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Is Europe ready for global leadership on biodiversity in 2010?

12-01-2010

Just before Christmas BirdLife International presented its environmental priorities for the Spanish Presidency of the EU, which has just started. 

After a promising preparation by Sweden, BirdLife has now high expectations towards the Spanish government: “It will be very much in the hands of the incoming Spanish EU Presidency whether 2010, the International Year of Biodiversity, will be remembered as a milestone for rescuing the planet, or just as another missed opportunity”, commented Mr Kreiser, former EU Policy Manager at BirdLife International’s European Division.

As for every Presidency of the EU, BirdLife International also launched its publication ‘Greening Europe’highlighting BirdLife’s EU policy priorities for the upcoming six months.

BirdLife provides Spain with “five keys to a successful Presidency”:
 
• The EU must adopt, at the highest political level, a highly ambitious new 2020 biodiversity target and show credible leadership for the global negotiations on biodiversity in 2010.
• The  Presidency and Member States must decide how the EU will ensure its fair contribution to international climate financing, stopping the destruction of tropical forests and strengthening the resilience of ecosystems.
• The Presidency should urge the European Commission to propose and adopt a strong and sound set of sustainability standards for all bioenergy applications.
• The Presidency should ensure that all relevant Council formations have an open debate on the future of the EU Budget, based on the Commission’s Budget Review paper (expected in early 2010).
• The Presidency should urge the European Commission to propose without any delay a strong “EU Seabird Action Plan” for reducing seabird bycatch for approval by Parliament and Council still during the Spanish Presidency.

Six months from now BirdLife will evaluate the successes and failures of Spain on these top recommendations.

Download the Greening Europe here.

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