COUNCIL OF THE EU

 

Press material Tuesday 20 June 2023

● Council of the EU   20/06/2023 13:01 | Press release | Council reaches agreement on the nature restoration law   Today the Council reached an agreement (general approach) on a proposal for a nature restoration law. The proposal aims to put in place recovery measures that will cover at least 20 % of the EU’s land and 20 % sea areas by 2030, and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050. It sets specific legally binding targets and obligations for nature restoration in each of the listed ecosystems - from agricultural land and forest to marine, freshwater and urban ecosystems. The general approach will serve as a mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament on the final shape of the legislation. "Today is a good day for nature. The Council has agreed on a general approach of the nature restoration law. It is evident that the presidency has been working hard to find the right balance and has listened carefully to all member states who have had different concerns and remarks on the proposals. I am glad that we have found a way to bring this file to a general approach. This text is a solid basis for negotiations with the European Parliament. Hopefully, the final nature restoration law will allow us to rebuild a healthy level of biodiversity, fight climate change and meet our international commitments under the Kunming-Montreal agreement." Romina Pourmokhtari, Swedish Minister for climate and the environment Main changes agreed by the Council The Council’s text sets a balance between keeping ambitious goals for nature restoration and providing flexibility for member states in the implementation of the regulation, while keeping a level-playing field and reducing administrative burden. Restoration obligations The Council agreed that member states would put in place restoration measures that bring at least 30% of habitats in terrestrial, coastal, freshwater and marine ecosystems that are not in good condition, into good condition by 2030. This would apply to at least 30% of the total area of the habitat types that are deemed not in good condition, as opposed to the area for each habitat group, as initially proposed by the Commission. Member states would however set restoration measures on at least 60% by 2040 and on at least 90 % by 2050 of the area of each habitat group that is not in good condition. Member states added an exception for marine areas that have soft sediment habitats. For soft sediments, member states will be able to apply a lower percentage for the targets and the 2030 target would not apply. Non-deterioration requirement For areas of habitats subject to restoration measures, member states agreed they would ensure that significant deterioration does not occur. In areas already in good condition or where restoration measures are not yet implemented, particularly outside the Natura 2000 network of protected areas, member states would endeavour to put in place necessary measures to prevent significant deterioration. This would translate into a results-based obligation for the former and an effort-based obligation for the latter. Knowledge gaps Member states concurred that there is a lack of data about the condition of some habitats and therefore it is difficult to quantify their improvement. Member states agreed that quantitative restoration measures would only apply to areas where the condition of habitats is known. For terrestrial habitats, member states would have until 2030 to determine 90% of the condition of the habitats. For marine habitats 50% of the knowledge gaps would have to be closed by 2030. The condition of all habitats would need to be known by 2040, except for soft sediment where the deadline is extended to 2050. Ecosystem-specific obligations The proposal contains obligations that are specific to ecosystems, to which the Council brought various flexibilities. For instance, for urban ecosystems, the Council replaced quantitative targets with an obligation for member states to achieve an increasing trend in urban green areas until a satisfactory level is reached. The Council kept the ‘no net loss’ requirement, which provides that no net loss of urban green space and of urban tree canopy cover should occur by 2030, compared to when the regulation enters into force, unless urban ecosystems already have over 45% of green space. The Council softened the targets for rewetting of peatlands, to take account of the fact that some member states are disproportionately impacted by these obligations. The Council set to restore 30% of drained peatlands under agricultural use by 2030 and 50% by 2050, with the possibility for member states that are heavily affected to apply a lower percentage. The Council provided more flexibility in the use of indicators to monitor forest ecosystems. For high-diversity landscape features in agricultural ecosystems, like hedges, tree rows, patches, ditches, ponds or fruit trees, the Council added the possibility to focus measures on those that are necessary for the preservation of biodiversity. The Council added an obligation for member states to ensure that restored river connectivity should be maintained. National restoration plans Under the new rules member states would regularly submit national restoration plans to the Commission showing how they will deliver on the targets. They would also monitor and report on their progress. The Council opted for a stepwise approach. Instead of submitting full plans until 2050 two years after the entry into force of the regulation, member states would first submit national restoration plans covering the period until June 2032, with a strategic overview for the period beyond June 2032. By June 2032 member states would submit restoration plans until 2042 with a strategic overview until 2050 and by June 2042 they would submit plans until 2050. The Council added the possibility for member states to take into account specific national varieties in terms of social, economic and cultural requirements, regional and local characteristics and population density, including the specific situation of outermost regions, in their plans The Council harmonised as far possible, the monitoring and reporting cycles with existing reporting cycles in other environmental legislation, in order to add coherence. Renewable energies and defence The Council added a new article providing that the planning, construction and operation of plants for the production of energy from renewable sources, their connection to the grid and the related grid itself and storage assets, are presumed to have an overriding public interest. This means that they would benefit from a derogation to the obligations of continuous improvement and non-deterioration. In addition, member states would be able to exempt these projects from the obligation to demonstrate that less damaging alternative solutions are available, if a strategic environmental assessment has been carried out. To secure the alignment with the renewable energy directive, currently under revision, member states may also restrict in the application of these exemptions in accordance with the priorities set in their national integrated energy and climate plans. The Council also clarified that plans and projects for the sole purpose of national defence can be presumed as having an overriding public interest and may be exempted from the requirement that no less damaging alternative solutions are available. However, member states should put in place measures to mitigate the impacts on the habitat types where they apply this exemption. Financing restoration measures The Council introduced a new provision asking the Commission to submit a report, one year after the entry into force of the regulation, with an overview of financial resources available at EU level, an assessment of the funding needs for implementation, and an analysis to identify any funding gaps. The report would also include adequate proposals, where appropriate, and without prejudging the next multiannual financial framework (2028-2034). Next steps The general approach will serve as the Council’s mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament on the final shape of the legislation. The outcome of the negotiations would have to be formally adopted by the Council and the Parliament. Background The Commission adopted the proposal for a nature restoration law on 22 June 2022. Over 80% of European habitats are in poor shape. Past efforts to protect and preserve nature have not been able to reverse this worrying trend. This is why for the first time ever, the proposal sets out to adopt measures to not only preserve but to restore nature. The proposal aims to improve the state of nature by setting binding targets and obligations across a broad range of ecosystems at land and sea. Member states would have to put in place effective and area-based restoration measures in order to reach the ecosystem-specific targets. In order to assess the measures, member states would have to plan ahead by developing national nature restoration plans, in close cooperation with scientists, interested stakeholders and the public. The proposal would also define biodiversity indicators to measure progress. The text of the general approach will be added at a later stage. Commission proposal on nature restoration law Biodiversity: how the EU protects nature (background information) European Green Deal (background information) Nature restoration (background information)

Press material Monday 19 June 2023

● Council of the EU   19/06/2023 23:08 | Press release | Council reaches agreement on parts of electricity market reform   Today the Council agreed its stance (general approach) on a proposal for regulation on wholesale energy market integrity and transparency (REMIT). The proposal aims to support an open and fair competition in the European wholesale energy markets, by banning trading based on inside information and deterring market manipulation. "I’m glad we found an agreement on the REMIT regulation. It is an important piece of the electricity market reform that will ensure transparency and integrity on the EU’s energy market." Ebba Busch, Swedish Minister for energy, business and industry The proposal on REMIT is part of a wider reform of the EU’s electricity market design. The remaining parts of the reform, that aim to make electricity prices less dependent on volatile fossil fuel prices and shield consumers from price spikes and accelerate the deployment of renewable energies and improve consumer protection, will be agreed at a later stage. Main changes brought by the Council The Council made the requirements for market participants in the EU that are resident in a third country clearer and stricter. The Council agreed to increase the role of the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) in investigations of significant cross-border cases to fight against the REMIT breaches. The Council balanced these new powers by strengthening the role national regulatory authorities (NRA) so that ACER would not exercise its investigative powers if NRAs are conducting, or have already conducted, an investigation based on the same facts. On-site inspections, would be done in close coordination and cooperation with national authorities under certain conditions. The Council also added flexibility regarding the issuing of administrative fines by member states. It included a list of criteria to set fines and gave member states the possibility to set lower fines. Next steps The general approach will serve as a mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament on the final shape of the legislation. The outcome of the negotiations would have to be formally adopted by the Council and the Parliament. The text of the general approach will be made available at a later stage. Background The reform of the electricity market design proposes to amend the relevant electricity market legislation and improve the Union’s protection against market manipulation through better monitoring and transparency (REMIT). The Commission adopted the proposals on the reform of the EU's electricity market design on 14 March 2023.

Meetings Monday 19 June 2023

● Council of the EU   19/06/2023 23:14 | MEETING | Main results - Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy), 19 June 2023   The Council reached a general approach on a proposal for regulation on wholesale energy market integrity and transparency (REMIT). The proposal aims to support an open and fair competition in the European wholesale energy markets, by banning trading based on inside information and deterring market manipulation.

20/06/2023 00:00 | Event Environment Council On 20 June, EU environmental and climate ministers will meet in Luxembourg. The ministers are expected to adopt a general approach on a proposal for a regulation on nature restoration. The ministers will also discuss two other Commission proposals: an amendment to the regulation on CO2 emissions from heavy-duty vehicles and a recast of the air quality directive.

22/06/2023 12:00 | Event Online: The EU Single Market as a driving force for European competitiveness On 22 June, the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, together with the Council, will host a digital conference focusing on strengthening the Single Market. You can watch the conference live on YouTube on this page.