GERMAN PRESIDENCY: IV. A SUSTAINABLE EUROPE

Ambitious climate and environmental policy

The economic, technological and social transformation process necessary for such an ambitious climate and environmental policy can only be successful if it is both economically balanced and socially fair, and if the whole of society is behind it. The German Council Presidency intends to do everything in its power to help shape this transformation process.

The European Commission has rightly presented the European Green Deal as a comprehensive and ambitious strategy. It combines climate, environmental and biodiversity protection with crucial stimuli for growth and includes measures in all relevant policy areas. We will provide broad-based support for the implementation of the Green Deal and to this end ensure close coordination between all Council configurations involved. We will work to ensure that the Green Deal helps overcome the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and promotes a sustainable and competitive economy. In the Council we also intend to adopt conclusions on the Commission’s new Circular Economy Action Plan and its implementation. During our Council Presidency we plan to commence negotiations on the EU’s 8th Environmental Action Programme.

Furthermore, we want to launch Council conclusions on the new EU Biodiversity Strategy in order to halt the advancing loss of biodiversity and preserve the benefits of the ecosystems that are so important for human life, also in view of the relationship between biological diversity and human health. The strategy is a key element of the Green Deal to overcome the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and forms the basis for the EU to play an active role in a rescheduled 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15).

During our Council Presidency we want to work towards concluding the deliberations on the draft of a European Climate Law which will specifically write into law the goal for the European Union to become climate-neutral by 2050. Moreover, we want to agree on the extent to which the European Union can increase its nationally determined contributions (NDC) for the year 2030 – also taking our economic performance and global competitiveness into consideration. We welcome the European Commission’s announcement of a proposal to increase the EU’s greenhouse gas emission reductions target for 2030 to 50 to 55% compared with 1990 levels. The impact assessment conducted by the EU Commission will form the basis for further discussions, particularly with regard to the effects on the competitiveness of the European economy and on the social security system, and with a common understanding of sector-specific contributions.

In order to achieve the European Union’s ambitious climate goals, we intend to continue to work towards climate-friendly, sustainable and affordable mobility in the transport sector. In the energy sector, the Commission has announced major strategies for 2020. The rapid development of offshore wind energy will play be a key factor in achieving the European Union’s challenging goals in the area of renewable energies and ensuring supply security. We aim to formulate Council conclusions on the European framework conditions for joint renewable energy projects by the Member States, particularly in the area of offshore wind power. Europe also has a vital interest in a secure and sustainable supply of carbon-neutral and preferably carbon-free gases, such as hydrogen derived from renewable energies, which also has the potential to drive forward decarbonisation. During our Council Presidency, we therefore wish to engage in pertinent discussions on the necessary market design with the aim of fostering the development of the relevant markets and infrastructure within the EU. In the Council we also want to discuss European approaches to achieving the climate and energy goals, particularly the expansion of carbon pricing to cover all sectors and the introduction of a moderate minimum carbon price within the context of the European emissions trading system (EU ETS).

The European Union and its Member States also need to make an international contribution to environmental and climate protection through ambitious and dedicated climate diplomacy. To overcome the COVID-19 pandemic in the long term in a way that is climate friendly and environmentally viable, we therefore intend to work in a strategic and coordinated manner towards raising the climate goals worldwide in cooperation with our international partners, as set down in the Paris Agreement. We will strive also to bring about progress on improving national climate contributions. At international level we will work to establish a level playing field in the prevention of CO2 emissions, taking account of the principle of joint but differentiated responsibility, as well as striving as far as possible to avoid the creation of incentives for carbon leakage to third countries. In addition, we intend to flank the European Green Deal with an active external energy policy. The EU Energy Diplomacy Action Plan is to be updated, for example in order to attract new partners for green energy imports and raise awareness among fossil fuel exporters of the opportunities presented by a new energy world.

A sustainable Europe

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are guiding principles for Germany’s Presidency of the Council of the EU. We are working towards the submission of the concept announced by the Commission for the comprehensive implementation of the 2030 Agenda, so that the relevant Council consultations can begin in the second half of the year. The concept should be flanked by regular progress reports from the Council on how the SDGs are being achieved in the European Union. These reports should also indicate the areas in which additional policy measures are required. In the context of our Council Presidency, we intend to highlight the cultural dimension of sustainable development by focusing on the relationship between culture, climate change and the preservation of cultural heritage, for example.

Sustainable development in agriculture and fishing and sustainable rural areas

The COVID-19 pandemic has made us more aware of the significance of regional food security. We want to do our part to implement the SDGs through a modern and sustainable agricultural and fishing industry. The opportunities presented by the spread of digital technology harbour particular potential in this area. In the negotiations on the common agricultural policy (CAP) after 2020, we are aiming for a general approach of the Council. The European Commission’s “Farm to Fork” Strategy, on which we will be striving to reach conclusions, is closely based on the common agricultural policy. In addition, we intend to present conclusions on animal welfare issues and food labelling. With regard to fishing, we will, among other things, lead the negotiations on fishing opportunities in 2021.

In the spirit of sustainable development, the common agricultural policy and other policy areas ought to make a greater contribution to safeguarding the future of rural spaces, tapping the development potential of rural areas and preserving and developing them as attractive places to live and work. In future, the Member States will have to shoulder greater responsibility in this area for elaborating support measures to strengthen rural development. In addition, we intend to drive forward sustainable and balanced spatial and urban development by adopting the 2030 Territorial Agenda in the Council and updating the Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European Cities (2007).

Consumer protection

To overcome the COVID-19 pandemic we need consumers to have confidence in a strong European single market. We are calling for the Council to be involved from an early stage in drafting the new Consumer Agenda, which the Commission wants to present in the second half of 2020. The Agenda must help consumer protection in the European Union to adapt to the current digital and environmental challenges, protect consumers and be more effective in enforcing existing consumer rights.