Today, the Council adopted its position regarding the 8Th Environmental Action Programme (EAP). The 8ThEAP will guide environmental policymaking through 2030. The Council’s adoption follows a December 2021 provisional agreement with the European Parliament and is the final step in the adoption process.
The 8ThEAP seeks to accelerate the green transition in a fair and inclusive manner, with the long-term goal of Living well within the limits of the planet, by 2050.
The six priority thematic objectives of the 8th EAP concern greenhouse gas emission reductions, adaptation to the climate change, a regeneration growth model, a zero pollution ambition, protecting and restoring biodiversity, and reducing key climate and environmental impacts related to production or consumption.
The Parliament and Council agreed on several enabling conditions to achieve the priority objectives, in particular:
– To reduce the EU’s material footprint and consumption footprints
– Strengthening environmentally friendly incentives
– Eliminating environmentally harmful subsidies, especially fossil fuel subsidies.
The 8 were also agreed upon by the co-legislatorsThEAP conducts a midterm review in 2024 to assess the progress made in achieving its priority themes. The Commission should submit, if necessary, a legislative proposal to include an annex to the 8 after this review.ThEAP is a list and timeline listing actions for the period following 2025.
Background
Since the early 1970s, EU environmental policy has been guided by environment action programmes.
The European Commission presented a proposal for a The European Parliament and Council have decided to establish a General Union Environment Action Program for 2030.14 October 2020. On 1 December 2021, the Council presidency and European Parliaments negotiators reached an interim political agreement.
This decision has been officially adopted. It will now be published at the Official Journal of the European Union.
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