The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mrs Caroline Spelman)
I will represent the UK at the Environment Council in Brussels on 19 December.
At this Council, the presidency will seek the adoption of Council conclusions on the EU biodiversity strategy to 2020: towards implementation; and on the road map to a resource efficient Europe.
Ministers will exchange views on the outcome of the 17th session of the conference of the parties to the United Nations framework convention on climate change and the 7th session of the meeting of the parties to the Kyoto protocol in Durban, 28 November to 9 December 2011.
Ministers will also hear progress reports on: a proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the export and import of hazardous chemicals (recast); a proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 1999/32/EC as regards the sulphur content of marine fuels; and a proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on control of major accident hazards involving dangerous substances.
The following topics will be covered under “any other business”, either via a report or presentation from the Commission, presidency, or a member state:
Convention on migratory species;
Preparing a global legally binding instrument on mercury;
Preparatory meetings for Rio+20;
“Planning for biodiversity”;
EU eastern partnership countries’ co-operation in climate policy;
Restriction or prohibition of genetically modified organisms;
Protection and sustainable development of the Carpathians;
Priority substances in water policy;
Programme for the environment and climate action (LIFE);
Monitoring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions relevant to climate change at a national and European Union-level;
Fuel quality directive;
Implementation of regulation on fluorinated greenhouse gases;
EU steps to reduce plastic carrier bag usage;
Establishing a common European industrial risk sharing facility;
Solution for a green economy;
Emissions trading scheme/aviation;
Combating desertification;
Control of trans-boundary movement of hazardous wastes and their disposal;
REACH and the candidate list of substances of very high concern;
Annual growth survey;
Work programme of incoming presidency.