1. Update on developments in European environment policy DIMESA 2009 Luxembourg, 15 June 2009
Timo Mäkelä
Director, Sustainable Development and Integration
Environment Directorate General
European Commission

2. A green deal for Europe
The financial/economic crisis has had a substantial impact on our economic system, BUT…
it also provides a unique opportunity to green the economy
EU Economic Recovery Package : €5 billion from EU budget (mostly for energy investments, 10% offshore wind energy)
Member States National recovery plans: €400 billion (3.3% of EU GDP):
 different approaches among MSs
Up-to-date environmental accounts for analysis needed

3. 2009 last year of current Commission and Parliament
Last 5 years: significant steps to progress on environmental issues
EU led global fight against climate change
new greenhouse gas and renewables targets for 2020
REACH, the Air Quality Directive, expansion of NATURA 2000 network, Waste Framework Directive….
Good achievements but more needs to be done
not least to improve the implementation of EU environment legislation

4. Policy initiatives since last DIMESA (1)
Major progress on climate change policy:
 Kyoto Progress report indicates that EU-15 will meet the -8% Kyoto objective
Second Strategic Energy Review (November 2008)
 Adoption of Climate and Energy package «  » by Parliament and Council (December 2008)
 White paper on Adaptation
to climate change (April 2009)

5. Policy initiatives since last DIMESA (2)
Nature and biodiversity
Mid-term Review of the Biodiversity Action Plan (December 2008)
Combat global deforestation (October 2008)
Proposal for a Regulation on timber and timber products traders
Communication to halve gross tropical deforestation and halt global forest loss

6. Policy initiatives since last DIMESA (3)
Environment and health:
Greening transport (July 2008)
Marine Strategy Framework Directive (June 2008)

7. Policy initiatives since last DIMESA (4)
Sustainable Consumption and Production
Action Plan on SCP and Sustainable Industrial Policy (July 2008)
Commission proposals: Ecodesign Directive, Energy Labelling Directive; revised Ecolabel
Revised Waste Framework Directive (adopted by Council in November 2008)
Retail Forum (launched
in March 2009)

8. Measuring progress in a changing world by
complementing GDP
EU: Beyond GDP (Communication on preparation)
OECD Global Project on Measuring Progress (3rd OECD World Forum in 2009)
National initiatives (e.g. France: Stiglitz-Commission on the « Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress”)
Think tanks (e.g. nef - new economics foundation: Draft report on line National Accounts of Well-being )
Press (e.g. Financial Times (UK), DIE ZEIT (DE); Le Monde (FR))

9. Use of indicators
 Better communication on EU progress towards environmental challanges
Example: Environment Policy Review 2008
More indicators on
new priorities (e.g. natural disasters linked to climate change) and
progress to targets (e.g. CO2 emissions from new cars)
Different communication tools
Graphs, tables and simple assessment   
Timeliness increased

10. DG Environment needs
Analysis of recovery programmes would greatly profit from comprehensive environmental accounts.
Environmental Goods and Services Sectors data collection next year is important
Quicker reaction from official statistics to emerging data needs, anticipation of needs.
Timeliness and now-casting

11. Thank you for your attention.