1. toitototototoot
Preparatory meeting for a workshop on nature, biodiversity, marine & water policies Some remarks & ideas Nicolas Rouyer, water, marine & biodiversity Directorate / France Brussels, 21 May 2014
Ministère de l'Écologie,
du Développement durable et de l'Énergie

2. Cross cutting action is needed
toitototototoot
Cross cutting action is needed
Our EU water, marine & nature policies have been developped in parallel but reality is that the 3 areas are linked. Our EU policy needs to be adapted consequently.
Environment protection is not high in the agenda at COM and in MS, we need to merge forces to be more convincing towards political level & Society and to be more efficient

3. What can we expect from a workshop?
toitototototoot
What can we expect from a workshop?
To ensure full involvement, clarification is needed on what will be allowed with that workshop:
Will that be just another « group therapy »?
Will that be used to reform the CIF, CIS, MCIS?
Will that be clearly used for the Refit exercise or for the coming directive revisions?

4. Better consistency & coordination is the priority
toitototototoot
Better consistency & coordination is the priority
Integration of the environmental objectives of the directives is a long term goal, what the MS need right now is consistency & coordination in the EU legislation.
We need to avoid conflicts between directives.
Some aspects of implementation can be clearly harmonised: timing, assessment, reporting, monitoring, public consultation, programmes of measures.

5. Better consistency & coordination is the priority
toitototototoot
Better consistency & coordination is the priority
Exemple in France: national instructions to coordinate WFD & MSFD, to coordinate MSFD & N2000. This shows that it is possible and this should be enhanced by the EU policies.
Coordination & streamlining is also needed beyond the 3 areas, with the different related EU sectoral policies.
COM & MS need to work hand in hand to improve this. Cooperation not conflict.

6. The funding issue Obstacles when funding the environment:
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The funding issue
Obstacles when funding the environment:
Obstacles met in the preparation of the next generation of European funding:
-> DG Regio sceptical about funding the environment through EU funding (ESIF)
-> DG Env limited influence
Limitations met with State Aid rules:
-> MS have to systematically notify any State Aid when funding the environment
-> MS funding the environment beyond the income foregone are risking infringement

7. The data issue Issues raised by data & information sharing
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The data issue
Issues raised by data & information sharing
Transparency is essential and compliance checking needs to be done by the European Commission
We also need knowledge at EU level to adapt the policies
A gentleman’s agreement between the Commission & the Member States is needed so there is confidence when sharing information beyond legal requirements

8. The communication issue
toitototototoot
The communication issue
Thanks to the EU policies, progress has been achieved on environmental protection in Europe (higher standards, common rules, cooperation between MS on shared issues,…) but a lot remains to be done.
Acceptance & political support remain an issue, we need :
-> to communicate more on the environmental challenges
-> to communicate more positively on the progress brought by the EU policies, on success stories
-> to communicate more on the economical growth & jobs it brings.

9. Thank you for your attention
toitototototoot
Thank you for your attention