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Human and environmental health and protecting the natural environment were central to the discussions that took place from 20 to 21 January in Amiens as part of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The ministers gathered to address major issues throughout several sessions: chemicals, imported deforestation, agroecology, the just transition, and interactions between the environment, climate and energy, in particular challenges surrounding forests.
From 20 to 21 January, the environment ministers met to discuss biodiversity and human and environmental health. Two joint sessions bringing together the environment and energy ministers addressed the role of forests in climate, energy and environmental policy, and discussed the concept of the “just transition”.
First working session of the environment ministers
Theme: The agroecological transition: EU coherence and harmonisation concerning plant protection products
This exchange made it possible to:
share best national practices for reducing the use of pesticides and to take account of the ambitious policies put in place by several Member States;
identify the most relevant measures to be collectively retained at European level in order to cut pesticide use in half by 2030, which is a major component of the agroecological transition;
emphasise the need for a coordinated effort to find alternatives to plant protection products and to offer farmers solutions;
draw particular attention to “mirror clauses”, in particular with the aim of demanding imported products be subject to the standards in force in the European Union.
to take account of the Member States’ marked interest in the principle of banning exports to third countries of chemical products prohibited in the EU.
This initial working session falls under the upcoming recasting of the Directive on the sustainable use of pesticides, which will be discussed in Agriculture Council meetings. The purpose of the Directive is to help achieve the goals of the European Green Deal and the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. The environment ministers will have the chance to revisit this issue during the Environment Council meeting in June.
Working lunch with the Environment Ministers
Theme: Implementing the European sustainability strategy in the field of chemical products
This working lunch provided the opportunity to identify the Member States’ priorities to inform the main upcoming legislative initiatives in 2022 and to collectively move forward with removing dangerous chemicals from the market.
Several major initiatives are expected by the end of the year:
the cross-cutting definition of the concept of endocrine disruptors in the CLP Regulation (Classification, Packaging and Labelling Regulation);
the proposed revision of the REACH Regulation on the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals;
the restrictions applicable to these substances.
The implementation of the concept “a substance/an evaluation” and the need to have a harmonised definition of nanomaterials were examined.
Once again, the discussions addressed the challenges associated with banning exports of chemicals banned in the European Union.
Second working session of the environment ministers
Theme: Combatting imported deforestation
Combatting imported deforestation, one of the French Presidency’s priorities, is at the heart of the talks between the Member States. This working session provided an opportunity to gather more precise information on the main elements of the Member States’ positions regarding the Commission’s legislative proposal and to open up the debate on the challenges surrounding cooperation with third countries. The Commission’s proposal received a very positive response on this subject, which would allow Europeans to consume products in the knowledge that they have not contributed to the destruction of tropical forests.
Several provisions will be debated over the coming weeks:
extending the Regulation’s scope to other basic products such as rubber;
taking into account the impact of the production of these materials on other fragile and biodiversity-rich ecosystems, such as grasslands and wetlands, and possibly bringing it under the scope of the Regulation;
Technical discussions will now be stepped up to build an effective, controllable European mechanism that can serve as a benchmark for the rest of the world.
Joint working session with the Environment and Energy Ministers
Theme: The role of forests and the wood sector in environmental, energy and climate policies
This session reaffirmed the complex and key role of forests and the wood sector in the success of EU climate, environmental and energy policies. Common points of understanding were identified in order to define ambitious, compatible goals, in particular within the framework of the negotiations on the LULUCF regulation and the RED III revision of the Fit for 55 package. A significant number of ministers emphasised the shared commitment to promoting the uses of wood to build up carbon sinks in the Member States, while preserving forest ecosystems. Several major focuses emerged from the discussions:
the essential role of forest carbon sinks in achieving climate neutrality by 2050, and reinforcing public action in support of forests;
the increased use of wood moving toward long-term usages;
improved recycling and energy recovery of biomass wastes; and
the relevance of the principle of “cascade utilisation” of biomass, which must be applied with discernment.
Joint working lunch with the Environment and Energy Ministers
Theme: The just transition
During the joint working lunch, the ministers held a constructive discussion on the opportunities offered by the low-carbon transition and on the concept of the “just transition”. A number of ministers stressed the importance of ensuring a just transition, through support measures to facilitate re-training for workers and the transition for companies as well as helping households, while prioritising the most vulnerable. Discussions nonetheless remain open regarding the methods and means to be implemented, at both national and European level, to achieve this. With regard to extending the carbon market to the road transport and construction sectors, this proposal was not met with consensus and must be further discussed in depth, including alternative approaches. Discussions also highlighted the need for vigilance with regard to the high volatility of carbon prices, as well as the importance of ensuring that prices are comprehensible to encourage long-term investment and the emergence of disruptive technologies.
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This Friday 21 January 2022, the European health ministers had a special meeting via videoconference to share best practices in managing the crisis and to align national strategies to the greatest extent possible. They agreed to strengthen coordination of national strategies by sharing information on the roll-out of national vaccination campaigns and to fully mobilise the instruments put in place by the Union. They also reaffirmed the principal of international vaccine solidarity at international level.
The intensity of the successive wave of Omicron variant cases is a reminder that the public health crisis is unpredictable and requires constant attention. The public health crisis continues to have a significant impact on economic and social life in the EU Member States and calls for us to continually re-evaluate how we manage this crisis.
The public health situation requires, now more than ever, a coordinated response from the Member States. The Member States recognise the importance of a coordinated approach to guarantee the best possible protection for EU citizens in the long term, beyond simply reacting to this outbreak.
They therefore identified several focal points:
Stepping up vaccination to increase primary vaccination coverage (one or two doses) and increasing booster shots;
continuing to share information between countries regarding key data on the effective roll-out of the booster campaign in the case of possible administration of a 4th dose: period between booster shots, target population groups, pharmacovigilance data, heterologous vaccination courses, impact on serious cases and hospitalisations, etc.
mobilising all of the instruments put in place by the European Union, such as the European policy for joint procurement of COVID-19 vaccines and medical countermeasures; based on the latest information and data available.
strengthening the global solidarity of the EU to guarantee access to vaccines and treatments against COVID-19.
continuing to strongly support countries with insufficient access to vaccines, whether through donations or by scaling up production. The available resources must allow for 4th doses to be administered without undermining the European vaccine solidarity policy.
The European Health Union is not only the EU's added bonus but a concrete construction that we hold so dear and that prospers thanks to us.— Olivier Véran, Minister for Solidarity and Health
