BULLETIN
October, 2001
Friends of the Earth Europe
THE LIFEBOAT ARRIVES TO SAVE UN CLIMATE TALKS!
Nations Environmental Prog- ... And what happened to the
ram, came on the stage to thank Lifeboat after the action?
all the participants and ex- Some of the planks went to two
pressed his support for our museums in Germany. Several of
action. It was then time to hoist the planks were presented to the
the sail, and deliver our strong German Environment Ministry.
message to the negotiators inside The rest were given (together
the conference venue: ”Don’t with the wood of the superstruc-
Sink The World, Save The ture) to a youth project in Bonn,
Climate Treaty”. the planks will be used to deco-
rate their barns and huts. The
A historic agreement was finally messages thus will be visible for
reached by negotiators two days the coming years.
after Friends of the Earth’s
action, certainly the sight of the Contact: Céline Bernard, FoEE
Lifeboat served as a reminder to Event manager/
all present in the UN talks that Administrative assistant
failure in Bonn would be unac- celine.bernard@foeeurope.org
ceptable (see following article http://www.foeeurope.org/lifeboat/built/
from Kate Hampton about the index.htm
J
uly 21st, 10.30 AM, Bonn, tics – Not the climate!”, ”Texan agreement).
Germany. An unusual Climate For All? No Thanks!”,
atmosphere has descended ”We like it hot... but not that
upon the Münster Platz: ham-
mer strokes, hundreds of multi-
hot!”. Many thousands of sup-
porters who could not attend
THE KYOTO PROTOCOL SURVIVES
coloured paint brushes busy at had also contributed pho- Battered, Bruised, but Still Important
work, a sea of smiling people tographs, drawing and letters.
A
clothed in blue or as sailors, or fter months of headlines So, Kyoto is not dead. But why
fishes... and a background multi- Activists from Friends of the proclaiming the Kyoto does the seemingly weak Bonn
lingual hum with faces from Earth and other groups came by Protocol dead, many cli- deal matter so much?
every corner of the world... bus or train from more than 30 mate negotiators and environ-
What’s going on? countries: UK, Denmark, mentalists arrived in Bonn for The Evolution of Enforcement
Sweden, France, The Nether- the resumed COP 6 in mid-July
Once again, Friends of the Earth lands, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, feeling understandably de- The original climate treaty
has come up with a spectacular Czech Republic... The Baltic pressed. signed in 1992 at Rio de
idea to symbolise peoples’ con- Countries’ participants travelled
Janeiro, the UN Framework
cern about climate change: more for 3 days to come to this action. Despite the gloomy start, the Convention on Climate Change
than 3000 activists gathered to Activists from US, South mood a week later was little (UNFCCC), had an emissions
build a colossal “Lifeboat” with America, Japan, Australia, short of triumphant. The politi- target. However, the FCCC
small planks bearing their hand- Africa and Canada were also cal agreement reached at Bonn lacked individual targets for
painted messages. The Lifeboat present. weakened the original Kyoto which nations could be held
stood for public support for an targets, yet was heralded as a accountable, and incentives for
effective climate treaty, calling To the rhythm of a samba band, major victory for environmental action. Above all, it lacked an
on politicians to save the Kyoto the 30-meter long ‘Lifeboat’ rule making. enforcement mechanism. All
Protocol whilst, inside the Bonn sailed around the city of Bonn,
conference center of the UN finally positioned outside the
Climate Talks (COP6bis), world UN conference centre on view to
leaders were busy trying to delegates during the final
water it down. The Lifeboat rounds of negotiations. The 4-
CONTENT
symbolised the dangers we will km parade was characterized by THE LIFEBOAT ARRIVES TO 1 EIB INFORMATION POLICY – 6
face as a result of global warm- an entertaining atmosphere and SAVE UN CLIMATE TALKS! THE NEVER ENDING STORY
ing such as, amongst them, sea by peaceful cooperation between
level rises and more flooding, police and protesters, in line THE KYOTO PROTOCOL 1 THE SUSTAINABLE 7
but .it was also a symbol of hope with the FoEE campaign SURVIVES DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
(SDS) OF THE EU AND
to rescue the Climate Talks. ”Protest is a right – Violence is
GMO NEWS 2 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
wrong!” (see previous FoEE INDICATORS
More than 2000 colorful mes- Bulletin). Even the local police ‘DITCHING THE NUCLEAR 4
sages on wooden planks showed lent a hand when the boat got a DINOSAUR TREATY’: NEW MEDNET UPDATE ON THE 8
the negotiators that a broad base puncture! CAMPAIGN ON EUROATOM ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION
of global civil society demands PROGRAMME FOR THE EURO-
real action on climate change: At the conference site, Klaus SALE OF THE CENTURY 4 MEDITERRANEAN PARTNER-
THE 4TH WTO MINISTERIAL SHIP
”Honour Kyoto”, ”Change poli- Töpfer, head of the United
CONFERENCE
F r i e n d s o f t h e E a r t h E u r o p e B U L L ET I N
the Convention really provided occur under the supervision of Loopholes Too Large speech was met with silent dis-
was a basis for further interna- the Enforcement Branch of the approval on the conference floor
tional cooperation, with emis- Compliance Committee, which Unfortunately, many nations and booing from the balcony.
sions targets viewed by many will have relatively strong may still avoid domestic emis-
countries as simply something Southern government participa- sions reductions by taking Southern Aid Package
to aspire to. tion. It may not sound water- advantage of unlimited interna- Insufficient
tight, but it’s the best compli- tional emissions trading, reduc-
By contrast, the Kyoto targets ance regime ever attached to a tion projects for developing However, negotiations yielded
are enforceable. If a country multilateral environment agree- countries and tree-planting ini- only a weak financial package to
fails to comply with its 2008- ment. tiatives. assist developing countries
2012 emissions target, it will be meet their adaptation, technolo-
penalized in the next commit- No More Business As Usual Bush Left Out in the Cold gy transfer and capacity build-
ment period by 1.3 tonnes for ing needs. The US refused to
every tonne by which the origi- While falling far short of what is Yet the Bonn agreement spells participate. Thus the sum
nal target was exceeded. needed, the Bonn deal on Kyoto the end of voluntary action as a promised by the North was a
is a significant improvement on legitimate approach to regulat- voluntary contribution of
On the assumption that every- the business-as-usual emissions ing the global commons. approximately $0.5 billion
one wants to remain part of the trajectory of several countries, Furthermore, the US was clear- annually. Japan remains reti-
system, and that targets for the including Japan. Action in the ly isolated despite its best cent about contributing new
next commitment period are form of climate policies and efforts to exert pressure on key funds.
negotiated before the beginning measures must be undertaken countries. One hundred and
of the current commitment peri- in order to meet the Kyoto tar- seventy eight countries agreed Contact: Kate Hampton, FoE
od, this system can work rea- gets. Furthermore, with a limit that mandatory targets are the EWNI, FoEI Climate Change
sonably well. placed on the amount of emis- only way forward. Final plenary Campaign Coordinator
sions entering the atmosphere, speeches attended by ministers
In addition, countries in non- there is now a politically negoti- focused on the triumph of inter-
compliance must produce a plan ated price for carbon in indus- national cooperation over uni-
explaining how they will meet trialized countries. lateralism; the US delegate’s
their new targets. All this will
GMO NEWS
COMMISSION MOVES TO LIFT GMO MORATORIUM
The
European Com- Commission proposed to apply The Commission says that it has um since the Commission was
mission has in- the main provisions of the “met its commitments in terms involved in a “confidence-build-
vited Member revised deliberate release direc- of the measures demanded by ing exercise”. The revival of the
States to a meeting in Brussels tive to all new GMO approvals Member States as a pre-requi- voluntary ‘gentlemen’s agree-
on 16th October 2001 to discuss after agreement on its content site for the authorisation of new ments’ with industry initiative,
the ‘de facto’ moratorium on had been reached between the GMOs”. Furthermore, it however, is an unwelcome but
approvals of GMOs. The Com- Council and the European believes that applications to not unexpected move as far as
mission suggests re-launching Parliament. In that respect, the market GMOs which contain NGOs are concerned since it
GMO approvals by applying the difference with this initiative is ‘voluntary commitments’ in line was likely to get pulled out of
key provisions of the revised that the Commission proposes with the above should be consid- the drawer at some stage given
directive on the release of GMOs restarting GMO approvals ered for authorisation and the pressure from biotech com-
in the environment (2001/ before the European Parliament “maintains its objective to re- panies and the US administra-
18/EC), as well as the key provi- and the Member States have start the authorisation proce- tion.
sions of the Commission’s recent even reached agreement on the dure for pending products”.
proposals on Traceability/ proposed Regulations for Unworkable and an unwarrant-
Labelling of GMOs and GM Traceability/Labelling and GM This move by the Commission is ed concession to the biotech
Food/Feed, before any of these Food/Feed. rather surprising since a industry
new laws come into force. The Commission official was quoted
Commission’s strategy, outlined The new initiative in the press, following the recent Some of the measures suggested
in a Working Paper, is to Informal Agriculture Council, as in the Commission’s Working
request biotech companies to The ”Working Paper of DG- saying that: “one cannot envis- Paper are frankly ludicrous.
accept the new requirements on Environment and DG-Health age lifting the moratorium For example, “until the Proposal
the basis of ‘voluntary agree- and Consumer Protection – before the EU has a sound legal on traceability and labelling of
ments’. Resumption of the Authori- basis on authorisation of dis- GMOs and the Proposal on GM
sation Procedure for GMOs” semination and marketing of food and feed have been adopted
This attempt to lift the morato- therefore proposes to lift the GMOs” (i.e. not before 17
th
by Council and the European
rium is similar to a proposal current de facto moratorium on October 2002, the date when Parliament and enter into force,
already adopted by the GMO approvals, based on ‘vol- Directive 2001/18/EC will Member States are responsible
Commission in July 2000. At untary commitments’ by biotech become law). Furthermore, for ensuring labelling and trace-
that time, Commissioners Byrne companies that they will when EU Commissioners Byrne ability of GMOs”. In other
(Consumer Affairs) and promise to adhere to: and Wallström presented the words, until the Tracea-
Wallström (Environment) pro- • the new rules of the deliberate Traceability/Labelling and GM bility/Labelling and GM
posed to Member States ”a release directive (not yet in Food/Feed proposals on 25th Food/Feed Regulations become
strategy to regain public trust in force) and July, Mrs. Wallström was law – probably sometime in the
the approval procedure for • the Traceability/Labelling and specifically questioned about first half of 2003 – Member
Genetically Modified Orga- GM Food/Feed Regulations the moratorium and demurred, States are supposed to manage
nisms” with the objective of (not yet even debated by the saying that it was premature to as best they can with the com-
resuming the authorisation European Parliament). talk about lifting the moratori- plicated procedure of ensur-
process in the near future. The
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F r i e n d s o f t h e E a r t h E u r o p e B U L L ET I N
ing traceability and labelling of FoE Europe and member named the two rapporteurs – posals and to strive to improve
GMOs! Also, the Commission groups in the EU issued a press one an Austrian Socialist and them further by, for example,
proposes, as a first step in kick- release on 5th October denounc- the other a Greek conservative. reducing the contamination
starting the GMO approval ing the Commission’s initiative. No date has yet been set for the thresholds for unauthorised
process again, to put back on It is actually highly unlikely discussions to start in the GMOs as described above.
the table 3 applications which that it will gain the support of a Environment Committee. Envi-
have consistently failed to gain majority of Member States any- ronmental and consumer groups
Member States’ approval, one of way, in particular that of the have their work cut out during
which is a GM fodder beet resis- countries supporting the mora- the next 12-15 months to defend
tant to Monsanto’s herbicide torium. what has been gained in the pro-
RoundUp. This beet also con-
tains an antibiotic-marker gene (For more information on this
The Informal Agriculture Council
conferring resistance to the item, see FoEE Biotech
The
antibiotic kanamycin, whereas Mailout, Volume 7, Issue 5,
Informal Co- minister, Annemie Neyts, until
the new deliberate release 1.10.2001, available on
uncil of EU Ag- the end of 2001. Nevertheless,
directive says that GMOs con- www.foeeurope.org/
riculture Minis- the agenda for Alden Biesen
taining ABR genes must be biotechnology/vol7no5.pdf)
phased out by 2004! ters in Alden Biesen on 18th was already set as up Mr.
September demonstrated that Gabriëls had planned it - the
Member States are still divided Informal Council would be
over the question of lifting the entirely devoted to two topics –
GMOs for the most part, and
Regulations on Tracelability/Labelling and GM Food/Feed GMO moratorium. Even if, gen-
erally speaking, the Ministers biofuels. As part of this agenda,
GMO contamination will be welcomed the new Commission the EU Agriculture Ministers
As
reported in the last proposals for EU Regulations on would hear presentations from
tolerated
FoEE Bulletin, on Traceability/Labelling of GMOs four worldwide experts on
July 25th the Commi- and GM Food/Feed, many re- GMOs. Again, the Belgian
On the negative side, however,
ssion finally tabled its proposals main sceptical. In addition to NGOs reacted furiously - in a
contamination will be tolerated
for future EU Regulations on those countries which have been joint media release they con-
for those GMOs that are pend-
Traceability/Labelling of GMOs supporting the moratorium over demned the fact that, in light of
ing approval in the EU against
and GM Food/Feed. The first is the past months - Austria, all the other problems facing
the deliberate release directive.
designed to ensure that GMOs Denmark, France, Greece, Italy agriculture, the Council would
The threshold for such contami-
can be traced throughout the and Luxembourg - it appeared be devoted entirely to propagan-
nation is set at a maximum of
food chain ‘from farm to fork’ from articles in the press that da about agricultural biotech-
1% and it should be ‘adventi-
and labelled appropriately; the Germany is also leaning nology. The invited experts,
tious’ or ‘technically unavoid-
second is an authorisation pro- towards the moratorium posi- they said, were representative
able’. The Commission’s justifi-
cedure for approving GMOs to tion, judging by the reticence of only of those who vigorously
cation for this is that some con-
be allowed as food and feed. Green Agriculture Minister defend the questionable applica-
tamination, for example
Renate Künast. tions of genetic engineering, for
through pollen transfer or co-
NGOs gain ground example Professor Chen, ”the
mingling after harvest is
The pro-GMO agenda most emminent defender of
inevitable, and that the pending
During the months and weeks genetic engineering in China”
products (of which there are 13)
preceding the finalisation of and Professor Dale ”director of
have all received positive Back in spring this year, before
these proposals, it appeared an institute funded by, among
assessment from the EU’s Belgium assumed the Presi-
that some very dangerous con- others, by Zeneca, Dupont and
Scientific Committee on Plants dency of the European Union
cessions were going to be made, AgrEvo”. The Belgian Presi-
(SCP) and are, therefore, ‘safe’. (on July 1st), the then Belgian
i.e. that contamination by dency, they said, had failed to
Agriculture Minister Jaak
GMOs approved in third coun- use the Council as an occasion
NGOs like FoE are obviously Gabriëls made some very pro-
tries would be allowed (bearing to address the real problems of
thoroughly opposed to this GMO statements during and
in mind that some 50 GM crops sustainable agriculture at a
‘licence to pollute’ and have after a visit to the United
are authorised in the US and time when the industry was in
accused the Commission of States. Among other things, he
Canada), and that contamina- crisis following a succession of
making concessions to the announced that he would use
tion from experimental crops serious problems, and when
biotech industry which cannot the Informal Council of EU
(i.e. only approved for testing consumer confidence in food
keep its own house in order by Agriculture Ministers to re-open
but not for market release) production was at an all time
preventing GMO contamina- the debate on GMOs with the
would also be tolerated. In the low.
tion. Rather than legislating on aim of softening the current EU
end, however, some intensive how to accommodate contami- approach. His speeches and
work by environmental and con- In the end, the Council of Alden
nation, the Commission should comments were widely reported
sumer groups paid off and nei- Biesen turned out to be a bit of
be addressing the problem of in the media and Belgian NGOs
ther is included in the final pro- a non-event rather than the
how to ensure it doesn’t happen reacted furiously. They formed
posals. well-planned push for GMOs
the NGOs say. Also, the fact a coalition denouncing Gabriëls’
that it was designed to be by
that the SCP’s opinion appears position in a press release as
On the positive side, there are Mr. Gabriëls. Following the ter-
to be what counts, more than completely unrepresentative of
some good developments : the rorist attacks in the United
that of the Member States, has Belgian citizens, and accused
notion of ‘substantial equiva- States just a few days previous-
been described as undemocratic him of brushing aside health
lence’ between and GM and ly, thoughts and minds were
and a travesty of the EU autho- and environmental concerns in
non-GM food has been disgard- focussed on those events. Not
risation procedure which the interests of profit-seeking
ed as a means of getting fast- even all the EU Agriculture
requires a majority of MS to trans-national corporations.
track approval, and labelling Ministers (e.g. Jean Glavany of
vote in favour.
will no longer be based on France) turned up for the meet-
Within days of Belgium taking
whether a GMO can be detected ing and part of the agenda was
What happens next? over the Presidency, Jaak
in the final product, e.g. a veg- cancelled. The NGOs also can-
Gabriëls was removed from his
etable oil. celled any demonstrations and
Now the European Parliament post (no real explanation was
actions they had planned
has to debate and amend the ever given) and his responsibili-
around the event.
two proposals. It has just ties were transferred to another
3
F r i e n d s o f t h e E a r t h E u r o p e B U L L ET I N
Animal Feed -
Will They Ever Learn? ‘DITCHING THE NUCLEAR DINOSAUR TREATY’:
NEW CAMPAIGN ON EURATOM
The
animal feed in-
dustry not only
backs GM crops
The
unreservedly, but it also wants ‘Safer Energy The second focus is the planned FoEE’s current activities
(unbelievably) to get meat-and- For Europe’ Cernavoda II plant in Romania. involve gathering information
bone meal back on the menu for Campaign is This is EURATOM’s only pro- for a background paper on
farm animals. So said Robert gathering momentum with a ject in the pipeline, which Cernavoda II. Moreover, press
Gilbert, secretary general of the special focus on the new makes it a very concrete cam- conferences will be arranged in
International Feed Industry EURATOM campaign. Whilst paign target. EURATOM and several EU countries over the
Federation in an interview with waiting for the European Italy both push politically for next two months to build an effi-
Dow Jones Commodities Ser- Commission to table a proposal the project and seek to secure cient NGO network and media
vices (25.09.2001). “Gene-tical- for new EURATOM money, the financing. The plant itself is awarenesss against EURATOM
ly modified cereals, oilseeds and Friends of the Earth Europe has completely unnecessary for both on the European and the
other forms of raw materials are identified two key points to cam- Romania: the electricity would national level. This new net-
completely safe”, Gilbert said. paign on: be produced solely for export to work has already taken root in
“Here in Europe we have got to the EU. Germany and Italy: it is hoped
do whatever it takes to get The very persistance of EURA- that many more will join the
meat-and-bone meal accepted TOM as such, to show how So-called ‘joined-up governance’ Anti – EURATOM coalition.
back into livestock rations” he anachronistic it is and so to con- may be a buzz phrase but it is Many more groups have
went on. “We see meat-and- test its usefulness. We want to far from the reality of the EU’s expressed an interest, so the
bone meal as a very valuable stop all new money for conflicting policies with regards campaign is really taking-off.
protein source. It’s one of the EURATOM, targeting the EU to sustainability and energy Please contact FoEE (energy
key protein sources we have, Commission and ECOFIN. EU supply. Whilst the EU on the campaigner:
and we have to do everything member states should put this one hand has adopted the patricia.lorenz@foeeurope.org)
we can to protect its continued relic of a Treaty into the muse- Renewables Directive that aims if you want to join or you know
use in those countries that are ums where it belongs. Stop the to achieve 12% renewable ener- someone who would like to find
still using it”. (He did at least building of the planned Cerna- gy supply by 2010, the nuclear- out more and contribute to a
qualify his statements by saying voda II nuclear power plant in promotion mechanism EURA- nuclear-free Europe.
that MBM should only come Romania. TOM does everything in its
from human food grade animals power to increase the share of Contact: Patricia Lorenz,
and not from fallen, diseased or The only way to change an EU nuclear power in Romania, an FoEE, Anti-Nuclear
unfit-for-human-consumption Treaty is through the Inter-gov- EU accession country. The EU – Coordinator,
animals). ernmental Conference (IGC) Russia Energy Dialogue further patricia.lorenz@foeeurope.org
process. We lobby for EURA- presents a picture of ‘ecological
Meat-and-bone meal has been TOM to be on the agenda of the dumping’; efforts to green
banned by the European Union next IGC in 2004; the 15 mem- Europe’s internal energy supply
since the beginning of 2001 in ber states are already preparing marred by EU support for dirty
recognition of its link to Bovine and discussing which elements external supply.
Spongiform Encephalopathy of the EU pie are in need of
(BSE). European consumers reform.
and farmers are unlikely to
share Mr. Gilbert’s view, as are
officials in Member States and
in the EU. Agriculture Co-
mmissioner Franz Fischler
SALE OF THE CENTURY?
announced earlier this year that
he would be looking at ways to
take farmland out of ‘set aside’
THE 4TH WTO MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
(required under the Blair House
On
Agreement between the United 11th September the dictable consequences for the needed for the present situation
States and the EU which limits Financial Times global economy. The emergence with regards to the WTO agen-
oilseed production in the Union) featured as head- of a tentative international da look very different.
in order to allow farmers to line news the ‘Fair Trade political coalition against terror-
grow more protein fodder crops Flotilla’ planned to set sail for ism, new security threats and a For the 4th WTO Ministerial
for livestock such as peas, the Gulf State of Qatar, the host potential worldwide economic Conference – that as the
lupins, etc. Other measures, of the next WTO Ministerial. downturn all amount to the Bulletin went to press was still
such as limiting the number of This was a boat project co- need for a major re-think and set to be held from 9-13
animals per farm are also under organised by Friends of the readjustment for all who are November - FoE is calling for an
review. Earth International, Via Cam- political active, including the evaluation of the impact of exist-
pesina, the International Forum Trade, Environment and ing trade rules on poor local
Contact: Gill Lacroix, FoEE on Globalisation, Public Citizen, Sustainability (TES) Program- communities and ecological sus-
Biotechnology Coordinator, Oxfam International, Focus on me at Friends of the Earth. tainability, a fundamental reori-
gill.lacroix@foeeurope.org the Global South and the World entation and reformulation of
www.foeeurope.org/biotechnology/ Forum of Fisherpeople. While Trade Commissioner the rules and regulations gov-
about.htm & Lamy and US trade representa- erning world trade in order to
www.foeeurope.org/ The terrorist attacks in the US tive Zoellick were fast to argue promote social justice, equitable
Halt-GMO-Pollution/index.htm
on that same day changed that terrorism should be coun- development, and environmen-
everything. It was soon clear tered with trade liberalisation tal sustainability, the cessation
that the international political and a new trade round to be of any proposals to expand the
situation was altering at a rapid launched in Qatar, FoEI’s vision scope and power of WTO rules
pace, with severe and unpre- and understanding of what is and for food and agriculture
4
F r i e n d s o f t h e E a r t h E u r o p e B U L L ET I N
to be removed from the jurisdic- 2) Investment, competition cautionary principle, eco-
tion of the WTO and subjected to and government procure- labelling and the relationship of
a new and alternative multilat- ment: Multilateral Environmental
eral forum under the auspices of The draft WTO Ministerial dec- Agreements (MEAs) and trade
the United Nations. In addition, laration that was released on rules continue to be hotly con-
there are a number of steps 26th September incorporates two tested among the 142 WTO
required to be taken outside of options for investment, competi- membership, it is not surprising
the WTO including the nullifica- tion, government procurement that the environment language
tion of bilateral and multilateral and trade facilitation as is very weak. Under pressure targeted, a further point of criti-
debt for all developing countries 1) either negotiating areas to be from civil society, various mem- cism was the insufficient men-
by the year 2002. included in the post 4th WTO ber states and parliamentarians tioning of non-trade concerns,
Ministerial Work Programme or the European Commission open- food security, animal welfare
On 22nd September FoEE pre- 2) areas of further study work. ly maintains a strong stance on and environment.
sented its policy paper to the Many developing countries and the environment. Disappointed
European Commission criticiz- civil society groups continue to by the first draft declaration 6) TRIPS:
ing how the EU still sticks to its oppose the inclusion of these that was too weak on environ- While a separate declaration on
pre-Seattle mandate and new issues. Under pressure ment, animal welfare and food the issue of access to medicines
appears to have ignored con- from corporate lobby groups, the security, the EC tabled on 8th is likely to be adopted at the
cerns raised by people all over EU remains the strongest advo- October a new paper that out- Ministerial, the relationship
the world about the EU’s new cate of a scaled down version of lines two options for the declara- between the Convention on Bio-
round agenda. FoEE called on multilateral rules on investment tion: 1) outlining negotiations on logical Diversity (CBD) and the
the EU to take the lead in call- and competition. FOE continues clarifying existing WTO rules TRIPS agreements is supposed
ing for fundamental change to to oppose these issues given the under the ineffective Committee to be
the world’s trading system, in likely negative impacts. We on Trade and Environment or 2)
line with its own sustainable need a binding regulations on a deeper set of negotiations that addressed in the TRIPS Council.
development and human rights TNCs in the form of a multilat- includes references to precau- Most importantly, although
objectives. eral corporate accountability tion, multilateral environmental unsurprising, the need to ban
mechanism under the UN - cer- agreements and the relationship the patenting of all life forms,
WTO draft declaration: tainly further deregulatory between the Convention on Bio- the protection of traditional and
a FOE critique efforts would worsen the current logical Diversity and the TRIPS indigenous knowledge and the
imbalances and democratic agreement. EC chief trade nego- right to regulate in pursuit of
In the meantime, a 7-page draft deficit of corporate-led globalisa- tiator Peter Carl mentioned that national health, safety or envi-
WTO declaration was released tion. The plurilateral agreement environment is a quid pro quo - ronmental protection policy
by the chair of the WTO General on public procurement could a ‘deal breaker’ - with regards to objectives is not mentioned. The
Council on 26th September. The become a fully integrated WTO the developing countries’ draft text’s statement on ‘keep-
declaration which is supposed to agreement. This could further demand of other groupings, such ing the TRIPS agreement
be adopted at the next Minis- limit the possibilities for local as the EU, to eliminate export abreast of new technological and
terial is currently being fleshed authorities to promote environ- subsidies. other developments’ leaves the
out at preparatory meetings in mentally/socially friendly con- door open for the introduction of
Geneva. These are some of the tracting of goods and services. 5) Agriculture: biotech products as commodities
major concerns from the FoE Apart from the new issues and subject to TRIPS rules.
perspective: 3) Relationships with other environment, agriculture is the
Organisations: most controversial area from the 7) Services:
1) Assessment of the The preambular text seeks to European perspective. While As GATS negotiations continue
Uruguay Round limit inter-institutional coop- the first draft declaration did independently as part of the
Agreements: eration to that with the IMF and not flesh out a text yet in agri- built in agenda of already com-
The draft text makes no men- World Bank. United Nations culture, the chair of the WTO mitted negotiations, the declara-
tion of the call by civil society Programmes and Organisations General Council has in the tion welcomes the high amount
and many developing countries such as UNEP, UNDP or UNC- meantime tabled a draft text on of proposals being submitted by
for a full assessment of the TAD are not listed. On the rela- 8 October. The EC and the WTO members. At the last ses-
socio-economic and environmen- tionship between multilateral Cairns Groups of agriculture sion of the Services Council pro-
tal impacts of the Uruguay environmental agreements and exporting countries expressed posals on energy and environ-
Round Agreements. Even worse, trade rules, the Committee on reservations about the text. The mental services were addressed.
the draft text assumes the bene- Trade and Environment, accord- draft text commits members to At the moment, the EC advo-
fits of trade liberalisation ing to FOE a talkshop with no ‘reductions of, with a view of cates that the trade in nuclear
promised by Uruguay Round results, is instructed to conduct phasing out, all forms of export energy services be left outside
agreements have been realised further studies ad infinitum. subsidies and substantial reduc- the realm of the WTO, but sup-
and spread widely and equitable tion in domestic support’. While ports a string focus on trade in
among all countries and that 4) Environment: the EC objects to the wording fossil fuels. On water, the EC
there is thus a need to maintain Given that trade and environ- ‘phasing out’ and argues that advocates the inclusion of the
further trade liberalisation per ment issues such as the WTO’s the use of export credits to collection and distribution of
se. problematic approach to the pre- agribusiness also needs to be water services under WTO
jurisprudence.
UPCOMING FOEE TRADE RELATED EVENTS:
8) Implementation:
20-21 October: FoEE speaks at ATTAC Congress, Berlin The draft provides unclear and
30 October: FoEE presents reply to the open letter to the anti globalisation movement of non-committal text with respect
Prime Minister Verhofstadt at the international conference on globalisation, to the concerns of developing
Gent countries. Language referring to
3-13 November: Week of actions around the WTO Ministerial, for a full list contact alexan- trade, debt and finance, transfer
dra.wandel@foeeurope.org of technology and capacity
9-13 November: FoEE at WTO Ministerial Conference, Qatar (to be confirmed) building, least developed coun-
21 November: FoEE speaks at Conference on Globalisation and Sustainable Development, tries and small economies all
Gent basically do not specify the con-
12-13 December: Seattle to Brussels Network Strategy Meeting, Brussels, organised by FoEE duct of negotiations on bind-
5
F r i e n d s o f t h e E a r t h E u r o p e B U L L ET I N
ing commitments from WTO
members. In general, unbalances
and negative impacts of the EIB INFORMATION POLICY –
Uruguay Round agreements are
not acknowledged and there is
nothing concrete in the proposal
THE NEVER ENDING STORY
to ensure that development is
ecologically sustainable and eco-
The
nomically equitable. European In- the ISPA1 program and the sions of persistent organic pol-
vestment Bank Commissioners from DG En- lutants and other toxic sub-
9) Democracy and (EIB) is still vironment, Enlargement and stances.
Institutional Reform: going through the agonizingly Regional Policy demanding a
Monitoring the pre-accession
The treatment of transparency slow process of revising its change in the objectives and
funds in 8 CEE countries, we
and democracy issues is com- information policy. This has policy of financing projects in
can witness over and over again
pletely unsatisfactory in the now lasted for more than a year the area of waste management
that the current set up of EU
draft text. A coalition of groups and little has been concretely in Bulgaria. The letter was sup-
aid for accession is not at all
including FOEI, Oxfam, WWF, achieved aside from vague ported by 74 non govern-
promoting environmentally
CIEL, IATP and Actionaid have pledges. In June this year, the mental organizations from 28
sustainable solutions, even
published an open letter calling Bank organised a meeting with countries.
under ISPA, which supposedly
for a decision by Ministers at the NGOs to discuss the issue.
deals with environment itself.
Ministerial Conference to FoE, CEE Bankwatch, WWF The appeal arose due to plans
The current model for these
instruct the General Council at and others presented their for the construction of a
countries is a trap, a status quo
its first meeting to develop a input to the process and the pol- National Center for Hazardous
that leaves little room to accom-
comprehensive work programme icy itself, these comments can Waste Treatment in Bulgaria,
modate future EU develop-
on institutional reform, covering found at www.bankwatch.org. which is an applicant for ISPA
ments acknowledged in the 6th
both internal issues (capacity The meeting was followed by a funding. The project utilizes
Environmental Action Program
building, meetings, decision- letter to President Maystadt incineration as a method for
or the EU Strategy for Sus-
making, reform of dispute settle- outlining the key issues. treatment of hazardous waste.
tainable Development.
ment measures) and external
issues (NGO accreditation, coop- A full copy of the EIB’s response In Bulgaria there are still many The signatories of the letter
eration mechanism with IGOs, to the NGO input is available opportunities that need to be demand that the ISPA program
parliamentary oversight, nation- on request, but it makes for acted upon for changing pro- change its policy objectives in
al consultation guidelines.) depressing reading. The Bank duction and energy generation the area of waste management
likes to flaunt its ”flexible” and processes so that they are in Bulgaria, as well as in other
10) NGO events around the ”pragmatic” approach, unfortu- cleaner and result in less waste. EU candidate countries which
WTO Ministerial nately in reality this translates This is what the accession coun- may apply for similar projects.
While the NGO flotilla was put into the EIB’s refusal to consid- tries need the EU money for, ISPA should support projects
on hold due to security concerns, er most of the NGOs’ sugges- not to build an incinerator aimed at preventing waste gen-
NGOs will hold public events tions; such as interested civil plant. Projects implemented eration at the source and using
whether or not the Ministerial society groups being able to under the Enlargement process waste treatment technologies
will be held from 9-13 November. obtain a comprehensive draft of need to heed lessons already which are environmentally safe
One example is the Trade the new info policy or informa- learned, not repeat past mis- and can be an alternative to
Justice Carnival on 3 November: tion about the timeframe for takes. incineration. Ultimately, the
FoE EWNI are one of the organ- when it might be adopted by participation of local communi-
NGOs, supported by 408 resi-
isers and, FoE Netherlands, FoE the EIB Board. At the same ties and non-governmental
dents from the affected region,
Switzerland and the FoEI and time, an ”everything but” policy organizations at all stages of
criticized the incineration pro-
FoEE secretariats will partici- brings about the situation project planning and implemen-
ject for three key reasons: 1. the
pate. In addition, if the whereby a project promoter, tation has to be a precondition
project gives priority to waste
Ministerial is pushed through usually a private company, can for ISPA funds allocation.
incineration, 2. public partici-
FOEE will be represented both decide what any affected citi-
pation in the projects until now, We are waiting for a response.
in terms of advocacy and media zens are and are not allowed to
under the feasibility study
work. In Beirut, the World know about the projects in their
financed by PHARE, has been See also Billions for
Forum on the WTO will be held communities. At present it
minimal, 3. studies on the Sustainability? Second
as part of the international ‘Our appears likely that the EIB
health risks and the dioxin con- Briefing, www.foeeurope.org
World is Not for Sale’ Coalition. wants to continue its vague
tamination of the environment
For more information see approach and outright reject
and people have not been con- Contact: Magda Stoczkiewicz,
http://www.worldforum2001.org any binding and concrete guide-
ducted in Bulgaria. Accession project coordinator
For the FoEI’s position paper for lines for access to information.
CEE Bankwatch Network
the WTO Ministerial, the ‘Sale of
The construction of a waste FoEE
the Century? The 4th WTO Do EU citizens really want to incineration plant - without a magdas@foeeurope.org
Ministerial Conference Series, finance increased pollution in well-developed infrastructure of www.foeeurope.org
the FoEI statement on the 4th’s Bulgaria? municipal services and ade-
WTO Ministerial Declaration
quate systems of hazardous
and up to date information check
EU pre-accession funds have to waste monitoring - can only
www.foeeurope.org/trade/
change their policy and objec- contribute to an abandonment
about.htm
tives in the area of waste man- of actions aimed at waste reduc- 1
ISPA - Instrument for Structural
tion at the source, while ham-
NEW: What is wrong with the agement. Policies for Pre-accession Aid, EU
pering proper development of financial mechanism for sectors of
WTO? Brochure available from
services connected with the transport and environment.
the FoEE office. As a part of the ‘Billions for
recovery of secondary raw
Sustainability? ’project, coordi-
materials. Moreover, waste
Contact: Alexandra Wandel, nated by FoEE and the CEE
incineration technologies will
FoEE Trade and Sustainability Bankwatch Network, our
not contribute to environmental
Coordinator Bulgarian partner group sent
improvement, as they them-
alexandra.wandel@foeeurope.org, an open letter to the Director of
selves are a big source of emis-
6
F r i e n d s o f t h e E a r t h E u r o p e B U L L ET I N
THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (SDS) OF THE EU AND
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS
In
June 2001 the Eu- nomic reform and social cohe- objectives, as well as sectoral view of this, it is questionable
ropean Council agreed sion. The Lisbon process has the objectives, in order to steer the whether these really relate to
on the so-called ‘SDS’, potential to become a high level process of change required. sustainability. At present,
a strategy for sustainable devel- driving force for sustainable NGOs have identified a double
opment with four priority areas: development, but it is crucial to Until now the Commission has marginalisation of the environ-
climate change, transport, pub- clearly define the environmen- organized a discussion meeting, mental dimension in the pro-
lic health and natural tal objectives and timetables to to which NGOs were invited, posed set of indicators that are
resources. These issues are to which all EU policies must con- where a set of six headline indi- intended to assess yearly EU
complement the social and eco- tribute, and to define the appro- cators for the environmental progress towards sustainable
nomic aspects of sustainable priate indicators for monitoring dimension were proposed. For development. Therefore the
development, which are being future trends. various reasons the NGOs pre- European Environment Bureau
dealt with in the so-called sent at the meeting did not (EEB), Friends of the Earth
“Lisbon process” of Spring Under the current Belgian agree with the Commission’s Europe (FoEE), and Friends of
Summits. The Gothenburg Presidency, the attention as approach. First, the number Nature International (FNI)
European Council asked the regards sustainable develop- foreseen for the environmental reacted with a letter and posi-
Commission to evaluate the ment is put very much on the component is too restricted to tion paper, addressed to the
implementation of the SDS in preparation of the ‘environmen- permit the covering of essential Ministers for Environment and
its annual synthesis report dur- tal headline indicators’, which environmental issues for sus- senior officials in the Mi-
ing the Spring Council, on the are intended to cover the third tainable development; moreover nistries. This was done in view
basis of a number of headline dimension of the SDS, and must the balance is not in relation to of influencing further discus-
indicators, to be agreed by the be prepared for approval by the the 35 structural indicators for sion between the EU Envi-
Council in time for use at the December 2001 Laeken Sum- social and economic issues. ronment Ministries and the
European Summit in mit. Furthermore that the scope of Commission on 8th of October, in
Barcelona, March 2002. the proposed indicators also the so-called Environmental
In general terms, the set of addresses the other dimensions, Policy Review Group, as well as
In the framework of the Lisbon ‘environmental headline indica- whilst this is not the case for in an expert group meeting on
process, started in 2000, the tors’ should be composed by a the 35 structural ones. These the 10th. (See http://www.foeeu-
Commission had already pro- relatively small number of key proposed environmental indica- rope.org/press/09.10.01_NGOs_
duced 35 so-called ‘Structural indicators that have clear polit- tors are simply taken over from call.htm)
Indicators’ for use in synthesis ical and public interest. It “Lisbon”, which had a relatively
reports. These cover the issues should cover a mix of clear envi- short-term horizon and rather The NGO position paper pro-
of employment, innovation, eco- ronmental and biodiversity specific and limited goals. In posed 10 indicators for dis-
Table 1. The environmental headline indicators - If the proposed 'ideal' indicator is not available an interim indicator is proposed under ( 2 ):
Climate ( 1 ) Total CO2 and five other greenhouse gas emissions (CH4, N2O, HFCs, PFCs, SF6)
Climate change: ( 2 ) CO2 and two other greenhouse gas emissions (CH4, N2O).
Energy sector: % of green energy in total energy consumption
Transport: Total passenger- and ton-kilometres travelled, related to:
Transport - GDP or
- total energy use by transport sector
Chemicals: ( 1 ) An index of used hazardous substances weighted according to human and eco-toxicity (has yet to
be developed)
Public ( 2 ) % of the OSPAR chemicals still on the European market for unknown or open system application.
Health
( 1 ) Emissions of 5 pollutants (SOx, NOx, NH3, VOCs, Particulate Matter)
Air Quality: ( 2 ) emissions of 4 pollutants (as long as data for Particulate Matter are incomplete)
( 1 ) Biodiversity index based on genetic and habitat variety (has yet to be developed)
Biodiversity: ( 2 ) % of original indigenous species extinct or under threat
( 1 ) Pesticides usage (active ingredients weighted according to human and eco toxicity)
Agricultural ( 2 ) treatment frequency excluding those pesticides agreed for organic farming methods
sector:
Natural
Resources Land Use: Amount of built-up areas compared to total area. (Including total area used by the EU outside EU)
( 1 ) Total material use (Total Material Requirement) and waste production incl. percentage of reused or
Material use: recycled material.
( 2 ) waste production with recycling percentages
Water Quality: Percentage of all water bodies reaching the good/high status or in the case of heavily modified or artifi-
cial water bodies good/maximum ecological potential and good chemical status as defined in the Water
Framework Directive
7
F r i e n d s o f t h e E a r t h E u r o p e B U L L ET I N
cussion organized according to Friends of the Earth ensured mental dimension must be The NGOs had expressed their
the 4 central topics of the EU that ‘Total Material Requi- strongly represented at Barce- concern about this in their letter
Sustainable Development Stra- rement’ was proposed as an lona in order communicate that and position paper, and had
tegy: climate, transport, natural indicator for natural resources going from ”Lisbon” via called for stronger involvement
resources and health and envi- use, an indicator to monitor ”Gothenburg” to ”Barcelona” of the Environment Council,
ronment. For each issue there is material flows, and so assess will involve a real shift in prior- which should play a major role
a proposed ‘ideal’ indicator, and the efficiency of resource use. ity setting, not just adding some in making the 'Lisbon process'
in case of a temporary lack of This choice would be an impor- indicators to an otherwise compatible with the environ-
the required data or scientific tant tool to assess the reduction unchanged policy approach. mental objectives and require-
knowledge, a proposed interim of total resource use in Europe, Accordingly, the number and ments as discussed in Gothen-
indicator, which we consider a crucial precondition to move nature of the indicators accord- burg this June. Following the
being a good alternative in the towards sustainable develop- ed to the environmental dimen- latest information, the 'environ-
meantime. The objective of the ment. (See FoEE’s background sion should reflect this new bal- mental headline indicator' issue
proposed set is to combine envi- work on this issue during the ance – enabling the spring sum- has since then been added to the
ronmental quality with sectoral project ‘Sustainable Europe’, see mits to sincerely address the preliminary agenda of the
policies, and to put them in a http://www.foeeurope.org/press/ major issues of sustainable Environmental Council of Octo-
framework of targets and integration.htm) development for the EU. In that ber 29th.
timetables. The core of the posi- context it is also interesting, but
tion paper is still based on the The next step for the NGO input hopefully not significant, to note Contact: Martin Rocholl,
‘Ten benchmarks for environ- to the indicators process will be that the Commission had Director and
mental policy integration’, pub- to take part in the discussion intended to present its propos- Frederic Thoma,
lished in 1999 by the EEB, while after the outcome of 8th and 10th als officially the day after the Project Coordinator
some changes were made in of October meetings is known, October Environment Council martin.rocholl@foeeurope.org
order to adapt the paper to and so once the Commission has (meeting of the EU environmen- frederic.thoma@foeeurope.org
recent developments. The 10 presented its proposal. tal ministers), so that this
headline indicators proposed by Council would only have been
the NGOs are listed in table 1. The ‘environmental headline able to discuss any proposals at
(For timetables and targets or indicators’ must be recognized its December meeting, immedi-
further details see as a major element to any com- ately before the Laeken
http://www.foeeurope.org/publi- prehensive debate on sustain- Summit.
cations/indicators_for.htm) able development. The environ-
MEDNET UPDATE ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PROGRAMME FOR
THE EURO-MEDITERRANEAN PARTNERSHIP
The
Short and Me- ministerial on the environment
dium-Term Pri- in Athens in July 2002. In the next six months the following important meetings will
ority Environ- take place in the scope of the Euro Mediterranean partnership:
mental Action Programme for The European Commission is
19–20 February the first preparatory meeting for environ-
the Euro Mediterranean Part- also looking at ways of promot-
2002, Malta: mental ministerial.
nership was adopted in ing closer interaction between
November 1997 as a framework different development fields and
to give practical expression to environmental ministries with-
23–25 April 2002, 4th SMAP correspondents meeting and sec-
the Euro Mediterranean in the Euro Mediterranean part-
Brussels: ond preparatory meeting for environmental
Partnership in the field of the ner countries, a key necessity to
ministerial.
environment. It constitutes an bring the Mediterranean a step
operational tool and forms the in the right direction towards
common basis for environmen- sustainable development.
4–4 or 8–10 July 2nd EuroMedministerial on the environment
tal purposes, at national and
2002, Athens: (including a forum of stakeholders on the
regional levels, as regards both The MEDA committee approved
first day).
policy orientation and funding the financial proposal for the
in the Mediterranean region. SMAP 2000 regional projects in
September, thus making avail-
In this context, the European able 30 million Euro for the
Commission is currently prepar- SMAP financial instrument. 20
ing country profiles of the Euro million Euro will be used in
Mediterranean partner coun- eight selected projects, a further
tries of the South and East 5 million Euro for a METAP
Mediterranean. The profiles project, 2.5 million Euro to This Bulletin is available on our web site:
will be based upon work carried strengthen the role of SMAP www.foeeurope.org/publications
out in the region by institutions correspondents and finally 2.5 To register or send us comments, please contact
such as the blue plan and million Euro for the establish- info@foeeurope.org
Eurostat. Furthermore govern- ment of a monitoring unit to You are welcome to redistribute this Bulletin and copy articles on
ment officials charged with assist the Commission in imple- condition that the source is acknowledged
SMAP coordination – SMAP menting the environmental ele-
correspondents - will receive a ment of the Euro Mediterranean Friends of the Earth Europe
questionnaire asking for addi- partnership. Rue Blanche, 29
tional information to complete B-1060 Brussels BELGIUM
the country profiles and to be Contact: Eugene Clancy, Tel: 32-2 542 01 80, Fax: 32-2 537 55 96,
used for the regional interim Friends of the Earth MedNet e-mail: info@foeeurope.org
report which is expected to be Coordinator, web: www.foeeurope.org
ready for the second EuroMed mednet@foeeurope.org
8