Government TPR |
WT/TPR/G/357 |
G-III§46 |
European Union |
2017 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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The most prominent examples of EU instruments with environmental objectives are the Timber Regulation and related Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Voluntary Partnership Agreements addressing trade in illegal timber, and the EU Regulation addressing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. With reference to the EU FLEGT Action Plan, in May 2016 the European Commission published the results of an independent evaluation of its implementation during the period 2003-2014. The evaluation showed that it has been an innovative response to the challenge of illegal logging and has improved forest governance in all targeted countries. A number of Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) with selected timber exporting countries that commit themselves to trade only in verified legal timber covered by FLEGT licenses are concluded or under negotiation. As of end of February 2017, the EU has signed VPAs with the following six countries: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Ghana, Liberia, Republic of Congo and Indonesia. Negotiations are ongoing with the following nine countries: Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Guyana, Honduras, Laos, Malaysia, Viet Nam and Thailand. The FLEGT VPA with Indonesia has been operational since 15 November 2016.
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Government TPR |
WT/TPR/G/357 |
G-III§47 |
European Union |
2017 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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The Paris Agreement on Climate Change (COP21) sketches out the road towards a transition to a low greenhouse gas emission, resource efficient, and climate resilient global economy. This transition demands a fundamental shift in technologies, energy systems, business and investment behaviour, and ultimately, in society as a whole. To date, 190 countries have submitted their national plans (indicative nationally determined contributions).
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Keywords
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Climate
Emissions
Natural resources
Energy
Green
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Government TPR |
WT/TPR/G/357 |
G-III§48 |
European Union |
2017 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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The EU's leadership ahead of and during COP21, including through its collective diplomatic outreach under the framework of the 2015 climate diplomacy action plan, contributed to the positive outcome. In particular, the EU and its Member States played a critical role in shifting negotiations dynamics at the crucial stage of COP21 and, as a result, the Paris Agreement entered into force on 4 November 2016, after the EU had ratified it. In November 2016, at the meeting held in Marrakech (COP22), the EU committed itself to defend and implement the Paris Agreement, continuing to lead the way towards a more sustainable and competitive economy.
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Government TPR |
WT/TPR/G/357 |
G-III§49 |
European Union |
2017 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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Climate change has been central to the EU's actions for several years. In this respect, as an integral policy of the European Energy Union, the EU has developed the "EU Climate action - decarbonizing the economy" for implementing at EU level the measures aimed at reaching the goals set in COP21, as well as in the Agenda 2030.
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Government TPR |
WT/TPR/G/357 |
G-III§50 |
European Union |
2017 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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The EU’s objective is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80-95% by 2050 compared to 1990. The EU Climate and Energy framework includes a greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of at least 40% below 1990 levels for the year 2030. The EU has also committed itself to dedicating at least 20% of its entire budget from 2014-2020 to climate-related actions.
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Keywords
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Climate
Emissions
Energy
Green
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Government TPR |
WT/TPR/G/357 |
G-III§51 |
European Union |
2017 |
Measures |
Other price and market based measures |
Services |
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The EU was also instrumental in achieving another important milestone, notably the agreement reached in October 2016 by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The agreement aims at implementing a market-based measure which is based on the offsetting of CO2-greenhouse gas emissions in order to achieve carbon-neutral growth of international civil aviation as of 2020. The technical details of this new scheme will be finalized over the coming years.
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Government TPR |
WT/TPR/G/357 |
G-III§52 |
European Union |
2017 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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On 10 November 2016 , the European Commission and the EU's High Representative, Federica Mogherini, set out a joint agenda for the future of our oceans, proposing 50 actions for safe, secure, clean and sustainably managed oceans in Europe and around the world.
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Government TPR |
WT/TPR/G/357 |
G-III§53 |
European Union |
2017 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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Relevant information
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The Joint Communication is an integral part of the EU's response to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular to the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 14 'to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources'. It builds on a widely shared understanding that the framework for ocean governance needs to be strengthened, that pressures on the oceans need to be reduced and that the world's oceans must be used sustainably.
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Keywords
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Conservation
Sustainable
Natural resources
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Government TPR |
WT/TPR/G/357 |
G-III§54 |
European Union |
2017 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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Relevant information
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The Joint Communication proposes ways the EU can step up and play a stronger role at global and regional level in shaping the way oceans are managed and used. It sets out detailed actions to shape international governance in three priority areas:
improving the international framework for ocean governance;
reducing human pressures on the oceans and creating the conditions for a sustainable blue economy;
strengthening international ocean research and data.
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Government TPR |
WT/TPR/G/357 |
G-IV§7 |
European Union |
2017 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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Relevant information
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With reference to trade policy, the Better Regulation agenda entails systematic on-line public consultations on all significant trade initiatives; the consultation of stakeholders in the Sustainability Impact Assessments (SIAs); and a commitment to carry out more systematic ex post evaluations after the agreements have been implemented.
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