EP: Defining EU Position for Rio+20

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution on developing a common EU position ahead of the UNCSD (Rio+20), outlining its views on the concept of the green economy and desired outcomes of the Conference. Of special note is paragraph 97, which "Calls for the recognition of the Principle of Non-regression in the context of environmental protection as well as fundamental rights." A working group of the IUCN-Commission on Environmental Law (IUCN-CEL) was a key player in the inclusion of this principle of international law requiring that norms that have already been adopted by States should not be revised if this implies going backwards on the subject of standards of protection of collective and individual rights which have already been reached.

EC: Proposed Changes to CFP

The Commission has released its communication on proposed reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), aiming to make fishing “environmentally, economically and socially sustainable." The proposals will now be discussed in Parliament and Council and are expected to be adopted in November 2011. The reformed CFP would then enter into force in 2013.

EU: GMOs and Member States

The European Parliament has voted for a proposal that would allow EU member States to ban or restrict the use of GMOs based on environmental grounds, such as pesticide resistance, the invasiveness of certain crops and a threat to biodiversity. It would add environmental reasons to a list of grounds based on which member States could restrict or ban GMO cultivation previously developed by the EU Commission as part of a reform of the current Directive regulating GMO approval at EU level. The proposal is expected to give member States better legal protection in the event of challenges to a decision to ban GMOs under international trade law.

EU Parliament Press Release

Brussels Urban Declaration

The European Parliament, the European Commission and UN-HABITAT, with the support of the Hungarian Presidency of the EU, hosted the high-level Consolidated Urban Dialogue Meeting with the EU Partners at on 26 January. The meeting concluded with the adoption of the Brussels Urban Declaration, which calls attention to urban development issues, and to the establishment of adequate mechanisms to support sustainable urban initiatives, including energy efficiency and innovative climate change strategies.