An Informal Council of EU Environment Ministers, chaired by Greek Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Yannis Maniatis, convened today (14.5.2014) in Athens. Commissioners for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard, and Environment Janez Potočnik, participated at the meeting, along with the competent Ministers of Member States, candidate countries (including almost all Balkan countries) and countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

Discussions mainly focused on Blue Growth with emphasis on the marine environment and the measures to be taken for its effective protection. Participants also discussed preparations for the ministerial meetings on climate change that will be held in Bonn, in the framework of the ongoing international negotiations, the next step of which is the COP20 at the end of the year in Lima with a view to achieve a legally binding global agreement in Paris in 2015, as well as the new EU proposal for a climate and energy package 2030.

During the morning session, discussions focused on the marine environment as a basis for sustainable blue growth. Ministers exchanged views on the challenges that must be urgently addressed regarding the state of the marine environment. They also discussed about the measures that need to be taken in order to improve cooperation with other countries to maximize efficiency, effectiveness and coherence to protect the marine environment, with a view to provide appropriate conditions for a sustainable Blue Growth. In addition, eminent Greek scientists made presentations concerning the quality of the marine environment and the challenges of blue growth.

Greek Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Yiannis Maniatis, pointed out that the Good Environmental Status is the cornerstone of blue growth. Economic activities that negatively affect the marine environment are not sustainable in the long run. Moreover, he noted, the Marine Strategy Directive is one of the main pillars for the European Union legal acquis and as such, it should weigh in on all bilateral contacts of the EU and should be one of the main criteria in the accession negotiations.

During the working lunch, the Executive Director of UNEP Η.Ε. Achim Steiner, made a presentation on “Unep’s role as the leading global environmental authority in post -2015 processes in light of the upcoming first UNEA”.

The afternoon sessions began with a discussion on the preparation for the next UNFCCC Ministerial meetings. The International Climate Change Negotiations foresee a double set of ministerial meetings (Bonn, June 5-6) to deal with the following issues: The Kyoto Ambition Mechanism, and the Ad-hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform. The ministers also exchanged views on a background paper by the Presidency on “EU strategy for the Bonn ministerial meetings”.

In this context, Minister Maniatis highlighted that «the European Union has fulfilled its commitments in the framework of the Kyoto Protocol and can send a strong message for the need of having a legally binding, ambitious, global agreement to tackle climate change”.

At the evening session, the Ministers discussed about the "climate and energy 2030 package", exchanging views on a related background paper from the Presidency. Minister Maniatis noted that this is an issue of utmost importance, due to the fact that it is related with the European Union efforts to draw pathways to a low carbon economy, promote energy security and ensure a sustainable future.

The ministers also discussed some aspects concerning the further examination of the impact of this package on Member States. The decision on this issue is expected to be finalized by the end of October 2014.

In the margins of the Council, the Greek Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Yiannis Maniatis, had a meeting with the Executive Director of UNEP, Achim Steiner, with whom he discussed preparations for the United Nations Conference of Ministers of Environment that will be held in Nairobi at the end of June.