Speaking at the close of the Informal Council of Environment Ministers EU, the Spanish State Secretary for Climate Change Teresa Ribera said that the EU Environment ministers had expressed a shared “will” to consolidate a “rapid and efficient” process against climate change.

The State Secretary insisted on the “comparability of efforts” in the reduction of contaminating emissions, pointing out that the figures of 20 and 30 per cent reduction discussed on different occasions are included among the EU’s arguments in this field. The Union seeks an “integrative effort” according to the State Secretary, an idea that will be debated next Monday in Brussels by the COREPER (Permanent Representatives Committee) of the EU. 

This body will decide whether the EU will cut its own emissions by 30 per cent or whether the known figure of 20 per cent will be finally adhered to.  

Teresa Ribera stated that Europe intends to achieve a 30 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions by 2020 as compared to the levels of 1990, although she made this target conditional on the actions of other countries. 

In a joint press conference offered at the end of the meeting with the European Commissioner Stavros Dimas and the Chair of the Energy Committee of the European Parliament Jo Leinen, Teresa Ribera said the event had been “productive” and that the EU ministers had a “common view” on how best to consolidate cooperation in environmental matters.

The State Secretary highlighted the EU delegates’ interest in strengthening the work being carried out in conjunction with the industrial sector and NGOs, geared to reducing polluting emissions. She stated that “an action strategy must be put in place to implement the conclusions of the Copenhagen Agreement”.  
Teresa Ribera insisted on the improvement accomplished in environmental “governance” which enables rational, efficient use of resources, and said that “we must now work to make the Copenhagen Agreement a reality” with a view to the next summit in Mexico.

Jo Leinen on his part said that the Seville discussions had been “very fruitful indeed”, and stressed that the Treaty of Lisbon “makes us find a way to speak with one voice in the EU”.

“The EU must regain the trust of the citizens, recover its position of leadership and earn credibility,” added the Chair of the Energy Committee of the European Parliament. He also stated that Europe is beginning to believe in the possibility of achieving a reduction of up to 30 per cent in its emissions, and that he hoped a global agreement would be forthcoming in this respect.

Stavros Dimas, who appeared before the press in his last council as EU Environment Commissioner, insisted on his support for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and said that efforts will continue to be expended to ensure that the organisation is independent and allows negotiations to be conducted on an equal footing. 

• Video: Informal Council of EU Environment Ministers in Seville