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Greening the future Cohesion Policy

Thessaloniki, 16.07.05

Georges Kremlis,Head of Unit, Cohesion Policy & Environmental Impact Assessments,

DG ENVIRONMENTEuropean Commission

E-mail: georges.kremlis@cec.eu.int

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Sixth Environmental Action Programme (6th EAP)

2002- 2012 Full co-decision Four main priorities

» Climate change

» Biodiversity

» Sustainable use of resources

» Links with health

Seven thematic Strategies (Clean Air for Europe, Soil Protection, Sustainable Use of Pesticides, Protection and Conservation of the Marine Environment, Waste Prevention and Recycling,

Sustainable Use of Natural Resources, Urban Environment)

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Environment and Lisbon (I) Environment is a new “industry”

» Over 1.5 m jobs in Germany (more than car or food sectors), 1 in 6 jobs and 9% of GDP in Wales

» Over 2.2 m jobs in EU eco-technology industries» EU is a world leader in eco-technologies – over €400mn trade surplus for air

and water in 2004

Waste prevention and efficient use of resources save companies money

Environmental standards act as a strong dynamic for “innovation”

High environmental standards are essential to maintain the integrity of the single market - avoiding eco-protectionism

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Environment and Lisbon (II)

Postponing action now will cost more in the future

» Health costs of no further action on air - €50 -100bn

» Recent costs of extreme weather events - $27bn global insured losses in 2004

» Insurance industry estimates of costs of climate change - $100bn pa in 2010

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Implementation deficit Some 1200 open cases on environment 25% of total Commission case load

– Nature– Environmental impact assessment– Waste– Water

Pro-active approach to helping Member States– Meetings– Guidelines

Infringements / Court action / fines

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New Member States

More than 10 years of alignment with environmental acquis through pre-accession strategies

Rich in biodiversity (e.g. eastern Poland – Via Baltica)

Significant improvements have occurred in air and water quality resulting in better health

Investment needed of € 50-80 billion for compliance with environmental acquis in EU 10

Transition periods for investment heavy acquis

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What we have achieved so far 2000-6– environmental financing

Around 16% foreseen for environment in Objectives 1 & 2 in EU15 2000-6 (“vertical” and “horizontal” integration)

50% of the Cohesion Fund (CF) set aside for environmental infrastructure in EU25 (mainly “vertical” integration) – – but 50-50 share not always achieved in all countries

Increase by 75% of expenditure on environment from 1994-9 period in EU15

Around €8 billion for EU12 2000-6 for environment for SF, CF, ISPA, PHARE & SAPARD

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What we have achieved so far 2000-6– environmental compliance

Natura 2000 (Commissioner letter; complementary Guidelines 2003) - precautionary approach applied for last 3 years in EU25 with need to provide lists before potentially damaging projects implemented; commitment to co-finance Natura 2000 network

Nitrates Directive (Commissioner letter) - similar approach to Natura 2000 on designating nitrate vulnerable zones

Waste plans (Guidelines of 1999) – e.g. requirements in Community Support Framework for Italy in absence of agreed waste plan

Environmental Impact Assessment consolidation (acquis) – e.g. negotiation of Operational Programmes sped up regional implementation in Italy

Urban wastewater Treatment (Commissioner letter) – Ireland/Cohesion Fund due to lack of designation of sensitive areas

Dams (Commissioner letter) – Cohesion Fund for environmental purposes not agricultural

Water Framework Directive (complementary Guidelines of 2003) – requirement for water investments to be in line with WFD

Polluter Pays, Prevention and Precautionary principles (Treaty)

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Environment in the future Cohesion Policy

General Provisions Regulation – investments must reflect Community environmental and sustainable development priorities (Art. 3), respect of acquis (Art. 8), environmental partners (Art. 10)

High priority to environment and risks in proposed ERDF Regulation

Investment heavy environmental projects and sustainable energy and transport projects in proposed CF

Capacity Building in ESF Draft CSG Guidelines of 05.07.05 contain strong messages

throughout to invest in environment contributing to renewed Lisbon Agenda and the Sustainable Development Strategy

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In particular CSG: Making Europe and its regions a more attractive place to invest and work

expand and improve transport infrastructure -sustainable urban and inter-urban transport

improving the environmental contribution to growth and jobs

infrastructures for air, water, waste, nature and species protection in Convergence regions

promoting landuse planning to reduce urban sprawl, physical rehabilitation including natural and cultural assets

Investment to promote Kyoto commitments in addition to those to promote sustainable energy and transport

Risk prevention through improved management of natural resources, RTD, ICTs and public management policies

addressing Europe’s intensive use of traditional energy sources – renewable energies and energy efficiency

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DG ENV – investment priorities in line with CSG for NSRFs and OPs

Water investments in line with Water Framework Directive (urban wastewater treatment, water supply)

Waste management in line with agreed waste plans Combating climate change (sustainable energy and

transport in Cohesion Fund), air pollution, Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control

Urban transport/urban environmental policy Natura 2000 Natural and Technological Risks Coastal zones (EUROSION study)

– To be included as funding priorities

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DG ENV – cross-cutting principles for NSRFs and OPs Article 6 of Treaty of European Union – environment as a

cross-cutting principle with a view to promoting sustainable development

Respect of environmental acquis Ensure NSRFs refer to 6th EAP and SDS Regional Agenda 21 – regional sustainable development Partnership principle - environmental partners (authorities

and NGOs involved in all stages) Selection criteria – Bonuses, Integrated Product Policy, green

public procurement, sustainable construction Evaluation requirements – SEA and EIA Directives Indicators Environmental capacity building Environmental networks, Theme Managers Synergies with other Community co-financing

– To be mentioned in the NSRFs and/or OPs

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The SEA Directive (2001/42/EC) and the future Cohesion Policy

Report due to Council and EP on relationship between SEA Directive and Community co-financing, December 2005 (Art. 12(4))

Commission Methodological Working Paper on –to be discussed with MSs on Ex-Ante Evaluation 18-19.07.05 contains annex on SEA

Interreg IIIC (south-west UK led) Greening Regional Development Programmes (GRDP) SEA Handbook – to be discussed 18.07.05 and at ENEA Plenary 12.09.05

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SEA and the new Regulations – does SEA apply in principle?

Current exclusion for Structural Funds and EAGGF (Art. 3(9)) not extended to the next programming period

Plans and programmes co-financed by the European Community are included in the scope of the SEA Directive (art. 2)

SEA will be applicable to plans / programmes drawn up under the new Regulations as to any other plan and programme

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SEA and the new Regulations – to what will SEA apply?

Plans and programmes co-financed under new Regulations will have to be checked against the Directive’s « tests » (Art. 2, definition of plan/ programme and Art. 3, scope)

If they meet all criteria, they will have to be subject to SEA

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SEA - an important message

The SEA Directive invites to avoid duplication of assessment, e.g. for plans which form part a hierarchy When deciding on the « scope » of the assessment,

consider at what stage and level of the decision-making process the assessment should be best carried out

Information obtained at other levels in the decision-making process / through other EC legislation may be used

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European Network of Environmental Authorities for the Cohesion Policy (ENEA)

Composed of EU Member States (mainly environmental ministries), environmental NGOs, international organisations (Regional Environmental Center (REC), EEA, GRDP and Commission services (REGIO, ENV, EMPL, TREN, etc.)

Meetings 08.09.04, 28.02.05, 12.09.05 Website:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/integration/structural_funds_en.htm

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Conclusion: overall message

Mutual beneficial relationship between cohesion and environmental policies:

1) Environment can be co-financed under all proposed Objectives - Convergence, Regional Competitiveness and Employment & Cooperation

Cohesion policy finances environmental infrastructure and improvements

Environment is a key factor of competitiveness – employment, investment, attractive environment (renewed Lisbon Strategy)

2) Compliance with EC environmental legislation can ensure sustainability

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Thank you

for your attention!