European Consultant

Anita Pollack European Consultant 139 Windsor Road, LONDON E7 0RA tel: +44 (0) 20 8471 1637 mobile: +44 (0) 7979650471 E-mail: [email protected]

EU REPORT for EAC MAY 2011

Hungarian Presidency: www.eu2011.hu Capitals of Culture: Turku and Talinn EU Year of Volunteering www.europa.eu/volunteering

Please note this Briefing is bi-monthly. Expect the next issue July.

FUNDING

LIFE+ CALL As already noted in the March EU Report, the annual LIFE+ fund call is open until 18 July. This includes natural heritage. See more details in the above Report, and the application package is available at http://ec.europa.eu.environment/life/funding/lifeplus.htm

RESEARCH CALLS The next round of calls under the EU research fund is due in the summer.

CULTURE PROGRAMME The next Culture Programme deadline is 30 October for: cooperation projects (Strands 1.1) (large projects) and Strand 1.2.1 (smaller projects). www.culturefund.eu

INTERREG

ESPON SEMINAR Topic is “Evidence and Knowledge Needs for the Territorial Agenda 2020 and EU Cohesion Policy”, to be held in Godollo, Hungary on 21/22 June as part of the Hungarian Presidency activities. For all information and online registration see http://www.espon.eu/main/Menu_Events/Menu_OpenSeminars/openseminar1106 21accreditation.html Further information http://www.espon.eu/main/Menu_Events/Menu_OpenSeminars/openseminar1106 21.html

1 All regions Conference for all involved in transnational cooperation in Katowice, Poland,15/16 September. For all details go to: http://eu.baltic.net/Thirteen_Programmes_one_goal.14994.html?

North West Europe Eighth call closed. There will be a project development workshop in Paris on 24 June for those with project ideas. [email protected] by 9th June. For all details go to http://www.nweurope.eu/index.php?act=read_event&id=1828

Central Europe region The Fourth and LAST call for this region will open between 6-10 June and close between 10-14 October. In this Call, which will allocate 20.7 million Euro, Section 4.3 will be on “Capitalising on Cultural Resources”. Potential applicants are directed to their national contact points, or the Technical Secretariat in Vienna. http://www.central2013.eu/contact/

There are a couple of tentative heritage projects being aired on this website. Check them out. One is concerned with bell towers from the middle ages. See http://www.central2013.eu/ and scroll down to Latest Ideas. Lead applicant briefings relevant to the Fourth Call for proposals will be held on 27- 28 June in Warsaw and 6-7 July in Milan. For details go to: http://www.central2013.eu/news-events-publications/events/event- detail/article/53/lead-applicant-briefings-4th-call-for-proposals/

Baltic Sea Region Fourth call closed. No other relevant news at present. www.eu.baltic.net.

North Sea Region 6th call closed. Their Joint Annual Conference will be held on 21-23 June in Bruges, as announced previously. Its title is “Future Perspectives for North Sea Region”. www.northsearegion.eu.

Interreg 4C Fourth call closed, with over 350 applications. The website has a project ideas database. See: http://i4c.eu

Atlantic Area Third call closed. Their newsletter is up and running and in the current issue they list, with details, all the current projects. Two concern heritage: Dorna, www.proyectodorna.eu mentions wooden shipbuilding, and Ultreia, www.tur- ultreia.es is about tourism and maritime and inland pilgrimages. http://atlanticarea.inescporto.pt/support/institutional-communication/newsletter- 6/newsletter-6-en

South East Europe Third call is now open. Deadline 17 June. For all relevant details check out this site: http://www.southeast-europe.net/en/downloads_section/calls/third_call/

2 POLICY

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT There is no need to get excited about the new draft codified directive on this subject. It is simply a tidying up of the original directive and the various amendments that have been made to it over the years. Nothing will change. No responses needed.

HERITAGE RESEARCH Net-heritage is now functioning. There was a conference on increasing Europe’s competitiveness through cultural heritage research, held at the Committee of the Regions, Brussels in March. A further workshop on heritage science in a changing world was held in Warsaw on 6th April. Unfortunately, the website, www.netheritage.eu does not appear to give information about events in advance. It appears to be necessary to become a registered user of the site in order to log in for further information, so it is recommended that EAC members do that. It does not seem to be possible to offer deeper information via this Report. The Observatory website offers a bit more information, including on the current site, some information on archaeology. Do click on http://www.heritageportal.eu/ to see this.

WATER MANAGEMENT The European Commission on 22 March published a report on Member States' progress in addressing water scarcity and droughts. The balance between water demand and availability has reached a critical level in many areas of Europe, a trend that is expected to become more marked as climate change progresses. In the run up to a major water policy review in 2012, the report presents the water management measures introduced by Member States to tackle water scarcity and droughts and highlights the areas for further action. The report says that very few countries have introduced legislation to improve water efficiency in buildings and highlights other failures. The Commission is carrying out several preparatory activities in view of the 2012 review. Over the next months, the focus will be on filling in the knowledge and data gaps and carrying out an impact assessment. The work will be supported by the outcomes of the assessment of the River Basin Management Plans and the forthcoming Communication on a road map towards a resource efficient economy. The report is available at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/quantity/scarcity_en.htm At the Environment Ministers’ Council on 25 March there was a call for increased coordination of European policies in order to improve water management. The Commission is preparing a Blueprint to safeguard Europe’s water resources. At this meeting, too, Austria, Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia and Serbia signed a Memorandum of understanding on the establishment of a cross-border “biosphere reserve” on the banks of the Mura, Drava and Danube rivers.

BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY The Commission on 3 May presented a new strategy to protect and improve the state of Europe's biodiversity over the next decade. The strategy includes six targets which address the main drivers of biodiversity loss, and which will reduce the main pressures on nature and ecosystem services in the EU by anchoring biodiversity objectives in key sectoral policies. The strategy features six priority targets and accompanying actions to greatly reduce the threats to biodiversity. The actions include:

3 - Full implementation of existing nature protection legislation and network of natural reserves, to ensure major improvements to the conservation status of habitats and species - Improving and restoring ecosystems and ecosystem services wherever possible, notably by the increased use of green infrastructure - Ensuring the sustainability of agriculture and forestry activities - Safeguarding and protecting EU fish stocks - Controlling invasive species, a growing cause of biodiversity loss in the EU - Stepping up the EU's contribution to concerted global action to avert biodiversity loss. For full details of the content of the Communication, see: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/biodiversity/policy/index_en.htm

BIOFUELS Once again the EU has been urged to change its policy on biofuel. A research fellow, David Laborde, at the International Food Policy Research Institute, produced a study for the European Commission on biofuels policy and land-use patterns. His findings are that the policy may cause more emissions than previously realised. The question now is whether the Commission’s impact assessment board will recommend any action and if so, what.

EUROPEAN HERITAGE LABEL EU Culture Ministers have reached political agreement on a European Heritage Label to highlight sites that celebrate the history and development of the EU. This is intended to complement UNESCO labels. The first sites to receive the new label will be announced in 2013, with member states being able to nominate four sites each. The UK has announced it does not intend to participate in the scheme, which is an inter-governmental one. For more details see http://ec.europa.eu/culture/index_en.htm

FORESTS CONFERENCE The EU in the form of the European Commission intends to participate in the 6th ministerial conference on protection of forests in Europe, which takes place in Oslo on 14-16 June this year. Forty countries are expected to attend.

CAP REFORM The European Parliament’s report contributing to this on-going debate will probably be voted during the June plenary session. The document being prepared by the Environment Committee stresses environmental challenges, but as ever is subject to many amendments from vested interests. The Commission is keen to steer the policy towards biodiversity protection, see its document COM (2011) 244 final of 3 May. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do? uri=COM:2011:0244:FIN:EN:PDF

4 LIFE+ PROGRAMME GLOBE and the European Commission are hosting a conference in Brussels on 25-26 May to assess the fund’s contribution to protecting the environment since its creation in 1992. The second day of the conference will examine the impact of LIFE+ projects in terms of promoting the dissemination and replication of solutions and end with a high-level discussion involving key decision makers.

RESEARCH CONSULTATION CLOSED The European Commission says nearly all respondents stress the importance of simplifying procedures for applying for funding and accounting for its use. Questionnaire responses and over 50 position papers can be read online at http://ec.europa.eu/research/csfri/index_en.cfm The Commission will present its analysis on June 10 at a conference in Brussels with over 700 scientists and other stakeholders. A legislative proposal for the research fund post 2013 is expected to be presented towards the end of the year.

SOIL SEALING Every year in Europe, soils covering an area larger than the city of Berlin are lost to urban sprawl and transport infrastructure. This unsustainable trend threatens the availability of fertile soils and groundwater reservoirs for future generations. A new report made public this week by the European Commission recommends a three-tiered approach focused on limiting the progression of soil sealing, mitigating its effects and compensating valuable soil losses by action in other areas: - Limiting the progression of soil sealing with improved spatial planning or by reassessing "negative" subsidies that indirectly encourage soil sealing. - Mitigation actions to reduce damage when soil sealing cannot be avoided. These include using permeable surfaces instead of conventional asphalt or cement and building green roofs. - Compensation measures to partially offset soil losses in one area by measures taken somewhere else. These may take the form of payments, as in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, or the restoration of already sealed soil. Good practices have been identified notably in Dresden and Vienna. The results of this report will feed into a Commission technical document on soil sealing, which is being drawn up with the help of national experts. The document will provide national, regional and local authorities with guidance on best practices for limiting soil sealing and mitigating its effects, and should be finalised in early 2012. Report "Overview of best practices for limiting soil sealing or mitigating its effects in EU-27": http://ec.europa.eu/environment/soil/sealing.htm The Report will be presented on 25 May at the Green Week Conference in Brussels: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/greenweek/index.html

VAT A reminder that the consultation on the future of VAT closes on 31 May. The link to the website is http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/common/consultations/tax/2010_11_future_vat_e n.htm

5 PRESPA PARK IN GREECE The Environment Committee of the European Parliament is developing a draft report on an agreement on the protection and sustainable development of the Prespa Park area (rapporteur Kriton Arsenis, S&D, Greece). On 27 June 2006, the Council adopted a decision authorising the Commission, on behalf of the European Union, to negotiate the conclusion of international river basin agreements to improve cooperation in European river basins shared between certain Member States and third countries. The Agreement on the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Prespa Park Area has been negotiated by the European Commission, Greece, Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). The Prespa Lakes and their surroundings are said to be a unique natural area with high ecological significance, which can only be preserved through a holistic approach at basin level. Before adopting the Decision to conclude the Agreement, the Council must obtain the consent of the European Parliament, which is expected during the plenary session this month.

EU CULTURAL HERITAGE AWARDS/EUROPA NOSTRA AWARDS These were announced in April. There are four categories. In the Conservation category, prizes were awarded to three projects in Belgium, one each in France, Germany, UK and Netherlands, and two in Spain. Other categories are Research (prizes in Czech Republic, Cyprus and Spain), dedicated service, and education, training and awareness raising. Details of all the prizes and projects can be found on the Europa Nostra website, www.europanostra.org Deadline to apply for the 2012 awards is 1 October.

DANUBE STRATEGY APPROVED On 13 April the Danube Strategy was endorsed by Ministers. It envisages measures to improve transport and energy connections, protect the environment and help local communities in the countries through which the river passes. Reference has been made to the strategy in previous EU Reports.

VARIOUS EU COURT REFERRALS Another batch of these has been released by the European Commission. See below.

RIVER BASIN PLANS The European Commission is taking Belgium, Denmark, Greece and Portugal to court over their failure to comply with EU water legislation and submit plans for managing their river basins. These plans are essential for achieving the EU's objective of 'good status' for European waters by 2015 and they should have been adopted by 22 December 2009 at the latest. In Belgium, the Brussels-Capital Region and Walloon Region only started public consultations in 2011 and expect to publish their plans in 2011 and 2012, respectively. Denmark aims to publish its plans in September 2011, following the end of public consultations in April 2011.

6 Greece has not yet started public consultations and will only publish its plans by March 2012. Portugal is expected to start public consultations in 2011 but it is not yet clear when the plans might be adopted. For further information on the consultation and adoption status of river basin management plans, visit: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/participation/map_mc/map.htm

MARINE PROTECTION The Commission is asking France and Ireland to comply with EU legislation requiring Member States to draw up marine strategies to protect their seas. Neither Member State has informed the Commission about the transposition of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, which should have been in place by 15 July 2010.

UK EXCESSIVE COURT COSTS The European Commission is taking the UK to the EU Court of Justice over the high cost of challenges of decisions on the environment. Under EU law, the possibility of challenging decisions affecting the environment should be fair, equitable, timely and not prohibitively expensive. The Commission is concerned that the potentially high cost of losing legal actions is preventing NGOs and individuals in the UK from bringing cases in the first place. In the United Kingdom, "protective costs orders" can be granted to limit the amount a public authority can recover from a challenger at the end of the case. But the Commission is concerned about the lack of clear rules for granting such orders, and at their discretionary and unpredictable nature, which is not in line with the requirements of the Directive. Although such orders are now granted more frequently than in the past, it is still the norm in UK litigation for the losing party to pay the winning party's costs. The Commission is also concerned that under UK law applicants for interim measures and injunctions suspending work on projects have to provide a "cross undertaking in damages", promising to pay damages if the injunction turns out to be unfounded. This puts applications for such orders beyond the reach of most applicants, although such orders can be essential to protect sites from environmental damage whilst litigation is ongoing. Several pieces of environmental legislation, including the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive and the integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC) Directive, aim to boost public awareness of environmental matters in Member States and ensure increased transparency. The measures – which are also necessary under the Aarhus Convention on Access to Justice, which has also been signed by the UK – have been transposed to UK legislation, but the current financial obstacles have led the Commission to conclude that the laws covering this area of the Directive have not been fully transposed and are not being properly applied in practice.

7 ITALY URBAN WASTE WATER The European Commission is asking Italy to ensure proper treatment of waste water from agglomerations with more than 10,000 inhabitants discharged into sensitive areas. The lack of sufficient collection and treatment systems, which should have been in place since 1998, poses risks to human health and to inland waters and the marine environment. More details on the Urban Waste-water Treatment Directive: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-urbanwaste/index_en.html

HUNGARY NATURE PROTECTION The European Commission has asked Hungary to address the inadequate protection of nature in an area that is home to globally threatened bird species. The Commission has concerns about an aerial power line erected in autumn 2007, which is liable to have a significant negative impact on protected species. No impact assessment was undertaken for the project, contravening EU legislation.

AIR QUALITY The European Commission is taking Belgium to court for failing to comply with EU air quality limit values for airborne particles known as PM10. Belgium has so far failed to effectively tackle excess emissions of these particles in 8 zones across the country. France, too, is being taken to court for similar failures. In Romania, 17 areas have been found to exceed PM10 limits. Romania applied for an exemption in 2010 for 11 of these 17 areas. Lists of zones in exceedance by Member State: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/quality/legislation/exceedances.htm

LATVIA MINING WASTE The European Commission is asking Latvia to adopt measures to ensure that extractive waste is treated in specific facilities in line with EU requirements. Despite earlier warnings, Latvia is still not complying with EU legislation on mining waste. The Commission is therefore taking the infringement procedure further by sending a reasoned opinion. Latvia has two months to take appropriate action. Failure to do so could result in the Commission referring the case to the European Court of Justice. For more information on the EU mining waste Directive see: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/mining/index.htm

END AP 24/5/11