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Press release Environmental organisations propose programme for ambitious and achievable EU Sustainable Development Strategy Measurable objectives are seen as crucial for all key themes - ranging from climate and energy to social exclusion and transport - as is the better implementation of existing environmental legislation across EU Member States. Other priorities in the programme include a 10% tax-base shift from labour to environmental pressures; reducing by half fuel consumption of new passenger cars over the next decade rather than allowing biofuels to count towards car fuel efficiency objectives; and ensuring greater coordination between Member States on effective and coherent aid policies. Today's proposals are a direct response to the European Commission's
review of the Sustainable Development Strategy published in December,
which the environmental organisations see as a positive step but which still
has much room for improvement. Today's programme has been published by
G10, the Green 10 coalition of environmental organisations (BirdLife
International, CEE Bankwatch Network, Climate Action Network Europe,
European Environmental Bureau, European Federation for Transport &
Environment, European Public Health Alliance-Environment Network, Friends
of the Earth Europe, Greenpeace, International Friends of Nature, & WWF The environmental NGOs applaud the Austrian Presidency for organising debates in all ministerial councils before the final Strategy is adopted at the June 2006 European Summit. The Environment Council is kicking off the debates on 9 March. John Hontelez, Secretary General of the European Environmental Bureau: To read the G10 programme for the sustainable development of the EU:
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