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Barroso's promises to be put to the test as new EU funding guidelines take shape
Brussels, May 17th. An open letter from environmental NGOs last week reminded European Commission President Barroso of his recent promises on sustainable development. The letter was sent as the Commission prepares new EU funding guidelines that appear to contradict EU policy and commitments made by President Barroso.
NGOs have seen the draft new Strategic Guidelines for Cohesion Policy, sent to Member States on Wednesday 12th May. The Guidelines will set the funding priorities for the Structural and Cohesion Funds in the 2007-2013 period. Environmental groups are alarmed that the draft bypasses sustainable development and conveniently ignores the EU's previous environmental commitments.
The future looked brighter last year, when the Commission placed the Lisbon and Gothenburg agendas side by side, in a raft of draft regulatory proposals for Cohesion Policy 2007-2013.
However, in a staggering display of selective memory the draft strategic guidelines, published this week, have dropped all reference to Gothenburg. They also exclude support for the Natura 2000 network from among the funding priorities. Hard won environmental reforms of Cohesion Policy could be set back years as the Commission narrows its view on growth and jobs.
NGOs fear that sustainability is taking a back seat, signalling a dangerous shift in EU policy.
The letter was also sent to Commissioners Huebner and Dimas and to all 25 EU member states. National ministers will discuss the draft at the Informal Council on Regional Policy in Luxembourg on 20-21 May.
For further information:
Rachel Lee, BirdLife International/RSPB, tel: +44 1767 680551
Magda Stoczkiewicz, CEE Bankwatch/Friends of the Earth Europe, tel: +32 2 542 01 88
Stefanie Lang, WWF EPO, tel: +32 2 7438800
OPEN LETTER:
Brussels, 12 May 2005
Dear President Barroso
Re: Putting Sustainable development at the heart of the Community Strategic Guidelines for Cohesion Policy
I am writing on behalf of the EU Coalition for the sustainable use of EU funds regarding the forthcoming proposals for Community Strategic Guidelines for Cohesion Policy. Looking at the final draft version of the Guidelines circulated to the Member States, we are deeply concerned about the Guidelines' curious and alarming neglect of sustainable development. This would be in contradiction of your own statements delivered at the Sustainable Development Strategy meeting hosted by the European Economic and Social Committee on 15 April and in your statements to the Green 9 representatives in our meeting in your offices on 15 March.
At the Gothenburg Council 2001, European Heads of State and Government adopted the EU Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS) as the environmental dimension of the Lisbon Strategy. This strong link between economic and social priorities and the EU SDS gave renewed impetus for protecting the environment and achieving a more sustainable pattern of development. The draft regulations for Cohesion Policy published last year recognised this by placing Lisbon and the Gothenburg priorities on an equal footing.
The draft Strategic Guidelines currently circulating for inter-service consultation focus almost exclusively on the renewed Lisbon strategy. There are indeed some positive elements of sustainability in the current drafts, for instance a stronger focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy, and a cross-cutting requirement for the Funds to protect and improve the environment.
Nevertheless, the current draft Guidelines neglect completely key environmental priorities that should be fundamental components of a sustainable cohesion policy. For instance, they exclude:
- preserving biodiversity and supporting the Natura 2000 network
- implementing the EU's Water Framework Directive
- contributing to the objectives of the EU's Sixth Environmental Action Programme
- applying Strategic Environmental Assessment to all operational programmes.
The Commission is on record as making a commitment to include Natura 2000 as a priority in the Guidelines - recently reiterated by Commissioner Dimas to the European Parliament on 22 February 2005. Yet it is entirely missing in the draft text.
Cohesion Policy is the European Community's single most important instrument for promoting the Lisbon and Gothenburg agendas. Leaving sustainable development out of the guidelines, or making only weak commitments to the Gothenburg pledges, would be a major step backwards in EU policy. It would also run counter to your own personal promises delivered to the EESC last month where you stated:
"I will work hard to move the [Sustainable Development] Strategy from words to deeds... I will... make sure that the complementary nature of our work on sustainable development and on the Lisbon strategy is brought to the fore. the Lisbon and Sustainable Development Strategies (should) mutually reinforce each other." (2)
I would also remind you that during the meeting with the Green-9 on 15 March you expressed your enthusiasm for our idea of making Europe the 'most energy and resource efficient economy in the world.' You agreed with us that such an ambition will push innovation, increase competitiveness, create jobs and improve the environment. We would therefore ask you to ensure that the strategic guidelines for the Structural and Cohesion Funds capture this level of ambition and really contribute to this aim.
A recent Eurobarometer poll has revealed that 85 % of citizens from across all member states want policy-makers to give environmental policy equal importance as economic and social policies. We urge you to take a close involvement in the further negotiations on the Strategic Guidelines for Cohesion Policy to ensure that they meet these popular aspirations among the European public and deliver on your own personal commitments.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. In light of the public interest in this matter, we intend to make copies of this letter available to the press.
Yours sincerely,
Tony Long, Director, WWF EPO
On behalf of: Rachel Lee, BirdLife International
Magda Stoczkiewicz, CEE Bankwatch Network
Martin Rocholl, Friends of the Earth Europe
Notes:
(1) 'Non Paper of Directorates General Regional Policy and Employment', 10 May 2005.
(2) President José Manuel Barroso, "Sustainable development: a strategy to do more and better", concluding speech to the Stakeholder Forum on Sustainable Development, Brussels, 15 April 2005.
