Search

A new forestry policy aiming at expanding sustainable forest management was adopted in November 2007, replacing the Strategic Forestry Plan 2002-2005.

Under the Single Payment Scheme introduced with the CAP reform in 2003-4, farmers may still receive, in addition to the Single Payment Scheme, aid under other specific support schemes (direct payments) if they meet certain standards concerning public, animal and plant health, as well as the environment and animal welfare.

In line with the FAO's international plan of action to fight illegal unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU), the Council adopted in September 2008 a "Community system to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing" intended to halt the import of fisheries products stemming from IUU fishing activities into the Community market and targeted primarily at activities falling under the definition of IUU fishing and causing serious damage to the marine environment, the sustainability of fish stocks and the socio-economic situation of fishermen abiding by the rules on conservation and management of fisheries resources.

The EC continues to be devoted to multilateral action to ensure that trade rules are supportive of sustainable development, as shown by its ambitious stance in the DDA negotiations on Trade and Environment and, on the social sustainability side, by its support for appropriate special and differential treatment for developing countries across the key negotiating areas of the DDA.

The energy and climate package, encompassing proposals on emissions trading and renewables as well as Carbon Capture and Sequestration was finally adopted by the European Parliament on 17 December 2008, following historic agreement reached by the European Council.

The EU has been playing a major role in the fight against climate change, actively supporting the climate change negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to agree on a new post-Kyoto climate regime at the international level and strengthening its Emission Trading System (EU ETS) domestically in order to meet aggressive carbon reduction targets.

A Strategic Energy Technology Plan was presented in November 2007 to accelerate the development and implementation of low carbon energy technologies and to propose the adoption of measures to improve the energy efficiency of consumer goods.

One of the key trade-related developments and achievements during the reference period includes the formulation of progressive new energy and climate change policies.

The EC's rural development policy supports protection of the environment and rural landscapes.

The EU has been persistently supporting the liberalization of trade in environmental goods and services within the DDA negotiations.