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Ambitious and binding European goals for the Environment (submitted by JEF-DK)

Recognising the results being created through the European Union environmental policies, JEF urges the European Parliament, the European Commission and the member states to continue these positive steps. Still, much can and must be done. The European Union must set ambiguous and binding goals for a sustainable development combining environmental protection, energy policies and economic growth.

JEF-Europe’s recommendations for environmental policy goals:

• A thorough implementation of REACH

• Supporting ecological production through the Common Agricultural Policy

• Green growth combining goals for energy consumption and GDP-growth

• Introduction of green diplomacy into the Union’s foreign policy

Implementation of REACH

JEF welcomes the implementation of REACH and asks for at thorough monitoring of its implementation in the members states. REACH’s success depends on its use, not on its original visions. Therefore, the Commission must follow its implementation closely without drowning it in bureaucratic obstacles and sanction negligence of proper implementation.

Making ecology a priority

Environmental protection is one of the goal objectives for the European Union. Only through the federal structure of the EU is it possible to regulate and set the necessary standards. Internally in the Union ecological agricultural production and environmental friendly production for both private corporations and public organisations should be made a priority. Restructuring of the Common Agricultural Policy and reserving of funds for ecological production are natural steps to take.

Green growth

JEF-Europe demands that the environmental politics in the EU and the use of alternative and sustainable energy sources must be given a higher priority than present.

The EU must to a higher extent urge member states to invest in and develop sustainable energy sources. First of all there must be significant investments in sustainable energy sources, and the EU must make it more desirable for the member states to develop alternative energy sources. Second the EU must emphasise it self globally as an advocate of reducing the greenhouse effect and work for a realisation of the Kyoto-protocol goals. Third constant energy consumption regardless of an increasing GDP must be a specific and binding goal for the European Union.

Green diplomacy

Seeing that the EU is part of a bigger picture, the EU must broaden its activities and promote sustainable development externally. Climate changes are today posing a threat to many countries – not only in Europe, but all over. The international stability and perception of insecurity has changed since the Cold War, and European foreign policies must recognise this, and integrate environmental policies into its general foreign policies. Through green diplomacy the Union must put pressure on other countries, especially China and USA, via WTO and international summits to follow the European environmental standards for ecological production and energy consumption.

A true improvement of the European and international environment depends on a successful foreign policy. Therefore, policy coordination and sanction through soft diplomatic means are necessary tools to use for the EU when setting ambitious and binding international goals for the environment.