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 also held on the proposal for the amendment of the waste shipment regulation. Press Release
On 5 and 6 October 2013 an informal meeting was held between national environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment experts in Vilnius. The discussion focused on the consideration of amendments to the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive that is being discussed in the Council Working Group meetings. Press Release Commission Webpage
An informal meeting of the EU Sport Ministers took place on 1 October 2013. Discussions focused on strengthening sport as a sector of the economy, one of the key issues identified by the Lithuanian Presidency in the area of sport. Ministers discussed the impact of major sporting events on the welfare of EU Member States and the contribution of sports to economic growth. Press Release
The 12th European Tourism Forum „Tourism – a Force for Economic Growth, Social Change and Welfare‟, organised by the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Lithuania in cooperation with the European Commission, was held in Vilnius on 17-18 October 2013. Forum participants discussed the benefits of tourism for the EU economy and competitiveness, the diversity of tourism products, the future of tourism and tax issues in the tourism business. The Forum started with the Informal Ministerial meeting, where Vice President of the European Commission Antonio Tajani, ministers and representatives from the EU Member States in charge of tourism discussed visa policy and tourism related funding under the multiannual financial framework 2014-2020. Press Release
Last updated July 2013 During its last three months, the Irish Presidency of the EU managed to achieve a first reading agreement with the European Parliament on the 7th Environment Action Plan (EAP), the Priority Substances in Water Directive and the Programme for Environment and Climate Action (LIFE) Regulation. Irish Presidency Achievements Report
On 18 June 2013 EU Environment Ministers met for the last time under the Irish Presidency in Luxembourg. The Council adopted conclusions on the Commission communication “An EU strategy on adaptation to climate change” and took note of a progress report on a draft directive on Indirect Land-Use Change (ILUC). The Council also adopted draft conclusions on
the overarching post-2015 development agenda which was adopted by the General Affairs Council on 25 June. Finally, the presidency provided a brief update to the council on the outcome of the meeting of the European Platform for Biodiversity Research Strategy (EPBRS) which took place on 15-17 May in Dublin. The purpose of the meeting was to set out the needs for biodiversity research over the next 7 years. Press Release on the Environment Council Press Release on the EPBRS
During the EU Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council that took place on 16-17 May in Brussels EU Ministers were briefed by the Irish Presidency on the outcome of the World Anti- Doping Agency meetings in Montreal (11-12 May 2013). In this context, the Council held a policy debate on the role of public authorities in combating doping in sport, with the participation of the CEO of the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), Travis Tygart. The Council also adopted conclusions on dual careers for athletes. Press Release
On 1 July 2013 Lithuania took over the EU Presidency for the next six months.
Presenting the Presidency's environmental priorities to the European Parliament‟s Environment Committee, Valentinas Mazuronis, the Lithuanian minister for the environment, said that obtaining a first reading agreement on the regulation on ratification of the Nagoya Protocol for balanced and sustainable use of biodiversity and resource sharing would be one of the Presidency‟s key priorities. Speech and Video
During the informal Environment Council which took place in Vilnius on 16-17 July Ministers discussed the importance of mainstreaming of natural capital and biodiversity financing in different sectors and exploring the biodiversity financing opportunities at national, EU and international level in the context of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). Press Release
Mr Dailis Alfonsas Barakauskas, Minister of the Interior (sport and leisure policy), presented the Presidency priorities on sport and leisure policy to the European Parliament‟s Culture and Education Committee on 10 July 2013. He indicated that the Presidency‟s first legal document on sports would be a Recommendation of the Council on health promotion through physical activity (HEPA) and Council conclusions on the contribution of sport to the economic stability and growth would follow. In addition, the Lithuanian Presidency will focus on the fight against doping and the promotion of the integrity of sport; the pursuit of work on match-fixing in the international fora; and sustainable financing and good governance in sport. Speech and Video
Last updated in April 2013
On 1 January 2013 Ireland took over the EU Presidency until June 2013. The Irish Presidency‟s main priorities include, among others, the 7th Environment Action Programme (EAP), Priority Substances in Water and LIFE Regulation.
On 22-23 April EU Environment Ministers held an informal meeting in Dublin. Discussions focused on the Single Market for Green Products and on Air Quality and Urban Environment. The Ministers also received a presentation on the green economy from Achim Steiner, Executive Director of UNEP. The next Environment Council under the Irish Presidency is planned to take
place in Luxembourg on 18 June 2013. Agenda Press Release by the Irish Presidency
On 21 March 2013 EU Environment Ministers met for the first time under the Irish Presidency in Brussels. The Ministers held a policy debate on proposed changes to the environmental impact assessment directive and exchanged views on the review of the REACH system and the follow- up process to the Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development and the post-2015 framework. Finally, the presidency and the Commission briefed ministers on the first plenary meeting of the Intergovernmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services that took place in Bonn on 21-26 January 2013. Council Press Release