European Union
Committee of the Regions
M I N U T E S of the 16th meeting of the
Commission for Sustainable Development, held at the Committee building, Brussels, on
17-18 February 2009
_____________
Brussels, 6 April 2009
CdR 66/2009 EN/o
- 101 rue Belliard - B-1040 Brussels - Tel. +32 (0)2/282 22 11 - Fax +32 (0)2/282 23 25 -
Internet http://www.cor.europa.eu
EN

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The Commission for Sustainable Development held its 16th meeting of the fourth four-year term of office (2006-2010), in Brussels, on Tuesday, 17 February from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on
Wednesday, 18 February 2009 from 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.
ATTENDANCE LIST
Chairman: Mr Jerzy ZAJĄKAŁA (PL/UEN-EA)
Mr/Ms
Members present on 17 February (40)
ANGHEL Cristian (RO/ALDE)
BAKER Paula (UK/ALDE)
BARTKEVICS Edvins (LV/ALDE)
BENKÖ Ferenc (HU/ALDE)
BERTRAND Olivier (FR/EPP)
BORGHI Enrico (IT/ALDE)
BOSSUYT Gilbert (BE/PES)
COHEN Michael (MT/PES)
DAY Simon (UK/EPP)
DWARSHUIS-VAN DE BEEK Lenie (NL/ALDE)
FORMOSA Noel (MT/EPP)
FÜGL Marianne (AT/PES)
GIBOWSKI Wolfgang (DE/EPP)
GILLHAM Linda (UK/UEN-EA)
JAKUTIS Raimundas (LT/UEN-EA)
LIELMEŽS Aleksandrs (LV/ALDE)
LIIKKANEN Antti (FI/PES)
LUNDBERG Britt (FI/ALDE)
MAILLE Pierre (FR/PES)
MARRAZZO Pietro (IT/PES)
McGOWAN Patrick (IE/UEN-EA)
MOHR Erwin (AT/EPP)
NORRMAN Mona-Lisa (SE/PES)
PELLA Roberto (IT/EPP)
PETERSEN Karsten Uno (DK/PES)
SAUWENS Johan (BE/EPP)
SEBESTA Józef (PL/EPP)
SKUTULIENÉ Stasé (LT/PES)
JENSEN Henning (DK/PES)
JOSEPH Jean-Louis (FR/PES)
KALEV Saima (EE/UEN-EA)
LAMERS Cor (NL/EPP)
LEBRUN Michel (BE/EPP)
Alternates present on 17 February (36)
STRUZIK Adam (PL/EPP)
THOMA Juraj (CS/EPP)
TZATZANIS Konstantinos (EL/NI)
VALCÁRCEL SISO Ramón Luis (ES/EPP)
VARGA Zoltán (HU/PES)
ZACHARIAŠ István (SK/EPP)
ZAJĄKAŁA Jerzy (PL/UEN-EA)
AMER AMER Gabriel (ES/PES)
BANASZAK Adam (PL/UEN-EA)
BODARD Philippe (FR/PES)
CAVERI Luciano (IT/ALDE)
CHATZITTOFIS Kyriakos (CY/NI)
CIUPERCĂ Silvian (RO/PES)
CZERNIAK Jacek (PL/PES)
ENACHE Dumitru (RO/EPP)
FERNÁNDEZ MATO Julio César (ES/PES)
KOCSIS Karolyne (HU/ALDE)
KUSCHKE Wolfram (DE/PES)
LEDINEK Branko (SL/EPP)
LINDEMANN Clemens (DE/PES)
MACK Winfried (DE/EPP)
MAGNANI Mario (IT/ALDE)
MERVILLE Denis (FR/EPP)
MOLNÁR Csaba (HU/PES)
MOORE Peter (UK/ALDE)
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GODEK Robert (PL/UEN-EA)
HABY Susanna (SE/EPP)
JOHNSON Bernth (SE/PES)
KAASIK Kaido (EE/EPP)
KALLIS Nikos (CY/NI)
KLÄR Karl-Heinz (DE/PES)
SZALAY András (HU/ALDE)
TRUSKOLASKI Tadeusz (PL/EPP)
VARACALLI Giuseppe (IT/ALDE)
VAIVODS Andris (LV/EPP)
WATSON CBE Ron (UK/EPP)
WHITEMAN Milner (UK/UEN-EA)
Members present on 18 February (39)
BAKER Paula (UK/ALDE)
BARTKEVICS Edvins (LV/ALDE)
BENKÖ Ferenc (HU/ALDE)
BERTRAND Olivier (FR/EPP)
BORGHI Enrico (IT/ALDE)
BOSSUYT Gilbert (BE/PES)
COHEN Michael (MT/PES)
DAY Simon (UK/EPP)
DURDU Agnès (LU/ALDE)
DWARSHUIS-VAN DE BEEK Lenie (NL/ALDE)
FORMOSA Noel (MT/EPP)
FÜGL Marianne (AT/PES)
GIBOWSKI Wolfgang (DE/EPP)
GILLHAM Linda (UK/UEN-EA)
JAKUTIS Raimundas (LT/UEN-EA)
JENSEN Henning (DK/PES)
KALEV Saima (EE/UEN-EA)
LAMERS Cor (NL/EPP)
LEBRUN Michel (BE/EPP)
LIELMEŽS Aleksandrs (LV/ALDE)
Alternates present on 18 February (33)
AMER AMER Gabriel (ES/PES)
BANASZAK Adam (PL/UEN-EA)
BODARD Philippe (FR/PES)
CAVERI Luciano (IT/ALDE)
CHATZITTOFIS Kyriakos (CY/NI)
CIUPERCĂ Silvian (RO/PES)
NILSSON Jens (SE/PES)
PALEOLÓGOS Chrístos (EL/PES)
PETUŠÍK Jozef (SK/NI)
SANTARELLA Savino (IT/UEN-EA)
SERRI Linetta (IT/PES)
STENBÆK Jens (DK/ALDE)
LIIKKANEN Antti (FI/PES)
LUNDBERG Britt (FI/ALDE)
MAILLE Pierre (FR/PES)
McCHORD Cormick Keenan (UK/PES)
McGOWAN Patrick (IE/UEN-EA)
MOHR Erwin (AT/EPP)
MURRAY Seamus (IE/UEN-EA)
NORRMAN Mona-Lisa (SE/PES)
PELLA Roberto (IT/EPP)
PETERSEN Karsten Uno (DK/PES)
POOTS MLA Edwin (UK/NI)
SAUWENS Johan (BE/EPP)
SEBESTA Józef (PL/EPP)
SKUTULIENÉ Stasé (LT/PES)
STRUZIK Adam (PL/EPP)
VALCÁRCEL SISO Ramón Luis (ES/EPP)
VARGA Zoltán (HU/PES)
ZACHARIAŠ István (SK/EPP)
ZAJĄKAŁA Jerzy (PL/UEN-EA)
LINDEMANN Clemens (DE/PES)
MAGNANI Mario (IT/ALDE)
MOLNÁR Csaba (HU/PES)
MOORE Peter (UK/ALDE)
NILSSON Jens (SE/PES)
PALEOLÓGOS Chrístos (EL/PES)
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ENACHE Dumitru (RO/EPP)
FERNÁNDEZ MATO Julio César (ES/PES)
GODEK Robert (PL/UEN-EA)
HABY Susanna (SE/EPP)
JOHNSON Bernth (SE/PES)
KAASIK Kaido (EE/EPP)
KALLIS Nikos (CY/NI)
KLÄR Karl-Heinz (DE/PES)
KOCSIS Karolyne (HU/ALDE)
KUSCHKE Wolfram (DE/PES)
LEDINEK Branko (SL/EPP)
Experts
PETUŠÍK Jozef (SK/NI)
SANTARELLA Savino (IT/UEN-EA)
SERRI Linetta (IT/PES)
STENBÆK Jens (DK/ALDE)
SZALAY András (HU/ALDE)
TRUSKOLASKI Tadeusz (PL/EPP)
VARACALLI Giuseppe (IT/ALDE)
VAIVODS Andris (LV/EPP)
WATSON CBE Ron (UK/EPP)
WHITEMAN Milner (UK/UEN-EA)
Mr Olivier SOUMERYN-SCHMIT for Mr Jean-Louis JOSEPH (FR/PES)
Ms Tanja BÖHM for Mr Wolfgang GIBOWSKI (DE/EPP)
Mr Claudio CLINI for Mr Pietro MARRAZZO (IT/PES)
Ms Ulrika ERIKSSON for Mrs Susanna HABY (SE/EPP)
Ms Gyrite BRANDT for Mr Henning JENSEN (DK/PES)
Mr James Oliver PORTUS for Sir Simon DAY (UK/EPP)
Mr Peter WENSTER for Mrs Mona-Lisa NORRMAN (SE/PES)
European Parliament
Ms Silvia-Adriana TICAU (RO/PES), Member of the European Parliament
Mr Raül ROMEVA I RUEDA (ES/ Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance), Member of the
European Parliament
European Commission
Mr Cesar DEBEN ALFONSO, Director DG MARE
Mr Mathieu BRIENS, DG MARE
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Ms Agnieszka DAVAL-CICHON, DG SANCO
Mr Lennart DERIDDER, DG TREN
Ms Helen DONOGHUE, DG TREN
Mr Marco GASPARINETTI, DG ENV
Ms Nicole HUGONNARD-ROCHE, DG AGRI
Ms Madalina IVANICA, DG ENV CoR Contact officer
Ms Pirio-Liisa KOSKIMAKI, DG TREN
M Lee McGILL, DG SANCO
Ms Fotini MISSAILIDOU, DG MARE CoR Contact officer
Ms Katja NEUBAUER, DG SANCO
Ms Irene SACRISTAN SANCHEZ, DG ENTR
Mr Eric SITBON, DG SANCO
Mr Bartosz ZAMBRZYCKI, DG ENV
Council of the European Union
Ms Chiara MANTEGAZZINI, Secretariat General
CoR Secretariat
GUSSETTI Lucio
NEILL-COWPER Marie-Claire
MORAUT Hélène
BRAUNS Carsten
ZVIRGZDGRAUDS Jens
FONTAINE Chantal
Political group secretariats
ANTONIOU Vasileios
FORNEA Aliona
DIALLO Abdoul
RODZIEWICZ Bogna
Director, Consultative Work
Head of Unit C1
Administrator DEVE
Administrator DEVE
Administrator DEVE
Assistant DEVE
EPP
PES
ALDE
UEN-EA
*
* *
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1.
Adoption of the draft agenda - CdR 5/2009
The draft agenda was adopted subject to a modification which aimed at dealing with item 6 and 8 before item 5.
3.
2.
Approval of the minutes of the 15th meeting - CdR 419/2008
The minutes were approved.
Statement by the Chair
3.1 Covenant of Mayors
The Chair informed Members that he was pleased to note the good attendance at the official ceremony for the signing of the Covenant of Mayors on 10 February 2009, in the framework of the annual
European Sustainable Energy Week. The Mayors from those cities who have adhered to the Covenant participated. The CoR President attended. The Chair stated that the CoR would continue to follow up on its work in this field, in particular in the light of carrying forward its key recommendation of extending the Covenant to the regional level.
3.2 External activities:
The Chair reminded members that he would be hosting an external meeting and seminar of the DEVE
Commission on local and regional adaptation to climate change scheduled to take place in Torun,
Poland, on the 19 - 20 October 2009. The Commission meeting scheduled for 21 September would therefore be moved to 19 October. More information would follow.
The Chair reminded Members that the external seminar on “Environment and sustainability strategies for urban regeneration “in Baia Mare, Romania, was scheduled to take place on 29 May 2009. The seminar would focus on integrated and sustainable urban planning, promoting sustainable mobility, and resource efficient architecture within a strategic context. Only a maximum number of one quarter of the total of DEVE Commission Members would be eligible to attend. In the interests of fairness, no registration would be accepted before the official notification of the seminar has been launched.
Mr Cristian Anghel (RO/ALDE) took the floor on this issue and presented the venue of the meeting, looking forward to welcoming DEVE Members to Baia Mare.
3.3 CoR study 2009
The Chair informed members that the CoR Bureau, at its meeting of 11 February 2009, had endorsed the study proposal of Mr Jerzy Kropiwnicki (PL/EPP) on "Instruments of effective implementation
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- 6 - of sustainable development policy and adaptation to climate change in large European cities and their metropolitan areas."
3.4 Involvement of the CoR in the LG CC Leadership summit
The Chair informed Members that he had received a letter from Mr Henning Jensen (DK/PSE) informing on the "Local Government Climate Change Leadership Summit" to be held in Copenhagen on 2-4 June 2009. The secretariat was looking into the issue of CoR attendance and involvement in this matter. The Chair thanked Mr Jensen in conclusion for the invitation.
4.
Organisation of the commission's future work:
For decision
4.1
Appointment of new rapporteurs
The DEVE Commission appointed Mr Helmut Jahn (DE/EPP) as rapporteur for the Communication on "A Community approach on the prevention of natural and man-made disasters", COM(2009) 82 final
The DEVE Commission appointed Mr Olivier Bertrand (FR/EPP) as rapporteur for the
Commission Progress Report to the Council and the European Parliament "A simplified CAP for
Europe - a success for all" (provisional title)
4.2
Decisions not to draw up an opinion - CdR 6/2009
The DEVE Commission decided not to issue an opinion on the following dossiers:

Proposal for a Council Regulation on the protection of animals at the time of killing,
COM(2008) 553 final - 2008/0180 (CNS)

Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on Stage II petrol vapour recovery during refuelling of passenger cars at service stations, COM(2008) 812 final -
2008/0229 (COD)

Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the rights of passengers when travelling by sea and inland waterway and amending Regulation (EC)
No 2006/2004 on cooperation between national authorities responsible for the enforcement of consumer protection laws, COM(2008) 816 final - 2008/0246 (COD)

Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the rights of passengers in bus and coach transport and amending Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 on cooperation between national authorities responsible for the enforcement of consumer protection laws, COM(2008) 817 final - 2008/0237 (COD)
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
Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on standards of quality and safety of human organs intended for transplantation, COM(2008) 818 final -
2008/0238 (COD)
The DEVE Commission decided further not to issue an opinion on the following document, not yet listed in document CdR 6/2009:

Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a programme to aid economic recovery by granting Community financial assistance to projects in the field of energy, COM(2009) 35 final - 2009/0010 (COD)
A motivated renunciation with a letter will be sent to the European Commission, reiterating the CoR's views on this subject. Moreover, a corresponding letter will be sent to the Chair of the ECOS
Commission, since the proposal is a part of the Economic Recovery Package which is dealt with by
ECOS.
For the following two proposals, the decision on not to issue an opinion was postponed to next meeting:

Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and the Council on Waste Electrical and
Electronic Equipments (WEEE) (Recast), COM(2008) 810 final - 2008/0241 (COD)

Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and the Council on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (Recast),
COM(2008) 809 final - 2008/0240 (COD)
For information
4.3
DEVE work programme 2009 – CdR 350/2008 rev.1
The Chair informed members that the Bureau had adopted all the work programmes of the
Commissions at its meeting on 11 February. The final DEVE work programme for 2009 had been circulated to members for information.
5.
Opinion on the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the
Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the
Regions - Second Strategic Energy Review - An EU Energy Security and Solidarity
Action Plan - COM (2008) 781 final, and on the Proposal for a Directive of the European
Parliament and of the Council on the energy performance of buildings (recast)
COM(2008) 780 final - 2008/0223 (COD)
DEVE-IV-033
CdR 8/2009
Rapporteur: Mr Jean-Louis Joseph (FR/PES)
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The rapporteur outlined the main points of the draft opinion.
Ms Pirjo-Liisa Koskimäki , Head of Unit for Energy Efficiency, DG TREN of the European
Commission summarised the position of the EC on the key issues of this dossier.
Ms Silvia-Adriana TICAU (RO/PES), MEP, presented the state of play on this issue in the EP ITRE
Committee.
A debate followed during which the following members took the floor: Mr Erwin Mohr (AT/EPP),
Ms Paula Baker (UK/ALDE), Mr Christos Paleologos (EL/PES), Mr Henning Jensen
(DK/ALDE), Mr Michel Lebrun (BE/EPP), Mr Cristian Anghel (RO/ALDE), Mr Philippe
Bodard (FR/PES), Mr Bernth Johnson (SE/PES), Mr Olivier Bertrand (FR/EPP) voicing their views on: the seller's responsibility for adequate energy performance of buildings; the need for public buildings to lead the public by virtue of example towards more energy efficient design and management of buildings; on the need to channel greater investment in research and innovation and streamline the Structural Funds for energy efficiency investment in urban and rural communities and regions; on financial incentives as the best way to change public behaviour; on the need of a specific approach to national heritage; subsidies for social housing and on the importance that no type of energy source being excluded from the market if sufficient supply should be made available.
Discussion of the draft opinion: 20 amendments had been tabled. During the discussion, the amendments were dealt with as follows:
Amendments adopted: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20
Compromise amendments adopted: 3, 7, 9, 13, 14
Amendment rejected: 8
Amendment withdrawn: 12
Amendment fallen: 19
The draft opinion, as amended, was put to the vote and adopted by a majority. It will be submitted for adoption at the plenary session of 21/22 April 2009.
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6.
Opinion on the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on patient safety, including the prevention and control of healthcareassociated infections - COM(2008) 836 final, and on the Proposal for a Council
Recommendation on patient safety, including the prevention and control of healthcare associated infections - COM(2008) 837 final
DEVE-IV-040
CdR 14/2009
Rapporteur: Mr Pietro Marrazzo (IT/PES)
The rapporteur outlined the main points of the draft opinion.
Ms Katja Neubauer from DG SANCO of the European Commission summarised the position of the
EC on the key issues of this dossier and thanked the CoR for this valuable contribution.
A debate followed, during which Mr Konstantinos Tzatzanis (EL/NI) and Mr Kyriakos
Chatzittofis (CY/NI) voiced their views on the necessity to better finance public health and on the differences among public health system in the Members Sates.
Discussion of the draft opinion: eight amendments had been tabled. During the discussion, the amendments were dealt with as follows:
Amendments adopted: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8
Amendment adopted with compromise: 3
Amendment withdrawn: 5
The draft opinion, duly amended, was put to the vote and adopted by a majority. It will be submitted for adoption at the plenary session of 21/22 April 2009.
7.
Reporting back by the Chair on the proceedings of the CoR own initiative opinion
"White Paper on Multilevel Governance" (dealt with by the CONST Commission -
CONST-IV-020) followed by a discussion.
The Chair informed members that that he had attended a meeting with the other chairs of the CoR
Commissions on 12 February upon the invitation of the President Van den Brande to discuss the forthcoming elaboration of an opinion on Multilevel Governance for which Mr Van den Brande is rapporteur alongside Mr Delebarre. The working document of the rapporteurs had been circulated to
DEVE members.
The Chair presented an overview of the discussion at the meeting of 12 February, where the participants had pointed out that the White Paper was an important initiative to strengthen the involvement of local and regional authorities (LRAs) in building up the future of Europe. Multi-level
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- 10 - governance could fill the gap between responsibilities and recognition of LRAs and contribute to the full implementation of democracy in the EU. The Chair indicated that appropriate approaches in the context of Multi-level governance within the remit of the DEVE Commission could be partnerships at early stage of decision making on concrete subjects such as climate change, healthcare and patient's rights or development of rural regions.
During the debate the following members spoke: Mr Wolfram Kuschke (DE/PES), Mr Adam
Struzik (PL/EPP), Mr Christos Paleologos (EL/PES), Mr Edvins Bartkevics (LV/ALDE),
Mr Paul-Henri Meyers (LU/EPP), Mr Olivier Bertrand (FR/EPP) and Mr Bernth Johnson
(SE/PES). Members referred to the various ways their local and regional authorities experience multilevel governance across the EU and stressed the need for clarity in documents concerning governance issues in order to enhance proximity to citizens. Members concurred on the importance of the issues discussed in the White paper on multi-level governance to which the working document refers.
The Chair thanked Members for the discussion and indicated that further to the CoR President's request he would be forwarding a letter to the President presenting the DEVE Commission's perspective on multi-level governance which will take on board the comments raised by Members.
8.
Opinion on the Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and the Council on
Consumer Contractual Rights, COM(2008) 614 final - 2008/0196 (COD)
DEVE-IV-038
CdR 9/2009
Rapporteur: Mr Wolfgang Gibowski (DE/EPP)
The rapporteur outlined the main points of the draft opinion.
Mr Eric Sitbon from DG SANCO of the European Commission summarised the position of the EC on the key issues of this dossier. He explained that on the whole this directive will improve consumer rights.
A debate followed during which the following members spoke: Mr Olivier Bertrand (FR/EPP),
Ms Paula Baker (UK/ALDE), Mr Karl-Heinz Klär (DE/PES), Mr Kyriakos Chatzittofis (CY/NI),
Mr Jens Nilsson (SE/PES) and Mr Wolfram Kuschke (DE/PES), expressing their views on the question of the full harmonisation proposed by the European Commission on this directive.
Discussion of the draft opinion: seven amendments had been tabled and were all rejected.
The draft opinion, duly amended, was put to the vote and adopted by a majority. It will be submitted for adoption at the plenary session of 21/22 April 2009.
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9.
Opinion on the Pharmaceutical Package
COM(2008) 662 final - 2008/0255 (COD)
COM(2008) 663 final - 2008/0256 (COD)
COM(2008) 664 final - 2008/0257 (COD)
COM(2008) 665 final - 2008/0260 (COD)
COM(2008) 666 final
DEVE-IV-034
CdR 20/2009
Rapporteur: Ms Susanna Haby (SE/EPP)
The rapporteur presented the key elements of the working document.
Ms Irene Sacristán Sánchez
, Deputy Head of the Unit for Pharmaceuticals, DG ENTR of the
European Commission, summarised the position of the EC on the key issues of this dossier.
A debate followed during which Mr Antti Liikkanen (FI/PES) spoke on the impact of marketing on the work of health professionals.
First discussion and adoption of the draft opinion by the Commission on 30 June 2009. Adoption foreseen at the plenary session of 5 and 7 October 2009.
Wednesday 18 February 2009 – 9 a.m.
10.
Opinion on the White Paper on Adaptation to adverse impacts of climate change
(provisional title)
DEVE-IV-035
Rapporteur: Mr Henning Jensen (DK/PES)
The rapporteur presented the issue.
Mr Marco Gasparinetti from DG ENV of the European Commission outlined the policy context of the forthcoming proposal and informed that he expected it to be adopted by the College before Easter.
The first debates in the Council are expected shortly after Easter.
Ms Piirit Lindholm , representing the Climate Alliance, spoke on the crucial importance of local and regional contribution to policies aimed at the adaptation to climate change.
A round table discussion took place, during which the following members took the floor: Mr Michael
Cohen (MT/PES), Mr Cor Lamers (NL/EPP), Mr Kyriakos Chatzitoffis (CY/NI), Mr Jens
Nilsson (SE/PES), Mr Philippe Bodard (FR/PES), Mr Erwin Mohr (AT/EPP), Mr Christos
Paleologos (EL/PES), Mr Jens Stenbæk (DK/ALDE), Mr Peter Moore (UK/ALDE), Ms Paula
Baker (UK/ALDE), Ms Lenie Dwarshuis-Van de Beek (NL/ALDE), voicing their views on the following issues: the need to give the forthcoming EC document a sufficiently prominent profile, i.e., a White Paper should follow the Green Paper of 2007, not a mere communication; the adaptation
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- 12 - to climate change is impossible without a full scale involvement of LRAs; forestry and agriculture as areas to be considered in the overall context of adaptation policies; the close link between adaptation and the 2020 targets; transport as a particular challenge in the adaptation to climate change; the need for adequate funding to be made available at the EU level; a clear vision on the competences of all levels of government concerning the challenge of climate change; on the particular difficulties arising for LRAs in the situation of the triple crisis, i.e., environmental, economic and financial.
First discussion and adoption of the draft opinion by the Commission on 7 May 2009. Adoption foreseen at the plenary session of 5 and 7 October 2009.
11.
Opinion on the Fisheries Community Control System:
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the proposal for a Council Regulation establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy -
COM(2008) 718 final, and Proposal for a Council Regulation establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy,
COM(2008) 721 final - 2008/0216 (CNS)
DEVE-IV-037
CdR 21/2009
Rapporteur: Sir Simon Day (UK/EPP)
The rapporteur presented the key elements of the working document.
The European Parliament's rapporteur, Mr Raül Romeva I Rueda (ES/ Group of the
Greens/European Free Alliance), MEP, presented the state of play on this dossier in the EP PECH
Committee and emphasised issues such as costs, powers of the EU agency and deterrent penalties.
Mr Cesar Deben Alfonso , Director for policy development and coordination, DG MARE of the
European Commission, outlined the main reasons for the EC's legislative proposal.
A debate followed, during which the members Mr Edwin Poots (UK/NI), Mr Pierre Maille
(FR/PES), Ms Britt Lundberg (FI/ALDE) and Ms Susanna Haby (SE/EPP) spoke on the need for a comprehensive regulation in this field which is covering the control of the whole production chain, the need for improving the provisions in the proposal on marine protected areas and for clarifying or even deleting of its provisions on recreational fishery, the need for supporting new technologies and the recovery of fish stocks by promoting selective fishing gears, seasonal fisheries and by imposing serious penalties to reduce overfishing and discards, as well as the need for equal treatment of third countries.
First discussion and adoption of the draft opinion by the Commission on 7 May 2009. Adoption foreseen at the plenary session of 17/18 June 2009.
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12.
Opinion on the Green Paper on the management of bio-waste in the European Union,
COM(2008) 811 final
DEVE-IV-041
CdR 23/2009
Rapporteur: Ms Mona Lisa Norrman (SE/PES)
The rapporteur presented the key elements of the working document.
Mr Bartosz Zambrzycki from DG ENV of the European Commission summarised the position of the EC on the key issues of this dossier and its strong link to the issue of subsidiarity in EU policy.
Mr Jean-Jacques Dohogne , representing the Association of Cities and Regions for Recycling and sustainable Resource management (ACR+), highlighted the need to reinforce measures for biowaste prevention and separate biowaste collection and supported harmonised recycling targets.
A debate took place, during which the following members took the floor: Mr Philippe Bodard
(FR/PES), Ms Paula Baker (UK/ALDE) and Mr Kyriakos Chatzitoffis (CY/NI) on the urgent need for action in reducing the overall biowaste amount by changing consumer and industry behaviour, and in promoting quality compost which benefits agriculture and water retention of soils; the need for an
EU biowaste Directive, which aims at diverting biowaste away from incineration, however still leaves enough space for Member States to pursue innovative solutions, as well as the need to distinguish between garden and food waste management.
First discussion and adoption of the draft opinion by the Commission on 7 May 2009. Adoption foreseen at the plenary session of 17/18 June 2009.
13.
Follow-up to opinions
The Chair informed Members on the follow-up of opinions and the participation of DEVE Members in various events.
The Chair spoke in Brussels, on 26 January 2009 at the workshop of the European Economic and
Social Committee on the subject of nuclear energy and public information in the light of the Aarhus
Convention.
Mr Michel Lebrun (BE/EPP) was appointed by the CoR President as CoR representative for the jury of the European Green Capital Award 2010 and 2011. The award ceremony took place on
23 February in Brussels.
Ms Paula BAKER (UK/ALDE) informed members that in the framework of the follow-up to her recently adopted CoR opinion on renewable energy she attended various events of the EU Sustainable energy week from 9-13 February 2009. She had also taken part in the trialogue of the European
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Parliament, Council and the European Commission on the climate and energy package in
November/December 2008.
14.
Any other business
The Chair informed Members that a "Questionnaire on developing a Guide for Local and Regional
Authorities on ICT for energy efficiency" had been circulated to EDUC and DEVE members.
This initiative was coordinated by the EDUC Commission and related to the CoR opinion on
"Addressing the Challenge of energy efficiency through Information and Communication
Technologies", adopted in November 2008.
Members were invited to send their answers back to the EDUC secretariat of the CoR by 27 February
2009.
Mr Adam Banaszak (PL/UEN) took the floor to suggest that the possibility for inviting a political level representative of the Czech EU Presidency at the CoR April Plenary Session might be looked into with a view to the dossier for adoption on energy performance of buildings.
15.
Confirmation of the date of the next meeting: Thursday, 7 May 2009 in Brussels.
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CdR 66/2009 EN/o