The EU has some of the world's highest environmental standards, but its environment policy had not always been a matter of high political importance. The developments on climate change and the challenges on energy issues, especially during the last decade, require access to and sustainable use of resources without causing environmental problems. The EU’s environmental policy has thus emerged as a vital area of EU governance.

Today, the main pillars of EU Environmental policy refer to the protection of Europe’s natural capital and the promotion of green business and economy, as well as the safeguarding of people’s health and wellbeing.

Europe works to protect nature and stop the decline of endangered species and habitats through Natura 2000, a network of 26,000 protected natural areas covering almost 20% of the EU's land mass. These areas promote sustainable human activities which can take place without threatening rare and vulnerable species and habitats.

In addition, the EU’s environmental policy tries also to create conditions that encourage individuals and industries to use resources wisely. Measures that protect the true value of natural resources, lower the environmental impact of production and consumption, ensure that waste is managed as a resource and help prevent or reduce water waste are put in place.

Finally, as the world population continues to expand, and cities become more crowded, global environmental challenges become more pressing not only on an EU but on a global level as well. This underlines the need for more action to be taken to ensure sustainable development.

The Environment at the heart of the Greek Presidency

The environment is set to take centre stage this week (12 – 16 May), as a series of meetings are taking place in Athens and Brussels under the Greek Presidency.

Environment Ministers and Government representatives from Member states will gather on 14 May for the Informal Environment Council. Discussions will focus on marine environment as the basis for sustainable Blue Growth and on Climate Change.

The Blue Growth initiative aims to develop the maritime dimension of the Europe 2020 strategy. Blue Growth can thus be defined as "smart, sustainable and inclusive economic and employment growth from the oceans, seas and coasts". Its Agenda includes valorizing the diversity of marine ecosystems; sustainable harvesting the deep-sea bio-georesources; new offshore challenges; ocean observation technologies, as well as a socio-economic dimension. Europe’s ‘blue’ economy represents 5.4 million jobs and a gross added value of about € 500 billion a year.

However, the state of marine environment calls for urgent action. Overfishing, pollution, eutrophication, littering, growing acidification do not allow the seas to deliver to their full potential. In this context, the ministers will exchange views on the challenges to be urgently addressed by taking a set of necessary measures in order to ensure the good status and the effective governance, including the sustainable management of marine and coastal areas, with a view to create the appropriate conditions for sustainable Blue Growth.

Environment Ministers will also discuss the 2030 Climate and Energy framework, which aims at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% and increasing the share of renewable energy to at least 27%.  It also proposes a governance process through national plans for competitive, secure and sustainable energy that is enhanced by a set of indicators. However, there are certain elements of the Climate –Energy Package that, according to the related European Council Conclusions, need further analysis. A major issue that the ministers will need to address remains the principles and criteria to be used in the impact analysis for each MS and the development of a fair effort sharing mechanism.  

In addition, the Directorate General (DG) of the European Commission for the Environment and the Greek Ministry for the Environment, Energy & Climate Change will host expert meetings in Athens (week 12-16 May).

On 12-13 May, national experts of member states of the European Union Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment (EIA-SEA) will discuss the implementation of Directives for the impact assessment of certain public and private projects on the environment.

On 15 May a Joint Meeting of the European Network of Environmental and Managing Authorities (ENEA-MA) and the National Environmental Network (E.PE.DI) will also take place. ENEA - MA was set up in 2004 in order to contribute to the integration of the environmental and sustainable development policies within the regional policy programmes of EU Members and candidate countries for accession to the EU. The meetings will seek to highlight the environmental dimension and the importance of consultation in the development of the national strategy for cohesion policy, in the 2014-2020 programming period.

Finally, the European Conference on "Renaturing Cities: Addressing Environmental Challenges and the Effects of the Economic Crisis through Nature-Based Solutions", taking place in Brussels (13-14 May), will focus on developing policies to address the environmental challenges of modern cities. Innovative tools, strategies and best practices in the field of Nature Based Solutions, including, among others, recycling and environmental friendly renovation of buildings with renewable resources and eco-material products, will be discussed.