for fish stock recovery

Brussels, Belgium: New scientific analysis from environmental organisation WWF reveals recovery of European fish stocks will take more than 100 years under current proposals by EU Fisheries Ministers.

Civil society, citizens, children, fishermen and politicians urge Fisheries Ministers to "get on board and end overfishing!"

Fisheries Council: threat of collapse hangs over fisheries reform

Dear Mr. Simon Coveney,
President of the Council of European Fisheries Ministers:
Do something historic. End overfishing. Now.