Joke SCHAUVLIEGE, Flemish Minister for Environment, Nature and Culture presents Belgium EU Council presidency's priorities in matters of environment to the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) of the European Parliament, in Brussels.

Brussels

statement

meeting

Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

fight against climate change (T)

SCHAUVLIEGE, Joke (BE)

European Environmental Criminal Court: extracts from the presentation by Joke SCHAUVLIEGE

Arrival of Joke SCHAUVLIEGE, Flemish Minister for Environment to the ENVI Committee.

Jo LEINEN (S&amp;D, DE), Chairman of the ENVI Commmittee, greets Joke SCHAUVLIEGE.

SOUNDBITE (Dutch), Joke SCHAUVLIEGE, Flemish Minister for Environment, Nature and Culture, I'd like to begin with the issue of climate, we shoudl ambitiously prepare the climate conference in Cancun. After the outcome of the Copenhagen Conference it is very important for the Eu to regain confidence and also take the lead . The Belgian presidency will not wait.

SOUNDBITE (Dutch), Joke SCHAUVLIEGE, Flemish Minister for Environment, Nature and Culture, The second priority is boidiversity .2010 is the international year of biodiversity , the belgian presidency would like to take advantage of the momentum in order to make significant progress in the international conference of Nagoya. Various indicators show us that the decline in biodiversity has not been stopped...

SOUNDBITE (Dutch), Joke SCHAUVLIEGE, Flemish Minister for Environment, Nature and Culture, The third priority , sustainable material management, I think you would all agree that in the background of economic recovery we need to bestow attention to the overlapse between the environment and the economy. we need ot find instruments where we cazn strengthen both policy areas above and beyond energy efficiency we have sustainable material management, these are major challenges.

SOUNDBITE (Dutch), Joke SCHAUVLIEGE, Flemish Minister for Environment, Nature and Culture, The fourth and last priority better instruments for european environment policy . We want to see better implementation lead to better environment policy what wea re thinking about here is better preparation with mmore streamlined reporting , this would also mean better regulation, more environmental impact assemsments , better implementation and maintenance and a stimulous for the use of instruments which are in line with the market