Mr Martin Cullen, Minister for Environment and Local Government of Ireland, exchanged views with the MEPs of the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy on 20 January 2004.
The three environmental areas where the Irish presidency will be working are policy and legislation, input of Environmental Council and the effective participation of the EU in international environmental fora.
The legislative agenda of the Irish presidency will focus on combating the climate change, on waste policy, on air quality and on the reform of the EU chemicals policy (REACH).
The Competitiveness Council will co-ordinate the input of the Council on the REACH, aiming for effective health and environmental protection while keeping the industry’s competitiveness. The Irish presidency would like to update the EU to international standards, such as the Stockholm convention.
Many MEPs on the room demanded more commitment of the Irish presidency to put pressure on Russia to sign the Kyoto protocol.
Finally, the Minister announced to the MEPs that the Council is anxious to get to the 1st readings of most issues and needs the co-operation of the EP for that (as the EP will change in June 2004).
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