EEA newsletter - September 2022 - Summer 2022: Living in a state of multiple crises

 

 

 

Your quarterly update on Europe's Environment

European Environment Agency's Newsletter, Issue 03/2022

Summer 2022: Living in a state of multiple crises

"It seems as if we have been living through one crisis after another — a pandemic, extreme heatwaves and drought due to climate change, inflation, war, and an energy crisis. This winter is likely to be marked by continued uncertainty, high volatility in global markets like energy and food, which will affect some countries and groups more than others. Tackling these crises, especially in the long term, requires steadfast policy commitment and investments in sustainability to strengthen our societies’ resilience.

With these multiple crises impacting us, be it energy shortages, extreme weather events or rising inflation, we have no choice but to act, and act with urgency. And our actions, decisions and policies should strive to deliver a sustainable future."

Hans Bruyninckx, EEA Executive Director

Read editorial

 

Interview

Prosumers and the energy crisis: citizens contributing to Europe’s energy transition

"The potential is immense. A household can sometimes cover all their electricity needs by self-generation, especially in combination with batteries and a heat pump. Small-scale projects can usually be implemented relatively quick in response to periods of high energy prices.

In fact, we are seeing a huge demand for solar rooftop panels in the last few months. However, there are some factors limiting the speed at which prosumer projects can be deployed."

Interview with Javier Esparrago, EEA energy and environment expert

Read full interview

 

In the spotlight

 

EEA photo competition 2022: 'Well with Nature’

Do you take good photos? Do you enjoy spending time in nature? If your answer is ‘yes’ to both, you might have what it takes to win one of the cash prizes in the European Environment Agency’s (EEA) new ‘Well with Nature’ photo competition. Send us your best shots by 1 October 2022.

 

Read more

 

Latest indicators & datasets

Air quality

 

Datasets on National emissions reported to the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP Convention) and on National Emission reductions Commitments (NEC) Directive emission inventory data.

Data viewer National air pollutant emissions data viewer 1990 – 2020.

Biodiversity

 

Datasets on annual above ground vegetation productivity time-series and nationally designated areas.

Climate change

 

Indicators on global and European temperatures and ocean acidification.

Data viewer EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) data viewer.

Environment & health

 

• Health impacts of exposure to noise from transport

Circular economy

 

Indicators on circular material use rate in Europe, Europe’s consumption footprint and Europe’s material footprint.

Data set on weighted impacts of EU consumption, 2010-2020

Forward look: 19 September 2022 - 2 October 2022

 

Press material Friday 16 September 2022

● General Secretariat   16/09/2022 17:11 | Press release | Forward look: 19 September 2022 - 2 October 2022   Overview of the main topics and events at the Council of EU and European Council for the coming fortnight. General Affairs Council, 20 September 2022 Ministers will focus on preparations for the October European Council, rule of law, follow-up to the Conference on the Future of Europe and plans for legislative work. Read more Agriculture and Fisheries Council, 26 September 2022 EU agriculture ministers will meet in Brussels to discuss the situation of agricultural production and logistics in Ukraine and transport routes to the EU. For this discussion they will be joined by Mykola Solsky, Ukrainian Minister for Agrarian Policy and Food. Ministers will moreover exchange views on fishing opportunities for next year, including on fish stocks shared with the United Kingdom and EU-Norway annual consultations for 2023. Read more Competitiveness Council (Internal market and industry), 29 September 2022 Competitiveness ministers responsible for internal market and industry will meet in Brussels to discuss the single market emergency instrument (SMEI) and the ecodesign for sustainable products regulation (ESPR). Read more Extraordinary Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy), 30 September 2022 EU energy ministers will aim to reach a political agreement on a proposal for a Council regulation on an emergency intervention to address high energy prices.

«Λειτουργία Νηπιαγωγείων για το σχολικό έτος 2022-2023»

Η εγκύκλιος ΕΔΩ 

 

Agriculture Ministers in Prague: EU must strengthen food security,..

16/09/2022 15:00 | Press release Agriculture Ministers in Prague: EU must strengthen food security, improve sustainability of agriculture and promote the use of modern techniques in agriculture Food security and the role of European agriculture and food in sustainable global food production were the main topics of today's informal meeting of EU Agriculture Ministers in Prague. Ministers agreed that the EU must now act in a coordinated way to maximise sustainable increases in agricultural production and accelerate the use of modern techniques in agriculture. The meeting was chaired by Czech Agriculture Minister Zdeněk Nekula and attended by Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski, representatives of NGOs, the European Parliament, academics and the Ministers of Agriculture of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova.

Press release

16 September 202215:00

Agriculture Ministers in Prague: EU must strengthen food security, improve sustainability of agriculture and promote the use of modern techniques in agriculture





Food security and the role of European agriculture and food in sustainable global food production were the main topics of today's informal meeting of EU Agriculture Ministers in Prague. Ministers agreed that the EU must now act in a coordinated way to maximise sustainable increases in agricultural production and accelerate the use of modern techniques in agriculture. The meeting was chaired by Czech Agriculture Minister Zdeněk Nekula and attended by Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski, representatives of NGOs, the European Parliament, academics and the Ministers of Agriculture of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova.


Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the lingering effects of the pandemic and advancing climate change are having a major impact on global food security and world food prices. Agriculture ministers mainly discussed how to ensure sufficient food production and distribution to the most vulnerable countries, while ensuring sustainability. One of the main solutions is to use innovation, research and modern technologies, including precision farming, to further reduce pesticide and fertiliser consumption while maintaining the necessary productivity.

"Although there is enough food in the European Union, the pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine have deepened the food crisis in the world. We have a major challenge in the Union to sustainably increase agricultural production, reduce food waste and ensure that people around the world have access to quality food. It may be time to rethink some traditional approaches to food production in favour of new modern techniques," said Agriculture Minister Zdeněk Nekula.
Science and innovation

Science, innovation and modern plant breeding methods in agriculture were among the main topics of the meeting. It included contributions by Czech experts Professor Miroslav Trnka and Roman Hobza, Ph.D. Both said that new trends can help the EU in reducing the use of pesticides and fertilisers, in water management or in breeding new varieties more resistant to extreme weather fluctuations and new plant pests and diseases. The Ministers agreed that the EU must react as quickly as possible to the development of modern trends and not hinder innovation. It is therefore important to change the outdated legislative framework by which the EU regulates the use of modern plant breeding methods. This framework not only restricts European farmers, but also leads to an outflow of top experts to countries outside the European Union, so the damage is extraordinary.

"Even though the war in Ukraine is adversely affecting food production, commodity markets, energy prices and thus all of us, we must not, as the European Union, resign ourselves to taking care of the landscape. We urgently need drought-, frost-, disease- and pest-resistant crops that require fewer pesticides and artificial fertilisers. That is why I am pleased that the Commissioner has clearly stated the European Commission's readiness to bring forward proposals for plant breeding legislation in the short term that will help to resolve the current problems," said Minister Nekula.
Situation in Ukraine, commodity exports

In the context of food security and food distribution, Mykola Solskyi, Minister of Agriculture of Ukraine, summarised the current challenges Ukraine is facing in this area He also stressed the importance of the solidarity lanes facilitated by the EU and asked for their further extension. Due to the occupation of several Ukrainian ports by Russian troops, grain from Ukraine has to come also through other routes.

"According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, nearly 40% of Africa's total wheat imports come from Russia and Ukraine. The World Food Programme, which feeds some 125 million people, buys 50% of its grain from Ukraine. The solidarity corridors do make sense and we will address the possibilities of expanding and strengthening them as a separate topic at the Council in Brussels on 26 September," said Minister Nekula.
EU measures, context

To ensure food security in the context of the war in Ukraine, the EU has drawn up an action plan in record time, the Solidarity Lanes, to facilitate the export of Ukrainian commodities by land and inland waterways. Furthermore, the abolition of customs duties on imports of Ukrainian products into the EU is helping in this situation, so that goods can travel more easily to countries in Africa, for example. In addition to the emergency aid to the most vulnerable sectors, the use of as much agricultural land as possible for food production and the exemption from crop rotation for next year should also help European farmers. The EU is also providing financial support to the countries most at risk at this time.

In 2021, up to 828 million people were affected by hunger. As the world's population continues to grow, many more efforts are needed to sustainably increase agricultural production and reduce food waste. In 2020, the world produced about 4 billion tonnes of food, but about 1.3 billion tonnes were wasted.

Today's meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture concluded a three-day programme in the Czech Republic. In addition to Prague, they visited several farms to learn about agricultural production in the Czech Republic. The informal ministerial meeting is organised by each Presidency in its country and is a discussion on a selected topic that serves as a basis for further decision-making.

Ένταξη στην ηλεκτρονική εφαρμογή χορήγησης επιδόματος μητρότητας των ασφαλισμένων γυναικών των ειδικών κατηγοριών του e-ΕΦΚΑ

 

Οδηγίες για την εύρυθμη λειτουργία Γραμματειών ΚΕ.Π.Α. και την παραλαβή αιτήσεων πιστοποίησης αναπηρίας

 

The global food security crisis

 

Library blog Friday 16 September 2022

● General Secretariat of the Council   The global food security crisis   The war in Ukraine is significantly exacerbating a global food situation already severely degraded by the combined impacts of the COVID-19 crisis, conflicts and climate change

The global food security crisis

• 15 September 2022
 
• Reading suggestion
 
• gsclibrary

Agriculture Development Foreign affairs & international relations

Scarcity of food is becoming a growing concern for millions of people, particularly in Africa and Asia and especially in those countries already afflicted by hunger. By mid-2022, the population facing the three highest phases of acute food insecurity was greater than at any point in the six-year history of the Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC).

The current food crisis is having an immediate impact on food prices and the availability of supply for much of the world’s population, and this impact is likely to continue in the long term, especially in developing countries.

Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is exacerbating the situation, reducing the availability of food worldwide. Before the onset of war in Ukraine in February 2022, global food commodity prices were at a ten-year high due to the economic effects of COVID-19. The impact of the war further increased global food prices, and although international reference prices for food commodities started decreasing in the second quarter of 2022, prices are still 7.9 percent higher year-on-year in August 2022 (FAO, September 2022). 

The global food insecurity is currently a top priority for the European Union.

This new library guide allows you to learn about the European Union’s actions to restore food security. This guide gives you access to numerous documentary resources regarding the global food crisis and to the latest comprehensive reports.

• Library guide on the global food security crisis

This post does not necessarily represent the positions, policies, or opinions of the Council of the European Union or the European Council.

The Council Library reading room is open on Monday to Friday from 12.30 to 15.30. The Info Desk operates during office hours from Monday to Friday.

It is open to all staff of the Council of the European Union and the European Council, trainees, permanent representations of member states, staff of other EU institutions and bodies, and to researchers and students upon request. Access to some library holdings may be restricted to on-site consultation.

Χαιρετισμός του Υπουργού Οικονομικών κ. Χρήστου Σταϊκούρα, στο Συνέδριο της Ολομέλειας των Φορολογικών Διοικήσεων της Ε.Ε. (TADEUS)..

Χαιρετισμός του Υπουργού Οικονομικών κ. Χρήστου Σταϊκούρα, στο Συνέδριο της Ολομέλειας των Φορολογικών Διοικήσεων της Ε.Ε. (TADEUS), που πραγματοποιείται στη Ρόδο

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to Greece, in the first physical plenary meeting of the Tax Administration EU Summit (TADEUS), since the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic.
I would like to congratulate the Greek Independent Authority for Public Revenue, and its Governor George Pitsilis, for hosting this important, high level plenary, which brings together all Heads of European Tax Administrations.
Your role and contribution in shaping a fair society and a strong economy – both at national and European level – is crucial and underlines the need for close cooperation.
Especially in these challenging – globally – times, where the taxation systems are challenged by developments such as changes in public administration, digitalization and digital transformation.
To that end, today’s plenary provides an ideal opportunity for an open, strategic and constructive dialogue among the heads of Tax Administrations on challenges, risks and opportunities in a post pandemic environment.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
This event takes place in a protracted period of high uncertainty and volatility that reflects on the Greek and the European economy.

The last 3 years we are going through consecutive crises, in the form of exogenous symmetric shocks stemming from the ongoing geopolitical tensions that pass through skyrocketing energy prices to importing inflation, following the pandemic wave which is still unfolding.
Above and beyond any past, current and upcoming crises, we are still and always committed to stand up to the expectations as set out by the Prime Minister Mr. Mitsotakis when we first stepped in power.

This is why amid all these crises and despite the turbulences caused by them, the Greek economy has demonstrated remarkable resilience and important achievements, as a result of the well-targeted and effective policies pursued by the Government, including the implementation of forward-looking reforms. Among others, Greece recently managed to exit enhanced surveillance framework, our economy is growing fast, investments are strengthened and unemployment has shrunk, significantly.

On top of all the aforementioned achievements, the Greek Government, from the beginning of its term, set as one of its strategic goals, in the field of the economy: its unwavering commitment to the formation of a stable, efficient and socially just tax system.
A goal based upon a four-pillar approach to encourage employment, attract investment and form voluntary compliance, namely:Reductions in taxes and social security contributions.
Establishment of tax incentives.
Formation of a legislative framework to limit smuggling, and
Inclusion of projects in the Recovery and Resilience Fund that lean on a more digitalized public and private sector and on efficient tax administration and tax collection, among others.

In the face of all remaining endeavors, we should always make good use of time in order to speed up all remaining reforms, aiming at ensuring a solid base for a prolonged and sustainable impact on the country’s long-term economic outlook.
Today’s meeting is a ground of fruitful discussion among member states, among tax administrations, on future challenges, on the state of play of current projects and on what to proactively do to lead the way forward.
Some of the topics to be covered today, or in upcoming events, are also at the forefront of academic debate with policy makers. We need to understand:How tax systems and the administrations are faring in the aftermath of pandemic?
How economic policy can take action and support economic recovery in the short term, ensuring at the same time fiscal resilience and environmental sustainability?
Which are the prevailing mega-trends that will challenge taxation over the course of next generations?
Can we estimate performance in a cross-country comparison?
Are tax gaps estimated systematically? Are methodologies updated to address new challenges and resolve inherent biases?
How to promote cross-country – active – cooperation in terms of sharing data, practices, experiences and ideas?

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Seeking answers to every single question, taking advantage of all forces engaged, we still have the opportunity not only to recover, but to enter in a strong and sustainable upward trajectory at the European level.
Quoting a well-known African saying: “If you want to go fast, go alone; but if you want to go far, go together.”
I hope you will find this program instructive and useful, as well as enjoyable.
Wishing you all an excellent and fruitful stay in Rhodes and looking forward to your active participation in the Conference.