Greening the European Semester – what does that mean?

Rozalina PetrovaDG Environment, European Commission

EESC – Europe 2020 Steering CommitteeBrussels, 6 February 2013

Resource Efficiency in Europe 2020

• Sustainable growth and resource efficiency: a pillar of the Europe 2020 Strategy

• Flagship Initiative “A resource efficient Europe"

Flagship initiative « A resource-efficient Europe »

Roadmap to a resource efficient Europe

• Three timelines

• long term 2050 vision (short-termism)

• milestones for 2020

• actions to be taken now by the Commission and MS

• Three action lines

• Transforming the economy

• Safeguarding the resilience of our natural capital

• Tackling key sectors

• Shared responsibility of EU and MS: governance and monitoring under Europe 2020 => European Semester

Setting policy priorities for Europe 2020 implementation

• Integrated guidelines for the economic and employment policies of the Member States (longer term) • Guideline 5: Improving resource efficiency and reducing greenhouse gases

• Annual Growth Survey as part of European Semester (shorter term):

• "This process is not only about a return to growth but is also about building the basis for a different quality of growth following the crisis."

• Fiscal consolidation: shifting from taxing labour towards environmental taxes and eliminating environmentally harmful subsidies

• Growth enhancing: growth potential of the green economy - energy efficiency renovation programmes; improved waste management, water management and recycling

• Employment: job potential of expanding sectors, such as the green economy, healthcare and ICT

Country Specific Recommendations 2012• A shift towards environmental taxation recommended for 12 countries: AT, BE, CZ, EE

(vehicles), ES, FR, HU (energy), IT, LT (including car taxation), LU, LV (resources) and SK.

• Individual recommendation on waste (EE), water (BG), reduction of GHG emissions (BE, LU).

• Recommendations on energy aspects of the resource efficiency agenda are given to 8 countries (recommendations on various aspects of energy were given for a total of 14 MS):

• energy efficiency: BG, EE, LT (buildings), LV, MT;

• renewables: EE, MT;

• regulated prices: HU;

• energy infrastructure with a view to improve efficiency: PL, UK.

• As regards transport, resource efficiency relevant recommendations are given to BE (GHG emissions), DE (rail), EE (vehicles taxation), HU (public transport), PL (rail).

Opportunities for improvement

Source: Eurostat, 2012

Opportunities for improvement (2)

Opportunities for improvement (3)

Percentage of urban population exposed to PM10 concentrations exceeding daily limit value, 2010

Next steps

• Bilaterals/country visits currently ongoing to discuss implementation and preparation of NRPs

• Spring European Council on 14/15 March• Irish Presidency priority on greening the economy.

• Input from various Councils under preparation.

• Environment Council input through exchange of views in December.

• Submission of National Reform Programmes - 15 April

• Commission to adopt proposals for CSRs/SWDs - end of May.

• Endorsement by European Council - 28/29 June.

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/resource_efficiency/ http://ec.europa.eu/environment/resource_efficiency/

Thank you!