Environment: the Luxembourgish presidency of the Council of the EU will face many challenges
From 1 July to 31 December, Luxembourg will assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Many environmental issues are on the line which will require a great part of Luxembourg attention and action.
With regard to the environment, four challenges have been defined by Luxembourg as priorities for the Council: air quality, energy policy, circular economy and the new common fisheries policy.
Multiple environmental challenges for Luxembourg
Let's have a look at air quality first: discussions over the National Emissions Ceilings (NEC) Directive have failed so far. This Directive is nervertheless crucial to set new air quality objectives for 2030 in Europe.
The Presidency will also have to push for the adoption of a new 2030 Climate and Energy Package aiming to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40 % between 1990 and 2030, use at least 27 % of renewable energy within the EU and improve energy efficiency by 27 %.
Luxembourg will also have to defend the adoption of a new Circular Economy Package to set new objectives on organic waste, re-use, recycling and packaging. It may lead to a better accountability for producers and ban incineration of recyclable or compostable waste by 2020.
The EU's international leadership questioned
The pressure for agreements on environmental issues is high! These agreements will coincide with the COP 21 held in Paris in the end of 2015. They will influence the EU's credibility and capacity to play a leading role in the international climate negociations.