It is the aim of the European Union environmental policy to integrate environmental protection into EU policies. Here the key policy principles are preventive action, polluter pays, fighting environmental damage at source and shared responsibility.
The acquis in force is instrumental in achieving one of the key objectives of the Treaty, namely to „improve the environmental situation in relation to Network Energy“ (Article 2(1)(d) of the Treaty). The Contracting Parties have a binding obligation to implement the acquis under the Treaty, namely:
(1) the Environmental Impact Directive deadline 1 July 2006
(2) the Sulphur in Fuels Directive 1999/32/EC deadline 31 December 2011
(3) the Large Combustion Plants Directive 2001/80/EC deadline 31 December 2017
(4) Article 4(2) of the Wild Birds Directive deadline 1 July 2006
At the same time, the implementation of
(5) the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive 2008/1/EC
(6) the Kyoto Protocol
is encouraged, but not mandatory.
In its report to the 19th PHLG, the Secretariat stated that the obligation to implement, and in particular the directives related to the reduction of emissions, will have a significant impact on the electricity and the oil sectors. In terms of electricity generation, compliance with the acquis will necessitate decisions on decommissioning or rehabilitation of existing coal-fired power plants, with far-reaching consequences on the energy supply and the future of indigenous fuels within each Contracting Party, and eventually the security of energy supply.
CONTENT
The first page describes the mandate of the newly established Environmental Task Force. The next page outlines the findings of a study on climate change, whilst the last page provides data on C02 intensity in the region.
