Brussels Information

The work of EUROPARC members across Europe makes a valuable contribution in several European Union policy areas, notably nature and biodiversity through the management of much of the Natura 2000 network as well as through sustainable rural development. There are also many linkages to other areas including agriculture, regional development and education.

These pages are aimed at informing EUROPARC members of current issues in relevant areas of EU policy as part of a wider goal of connecting practitioners and policy-makers. 

Brussels News brings you update with the latest development in the EU, relevant for protected areas.

Political Development  –  Agriculture and Rural Development  –  Education  –  Environment –         Regional Policy  –  Research  –  Tourism  –  European Events

Environment

Biodiversity & the EU Budget

The report published by WWF on 9th November, shows once again, how fundamental it is to increase EU funding to protect biodiversity and related ecosystem services in the EU. At this moment, neither sufficient budget nor efficient financing mechanisms are in place to ensure that existing opportunities deliver the necessary level of protection. WWF therefore recommends covering the core costs of biodiversity through a specific biodiversity fund and to provide complementary funding sources via other EU funds which need to become obligatory. Overall it has to be ensured, that spending within all EU funds does not harm biodiversity. Given that next year will be a major milestone for biodiversity policy both in the EU and globally, Europe will have to show that it is ready for a new policy approach that combines environmental and economic benefits.

Considering the process EUROPARC has started to define its policy and lobbying strategy, we very much recommend reading the report.

The full report is accessible here

“TEEB for Policy Makers” report just published and presented to EU institutions in Brussels

The study project TEEB - The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity -is a major international initiative to draw attention to the global economic benefits of biodiversity. The aim of the report is to highlight the relevance of biodiversity and ecosystems to mainstream policy making and show that the failure of markets to adequately consider the value of ecosystems is relevant not just for the environment but also for broader economic and social considerations.

The report makes it clear that there is no single solution, however, in all cases, the policy response should not be limited to environmental policy-making processes, but often the appropriate policy response will involve a flexible and ‘smart’ policy mix.

Specific solutions include:

* Payments for ecosystem services (PES) in order to stimulate ecosystem provision.

* Reforming subsidies that are harmful to biodiversity and ecosystem services to correct negative economic signals.

* Addressing losses through regulation and pricing.

* Adding value through protected areas.

* Investing in ecological infrastructure.

Here you can find an interesting introduction to the report 

Here you can access to the full TEEB report 

Latest interesting DG ENV publications:

Brochure: Best LIFE Environment Projects 2008-2009, available in English in print and online.

A series of brochures on Natura 2000 in the nine biogeographical regions (Alpine, Atlantic, Black Sea, Boreal, Continental, Macaronesian, Mediterranean, Pannonian and Steppic) are available in print and online.    

DG ENV publications are available from the EU Bookshop, at www.bookshop.europa.eu where you can order free single copies of publications. 

Committee of the Regions (CoR)

Toward an EU Danube strategy

In the past few years the CoR has repeatedly highlighted the particular importance of the Danube area in Europe and has called for the development of an EU Danube strategy. At the plenary session of the CoR on the 7th of October report was adopted proposing concrete fields of action for this strategy, underlining the central role of the regions and cities in its planning and implementation. Read more.

Research 

DG Research issues call for proposals for 2010

As part of the 7th Framework Programme for Research the European Commission published on 30 July several calls for proposals in various thematic areas of the 7th Framework Programme. These include the "Food, Agriculture and Fisheries,and Biotechnologies" and the "Environment and Climate Change". More details on the published calls are available here.

Read more

The ocean of tomorrow – a new call from DG Research

A new call for projects, was be published the 30th of July, as the first Commission initiative to implement the European Strategy for Marine and Maritime research: €34 million dedicated to multidisciplinary research projects, to reconcile maritime activities with the preservation of seas and oceans. The objective of this call for proposals is to help us understand how arctic and marine ecosystems respond to a combination of natural and human-induced factors.  Read more...

New open calls from DG Research

For more information on what EUROPARC are up to in Brussels please contact Richard Blackman at r.blackman@europarc.org .