European Commission DG Environment 23/11/2005Potential Impacts of EU Policies Potential impacts of Community environment policies on C sinks Zoltán Rakonczay DG Environment Forests

European Commission DG Environment 23/11/2005Potential Impacts of EU Policies Outline Relevant EU policies Example: forestry measures General remarks If there is time: Monitoring

European Commission DG Environment 23/11/2005Potential Impacts of EU Policies What policies? Common agricultural policy Rural development (incl. forestry) Biodiversity Water Nitrates Transport/energy Etc…

European Commission DG Environment 23/11/2005Potential Impacts of EU Policies Trasport & Energy Trans European Networks –Roads, railroads, powerlines Indirect impacts –Urbanisation –Energy policy Biomass Biofuels Biomass Action Plan

European Commission DG Environment 23/11/2005Potential Impacts of EU Policies Water and nitrates Water Framework Directive –River basin approach –Quality and quantity of surface and ground water Nitrates directive Possible impacts through –Land cover –Fertiliser application –Wetlands

European Commission DG Environment 23/11/2005Potential Impacts of EU Policies Biodiversity Birds and Habitats Directives NATURA 2000 Different approaches –Average size –Geographical distribution –Management planning Generally positive,but: –Wetlands, grasslands, etc.

European Commission DG Environment 23/11/2005Potential Impacts of EU Policies The CAP Regulation of all agricultural production –Subsidies, quotas, interventions… Exclusive Community competence Strong extra-territorial elelment –Direct and indirect Greening of the CAP (since 1999) –Forestry measures

European Commission DG Environment 23/11/2005Potential Impacts of EU Policies Forestry measures No EU forest policy Support for forestry (CAP) since Regulation 2080/92 –CAP accompanying measure –«to promote the alternative use of ag. land » –EUR million, hectares (!) –<1% of forest –Approx. half of forest area growth (~ ha/yr)

European Commission DG Environment 23/11/2005Potential Impacts of EU Policies Forestry measures : RD regulation (1257/99) Greening –1988 EU Forestry Strategy –National forest programmes –Rural development plans –«adapted to local conditions» and «compatible with the environment» (cross- compliance)

European Commission DG Environment 23/11/2005Potential Impacts of EU Policies Forestry measures 3 Court of Auditors report 9/2004 –Uneven uptake (within/between MS) –Highly different priorities/procedures –Environmental criteria?? –Insufficient control –Inefficient –Slow to change (long commitments)

European Commission DG Environment 23/11/2005Potential Impacts of EU Policies Forestry measures 4 Post-2006: further greening –Measures more dispersed (MS priorities!!) –Cross-compliance stronger –Shorter commitment Net result?? –Likely better adapted –Slower growth? –Areas planted? EU Forest Action Plan

European Commission DG Environment 23/11/2005Potential Impacts of EU Policies Conclusions Increasing role of environment Role of MS priorities remain important –Community competence (CAP) –Shared competence (environment) –MS competence (forest policy, FAP?) More coherence required (cross- compliance) Significant indirect effects (also overseas) Slow changes, hard to monitor

European Commission DG Environment 23/11/2005Potential Impacts of EU Policies Monitoring Protection of forests from atmospheric pollution and forest fires –Regulations EEC 2157/92, 2158/92 –ICP Levels I and II –Replaced by Forest Focus – expires in 2006 Future: LIFE + –THE financing instrument –Monitoring not mandatory, may compete with other priorities –Should be replaced with something

European Commission DG Environment 23/11/2005Potential Impacts of EU Policies Monitoring 2 Could we do better? EU added value: –Co-ordinated/harmonised collection of –policy-relevant data –Increased efficiency Your ideas are welcome!