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Italian Presidency of the European Union (1 July – 31 December 2014)

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Italian Presidency of the European Union (1 July – 31 December 2014) Greek Presidency of the European Union (1 January – 31 June 2014) & Italian Presidency of the European Union (1 July – 31 December 2014) Last updated in July 2014 Latest Developments During the last three months of its Presidency, Greece promoted a series of regulatory actions on sports and environmental policy. At the Education, Youth, Culture and Sports Council, which took place on 20-21 May, European Sports ministers adopted a resolution on the EU Work Plan for Sport (2014-2017), which complements and reinforces the impact of activities launched under the Erasmus+ programme in this field and aims to further strengthen the cooperation in the field of sport between member states and the Commission. The Ministers also adopted conclusions on gender equality in sport, inviting member states to consider developing policies and programmes for eliminating gender stereotypes and promoting gender equality in education curricula and practices from an early age. Finally, ministers discussed the economic, social and environmental sustainability of major sport events, such as the Olympic Games and World/European Championships. Ministers addressed in particular the issue of legacy. Press conference & Press release Conclusions on gender equality in sport On 12 June, European Environment Ministers met for the last time under the Greek Presidency. Inter alia, Ministers adopted conclusions on the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), in the context of the preparation of the three CBD-related international meetings to be held in Pyeongchang (Republic of Korea) in September and October 2014. Council Conclusions; Press Release On 1 July 2014, Italy assumed the Presidency of the Council of the EU. Italy‟s priorities with regards to environment policy include, inter alia, the promotion of discussions on the circular economy and resource efficiency and the protection, conservation and valorisation of biodiversity with ecosystem services. Regarding sports policy the Presidency will focus on launching a dialogue on how to make better use of Erasmus+; fighting the manipulation of sports results and exploiting synergies between sport, research, universities and enterprise as a factor for innovation. Finally, the Presidency will emphasise the need for health protection through sports activities, with particular regard to young people of school age and efforts to counter sedentary lifestyles and child obesity. The Italian Presidency also aims to create an all-encompassing strategy on tourism to reinforce Europe‟s brand positioning. Italian Presidency Programme and Priorities On 16 and 17 July 2014, the Presidency hosted the first joint Informal Meeting of Ministers for Employment and Environment. The discussion focused on Green growth and employment and was attended by the European Commissioners for Employment (Làszlo Andor), Environment (Janez Potočnik) and Climate Action (Connie Hedegaard), the ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder and the OECD Environment Director Simon Upton. Italian Presidency Press Release Impact for golf management Biodiversity Water Tourism Background Last updated April 2014 During its first three months the Greek Presidency presented its priorities for the Environment to the Environment Committee of the European Parliament; held its first Environment Council and organised a High Level Conference on Coastal and Maritime Tourism in Athens. The first Environment Council under the Greek Presidency took place on 3 March 2014. EU Environment ministers held a public policy debate on the Commission communication for a 2030 framework for climate and energy policy. In addition, ministers underlined the need to prepare for the international negotiations on a new, global agreement on climate change. Press Release On 23 January 2014, the Greek Minister of the Environment, Mr. Yannis Maniatis, presented the priorities of the Greek Presidency for the Environment to the Environment Committee of the European Parliament. Mr. Maniatis noted that the Presidency will focus its legislative efforts, inter alia, on waste transport, air quality and the ratification of the Doha amendment. Press Release On 10 March 2014, the Greek Presidency held a High Level Conference on Coastal and Maritime Tourism in Athens. In her opening remarks, the Greek Tourism Minister, Ms. Olga Kefalogianni, noted the importance of tourism to the European Union and predicted that tourism will be one of the drivers for growth. She reminded her audience that tourism accounts for 10% of the European GDP and employs 20 million people. During the meeting the discussions focused on the growing dynamics of the tourism sector, its contribution to regional and local development, and its economic and social benefits. The Ministers also agreed on a set of actions to be included in the Communication for a “European Strategy for more growth and jobs in Coastal and Maritime Tourism”. Press Release On 21 March 2014, the Greek Presidency hosted an informal meeting of the EU Sport Directors in Athens. The meeting focused on: The combat against doping in recreational sport; Health improvement through physical activity. Following the establishment of the Health-enhancing physical activity initiative, as noted in the Q4 2013 report, the meeting focused on the actions to implement the initiative. The recommendations are not binding but rather a roadmap for Member States to address public health issues. Press Release Last updated January 2014 During the last three months of its Presidency, Lithuania prepared Council Conclusions on the EU position for the UN Climate Change Conference held on November 11-22 in Warsaw and achieved an agreement on the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive which seeks to simplify and improve the procedures to assess the environmental impact of large projects. In addition, the Lithuanian Presidency was praised by environmental NGOs for securing an agreement on the EU‟s framework for implementing the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Lithuanian Presidency Achievements Report EEB assessment of the Environmental Results of the Lithuanian Presidency The last Environment Council meeting under the Lithuanian Presidency took place on 13 December 2013. EU environment ministers discussed, inter alia, the draft regulation on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species and adopted a decision to accept an amendment to the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Water Convention, which will allow any state outside Europe that is a UN Member to accede to the Convention. The Water Convention is intended to establish a framework for bilateral and multilateral cooperation to prevent and control the pollution of transboundary watercourses and ensure the rational use of water resources. Lithuanian Presidency press release and Council Press Release At the EU Education, Youth, Culture and Sports (EYCS) Council meeting held on 25-26 November 2013, EU Ministers adopted recommendations on promoting health-enhancing physical activity across sectors and conclusions on the contribution of sport to the EU economy and in particular to addressing youth unemployment and social inclusion. The Council also discussed good governance in sport. Lithuanian Presidency press release and Council Press Release On 1 January 2014, Greece assumed the Presidency of the Council of the EU. The Greek Minister for Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Ioannis Maniatis, announced that the main Presidency objectives will include the draft regulation on shipment of waste, the draft regulation on invasive alien species, as well as the package of proposals on air quality that was adopted by the European Commission in December 2012. At the international level, the Presidency will focus on the ratification of the second period of the Kyoto Protocol and the formulation of the EU and Member States‟ positions in view of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) that will take place in October 2014 in Korea and the 3rd meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-Ended Intergovernmental Committee for the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources, that will take place in February 2014. An informal meeting of Environment Ministers will take place on 14-15 May 2014, and the Environment Council on 3 March 2014 in Brussels and on 12 June 2014 in Luxembourg. Regarding sport, the Presidency will focus on the following three themes: Sport and society (including gender equality and Health-enhancing physical activity - HEPA); the economic dimension of sport (including collection of data on sport‟s role for employability and health care savings, financing sport structures and legacy of major sport events); Environmental Sustainability and integrity of sport (including anti-doping, match-fixing and protection of minors). Programme of the Greek Presidency of the Council of the EU Last updated October 2013 On 1 July 2013 Lithuania took over the EU Presidency until December2013. The Lithuanian Presidency‟s main priorities include, among others, the 7th Environment Action Programme, Environmental Impact Assessment, Indirect Land Use Change, forestry and biocides. The first Environment Council under the Lithuanian Presidency took place in Luxembourg on 14 October. Ministers adopted a common EU position ahead of the 19th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which will take place in Warsaw from 11 to 22 November 2013. An exchange of views was
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