| EEA snapshot of environmental priorities for 2009 |
Climate change, biodiversity and resource use are among priority issues expected to dominate the EU environmental policy debate this year, according to a report published by the European environment agency (EEA) on Friday. The report gives a snapshot of eight environment policy areas: global climate change talks, climate adaptation and water, invasive species, air quality, bioenergy, marine management, the common agricultural policy and waste shipments. // Read More // |  |
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| Posted By Tony Lowes on 13/01/2009 ( Reads : 870 ) | Comments (0) | European Union |
| German government criticised over car tax U-turn |
The head of Germany's environment agency (UBA) has criticised a government decision last month to exempt all new cars from vehicle registration tax until mid-2009, and to exempt cleaner Euro 5 and 6 class cars until mid-2010. // Read More // | |
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| Posted By Tony Lowes on 25/11/2008 ( Reads : 863 ) | Comments (0) | European Union |
| EU carmakers seek €40bn support |
AFTER RECEIVING an initially frosty reception from Brussels, European car industry executives are gaining confidence that a credit programme worth up to €40 billion, supported by the European Investment Bank (EIB), could soon be forthcoming. Details of the EIB package, a response to America's $25 billion loan for the US industry, could emerge next week, when the European Commission is expected to make a series of proposals to bolster struggling industries. // Read More // | |
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| Posted By Tony Lowes on 25/11/2008 ( Reads : 820 ) | Comments (0) | European Union |
| EU green crime law enters final straight |
A new EU law that will criminalise the most serious cases of illegal environmentally-damaging behaviour by individuals looks certain to be finalised before the summer after the European parliament's legal affairs committee voted for a substantial compromise with governments this week. The vote confirms there will be no harmonised EU-level sanctions for perpetrators of green crimes. But two major sticking points remain to be resolved in an intriguing triangular dispute involving the assembly's environment committee. In the initial directive proposal the European commission said the law should cover all illegal activity that breaches any EU or national legislation aimed at protecting the environment. // Read More // | |
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| Posted By Tony Lowes on 10/04/2008 ( Reads : 1093 ) | Comments (0) | European Union |
| EU green law infringements update |
Belgium has breached EU's 2000 ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) regulation, the European court of justice (ECJ) ruled on Thursday. Belgium has failed to define minimum qualification levels for handlers of ODSs and has not taken all preventive measures to reduce ODS leaks in some parts of the country, the court said. Meanwhile the European commission is launching an ECJ case against Italy for allegedly failing to comply with the EU's Seveso directive on preparing for the effects of major industrial accidents. // Read More // | |
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| Posted By Tony Lowes on 04/04/2008 ( Reads : 1106 ) | Comments (0) | European Union |
| MEPs and governments agree EU marine directive |
MEPs and the council of ministers have reached provisional accord on the final content of a proposed EU marine framework directive. The deal was hammered out last Thursday and brings forward by one year a number of key deadlines proposed by the European commission. The main focus of last week's compromise talks was the overarching political objective of the draft law. A year ago the parliament called for all European seas to reach "good environmental status" by 2017. But EU governments rejected the move, instead saying member states should merely "aim to achieve" good environmental status by 2021. // Read More // |  |
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| Posted By Tony Lowes on 03/12/2007 ( Reads : 1151 ) | Comments (0) | European Union |
| Brussels accepts defeat over draft eco-crime law |
The European commission has conceded defeat over plans to agree harmonised EU penalties for serious environmental offences following a landmark European court ruling last month. A commission official told the European parliament's justice committee on Tuesday that the commission would abandon attempts to agree EU-level fines and prison sentences for offenders. But it would maintain a plan for agreement on which offences should be classified as crimes across the bloc. // Read More // |  |
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| Posted By Tony Lowes on 23/11/2007 ( Reads : 1131 ) | Comments (0) | European Union |
| The hole-in-the-road gang . . . pothole case settled |
| A ROW over potholes on a country road has finally concluded in the European Court - 13 years after it first began. The case was taken against Cavan Co Council by a group of residents complaining about the poor state of local roads. Thirteen years later, the case is over after the court ruled that their human rights had been violated. // Read More // | |
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| Posted By the editors on 22/05/2006 ( Reads : 1291 ) | Comments (0) | European Union |
| Roche angry over action by EC on environment |
| The Minister for the Environment has clashed with the European Commission over its decision to take legal action against Ireland for eight breaches of environmental law. Mr Roche said most of the eight cases would never go to court and he criticised the commission for announcing the cases by press release before the full details of the complaints were given to the Department of theEnvironment. // Read More // | |
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| Posted By the editors on 14/01/2005 ( Reads : 1374 ) | Comments (0) | European Union |
| EU move on Galway quarry |
| Galway EU Quarry Case May Lead to Compensation
The European Commission has issued a Letter of Formal Notice (first written warning) arising from FIE's 2002 complaint about the unauthorized quarrying for the realignment of the N59 between Moycullen and Clifden, Co. Galway. The project was 85% EU funded.
The 20.2 acre site was purchased by Michael Welby and Myles Welby and/or their company, M&M Caireal Teoranta, in 1994. Due to boggy soil conditions in this area, a great depth of rock was required for the road. The quarry, which began in 1995, consumed 5 acres of karst limestone.
Karst limestone is a protected habitat in Ireland. In spite of continued protests by residents at every level, operations were continuing when we filed our complaint in 2002. Residents were told that without this extraction the nationally binding commitments to the European Union cohesion funding for the infrastructure project could not be met.
The Commission's letter states that FIE's complaint, grouped with several other complaints raising similar issues, gives rise to 'non-respect' for the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive. Projects must 'actually made subject to assessment before (rather than after) they are carried out'.
Article 10 of the European Constitution says that "Member States are required to nullify the unlawful consequences of a breach of Community law". If the Court rules against Ireland in these proceedings, based on a recent European Court Judgement [Wells, 2004], if it is not possible to nullify the consequences of a decision taken without proper procedures, residents may be able to seek compensation for any harm from the Irish authorities.
See what they have done to the site
http://www.friendsoftheirishenvironment.net/docs/moycullen_quarry.html
http://friendsoftheirishenvironment.net/papers/article.php?sid=4995
Read our Infringement Complaint
http://friendsoftheirishenvironment.net/papers/article.php?sid=4993
And the Commission's response
http://friendsoftheirishenvironment.net/papers/article.php?sid=4994
Contact: Tony Lowes 087 2176316 // Read More // | |
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| Posted By the editors on 16/08/2004 ( Reads : 1711 ) | Comments (0) | European Union |
| UUP peer in call for European time zone |
| An Ulster peer today called time on the British annual system of clocks going forward - and back. Ulster Unionist Party president Lord Rogan said the time had come for the United Kingdom to clock onto Central European time. He argued that the long-debated move could save lives, boost tourism revenue and an end the loss of trade with the start and end of the day coinciding with European business competitors.
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| Posted By Peter McCloskey on 30/07/2004 ( Reads : 1342 ) | Comments (0) | European Union |
| €2bn plan for research institute |
| THE western seaboard could become a "Coast of Knowledge" under an ambitious plan for a €2bn EU-US Research Institute from Madeleine Taylor-Quinn, writes Breda Heffernan.
The post-graduate Shannon Transatlantic University Institute will be funded jointly by the EU and the US and will attract the brightest minds from the two continents while providing a financial boom for the west, Ms Taylor-Quinn predicted yesterday. // Read More // | |
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| Posted By the editors on 18/05/2004 ( Reads : 1405 ) | Comments (0) | European Union |
| Key Irish environmental challenges confirmed |
| The Irish environmental protection agency's third state of the environment report, issued on Wednesday, confirmed climate emissions, waste management and water eutrophication as the country's main environmental problems. The same three issues were highlighted in the agency's last report two years ago Environment minister Martin Cullen mooted new actions to cut greenhouse gas emissions. // Read More // | |
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| Posted By the editors on 15/05/2004 ( Reads : 1546 ) | Comments (0) | European Union |
| U.S. Proposes Easing Rules on Emissions of Mercury |
| WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 , The Bush administration is proposing that mercury emissions
from coal-burning power plants should not be regulated in the same way as some
of the most toxic air pollutants, reversing a stance on air pollution control
taken by the Clinton administration in 2000. // Read More // | |
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| Posted By the editors on 03/12/2003 ( Reads : 1439 ) | Comments (0) | European Union |
| Green Euro MP fights for nomination |
| A COUNCILLOR is to challenge Patricia McKenna for the Green party's nomination to run in Dublin in next year's European elections.
Deirdre de Burca, a Wicklow councillor, says no elected office-holder should think a seat is automatically theirs. She is also offering party delegates a more pro-European stance than McKenna's. "It is very healthy for a party to have fresh blood," de Burca said. "It is very unhealthy when an incumbent feels a sense of entitlement to a seat."
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| Posted By the editors on 03/12/2003 ( Reads : 1397 ) | Comments (0) | European Union |
| O Cuiv says State must help shape EU agenda |
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Europe must take a "radical new approach" to rural development which acknowledges that total dependence on agriculture will no longer sustain rural populations, according to the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Mr Ó Cu??v.
The Minister, who was addressing the National Rural Development Forum in Co Tipperary yesterday, said EU competition law must also be geared to ensure that the provision of essential services is not "prohibitively expensive" in rural areas.
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| Posted By Debra James on 08/11/2003 ( Reads : 1430 ) | Comments (0) | European Union |
| Ireland has third worst record on EU directives |
| Ireland has the third worst record of the EU's 15 member-states when it comes to passing EU directives into domestic law. // Read More // | |
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| Posted By the editors on 29/07/2003 ( Reads : 1558 ) | Comments (0) | European Union |
| EU plans for dolphin-friendly Baltic |
| The waters of north-west Europe should soon be safer for dolphins, thanks to a
European Union plan. It proposes extending the driftnet ban from the Atlantic to
the Baltic. // Read More // | |
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| Posted By the editors on 25/07/2003 ( Reads : 1396 ) | Comments (0) | European Union |
| EU case against Ireland over fees for planning objections |
| The Government is to be referred to the European Court of Justice for charging fees for third-party planning objections. // Read More // | |
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| Posted By the editors on 23/07/2003 ( Reads : 1443 ) | Comments (0) | European Union |
| EU green law infringement rate drops |
| The European Commission has claimed success for its carrot-and-stick strategy to chivvy governments into better implementing EU environment rules. A fourth annual report on the enforcement of green legislation shows the number of infringement proceedings is on the wane. // Read More // | |
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| Posted By the editors on 17/07/2003 ( Reads : 1497 ) | Comments (0) | European Union |
