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Archive News from Europe and the World
NEWS FROM EUROPE AND THE WORLD
EUROPEAN COMMISSION HAS LAUNCHED A PUBLIC DEBATE ON THE FUTURE OF THE COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY, CAP
(Posted 14 May 2010)
The Common Agricultural Policy is due to be reformed by 2013. A formal public consultation on the CAP post-2013 will be undertaken later this year when the Commission will publish a policy paper setting out different options for the future CAP. Dacian Cioloş, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, has invited all interested EU citizens and organisations - whether or not they work in the area of agriculture - to join the debate on the future of the CAP, its principles and objectives. In a speech at the European Parliament on 12 April 2010, the Commissioner set out the main issues to be debated. The Commission is particularly keen to know ideas and expectations with regard to these questions:
- Why do we need a European common agricultural policy?
- What do citizens expect from agriculture?
- Why reform the CAP?
- What tools do we need for the CAP of tomorrow?
For more information, to read the speech and to view contributions visit the Europa website:
(http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/cap-post-2013/debate/index_en.htm)
PROPOSAL FOR A NEW EU COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY
(Posted 14 May 2010)
Five farming and environmental NGOs (Bird Life International, EEB, EFNCP, IFOAM and WWF) have come together with a proposal for a transformation of the CAP to help farmers to rise to the challenge of sustainable farming and to reward those who deliver tangible benefits to society. Their aim is to provide a constructive basis for an open and inclusive debate around the future of the CAP. This document offers a blueprint for supporting the changes needed in European farming to achieve their Vision. It sets out objectives tailored to Europe’s needs, and the suite of measures required to meet them.
For further details and to view the proposal visit the WWF website:
(http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/changing_the_way_we_live/?3797/Proposal-for-a-new-EU-Common-Agricultural-Policy)
To respond to the Proposal and to read the responses, visit the cap2020 website:
(http://cap2020.ieep.eu/vision)
EEA - EVERYTHING ABOUT FRESH WATER IN EUROPE
(Posted 14 May 2010)
On World Water Day, 22 March 2010, the European Environment Agency (EEA) extended the information on the web-based Water Information System for Europe (WISE) with two new sets of data on urban wastewater and pollutant releases. For the first time, urban waste water treatment data (the location and type of treatment plants), which Governments gather pursuant to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive), are available as a dataset and can be downloaded in WISE. The second new feature is ‘emissions’ data sets on the total amount of nutrients and some hazardous substances released to water bodies.
For more information visit the EEA website:
(http://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/everything-about-fresh-water-in-europe)
BIODIVERSITY IS LIFE. BIODIVERSITY IS OUR LIFE:
‘10 MESSAGES FOR 2010’
(Posted 14 May 2010)
To celebrate the launch of the International Year of Biodiversity on 11 January, the European Environment Agency (EEA) is commencing a series of concise, thematic assessments of biodiversity. The EEA’s ‘10 messages for 2010’ will highlight one theme per month until the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in October:
Message 1: Climate change and biodiversity
Message 2: Protected areas
Message 3: Freshwater ecosystems
Message 4: Marine ecosystems
Message 5: Forest ecosystems
Upcoming messages:
- Urban ecosystems (to be published in May 2010)
- Agricultural ecosystems (to be published in June 2010)
- Mountain ecosystems (to be published in July 2010)
- European biodiversity heritage (to be published in August 2010)
- Coastal ecosystems (to be published in September 2010)
For further information and to read the full messages visit the EEA website:
(http://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/biodiversity-is-life-biodiversity-is-our-life)
EUROBAROMETER: EUROPEANS NOT WELL INFORMED ABOUT BIODIVERSITY LOSS
(Posted 14 May 2010)
The European Commission has published a Eurobarometer survey which shows that many Europeans do not understand what is meant by biodiversity and do not feel well informed about biodiversity loss. The new “Attitudes towards biodiversity” survey reveals that only 38% of Europeans know the meaning of the term, although another 28% have heard of it but do not know its meaning. A majority feel that biodiversity loss is a serious issue, although they do not think they will be personally affected by the decline, with only 17% of respondents agreeing that they are already touched by it.
The Commission has at the same time launched a campaign aimed at informing the public about the loss of biodiversity in the EU
(www.weareallinthistogether.eu).
Full text of the News Release is available on the Europa website:
(http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/411&format=HtmL&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)
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