Memorandum to Czech Presidency and Ten Test - EEB

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EEB Memorandum to the Czech EU PresidencyAgainst this background, the only viable solution is an EU regulation recognisingthe democratic right of local and regional authorities to decide whether GM cropscan be cultivated in their own area. Such an approach is supported by theEuropean Parliament resolution adopted in December 2003 where it:- “calls for uniform and binding rules to be established without delay atCommunity level on the co-existence of genetically modified crops on theone hand and non-genetically modified conventional crops on the otherhand; and- takes the view that Community co-existence must allow Member Statesthe right to prohibit completely the cultivation of GMOs in geographicallyrestricted areas so as to safeguard coexistence”.EEB therefore calls upon the Presidency to work for uniform and bindingCommunity rules allowing Member States the right to set up GM-free zonesat local and regional level.15
EEB Memorandum to the Czech EU Presidency4. ENERGY AND TRANSPORT COUNCIL4.1. Energy Efficient BuildingsIn November 2008 the Commission published a draft revised EnergyPerformance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). EEB welcomes the proposal as apotential tool to contribute towards the fight against climate change and toimprove energy efficiency and energy savings in the building sector. We applaudthe Commission for increasing the Directive’s scope, to include all housing stockin the EU and not just those within a certain threshold. EEB would like to seestronger ambitions, especially for new houses, such as an obligation for zeroenergybuildings by 2020.Therefore EEB calls on the Presidency to:- Boost investments in energy efficiency of buildings by prioritisingadoption of the new Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.Increase its ambitions by requiring that, at the latest by 2020, all newbuildings are zero- or positive energy and for existing buildings allrenovations will trigger energy efficiency requirements.- Require that from 2017, the minimum energy performancerequirements of all existing buildings are in line with the results of theCommission’s calculation methodology outlined in the new Directive- Ensure that enough public funding is committed to making investing inenergy efficiency more affordable particularly for low-income-groups.Mobilise a large share of EU Structural Funds, EIB and other fundsand fiscal incentives for energy efficiency improvements in buildings,including social housing.4.2. EurovignetteIn July 2008, the Commission published a proposal to review the Directive onroad charging, commonly known as the “Eurovignette” Directive, to allow for theinternalisation of the external costs (congestion, accidents, environmental costs)caused by lorries.This review is necessary and long overdue. The current Eurovignette Directive(2006/38/EC) allows the internalization of the costs of damage to roadinfrastructure but prohibits implementation of the ‘polluter pays principle’ in roadtransport. This needs to be urgently fixed, for economic, environmental andpolitical reasons. We need broader and smarter road charging in Europe. Thereis scientific and economic consensus on this issue, and the overview of allresearch on internalization of the external costs of transport is comprehensive16
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Memorandum to Czech Presidency and Ten Test - EEB

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