1. Climate Change Policy in the European Union Nicholas von Mertens February 21, 2005 ES 338

2. EU Members Legend: Yellow = Pre-May 1, 2004 EU Members; Blue = May 1, 2004 Acceding Members; Lavender = Post-May 1, 2004 Candidate Countries. Source: Source:http://www.eurunion.org/legislat/agd2000/agd2000.htm Austria Belgium Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Hungary Germany Greece Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Poland Portugal Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden United Kingdom

5. Overview of EU Policy Climate change has always been a priority. Climate change has always been a priority. Often ambitious goals for greenhouse gas reduction. Often ambitious goals for greenhouse gas reduction. Settle for a watered down version of policy. Settle for a watered down version of policy. Defining issue for EU foreign policy. Defining issue for EU foreign policy.

6. How Does the EU CCP Work? Legislation is adopted jointly by the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament. Legislation is adopted jointly by the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament. The European Commission The European Commission EU has a fixed income of 1.27% of member states national income. EU has a fixed income of 1.27% of member states national income. Can not levy taxes unless all member states agree. Can not levy taxes unless all member states agree.

7. Why The EU Is A Leader In CCP EU treaties have supremacy over the national laws of member states. EU treaties have supremacy over the national laws of member states. EU acts as a group and can therefore adopt policies such as the emissions sharing “bubble.” EU acts as a group and can therefore adopt policies such as the emissions sharing “bubble.” The EU is able to bring together 25 countries in negotiating treaties. The EU is able to bring together 25 countries in negotiating treaties. The EU will pursue CCP to define their foreign policy. The EU will pursue CCP to define their foreign policy.

8. Problems With EU Leadership Must accept the lowest common denominator when reaching a consensus. Must accept the lowest common denominator when reaching a consensus. With 10 new member states will the EU be able to keep its flexibility? With 10 new member states will the EU be able to keep its flexibility? Institutional Momentum. Institutional Momentum. Rotating EU Commission chair and inability to act quickly. Rotating EU Commission chair and inability to act quickly.

9. Predictions CCP will continue to be an issue in which the EU takes the lead in negotiations especially in talks with developing nations. CCP will continue to be an issue in which the EU takes the lead in negotiations especially in talks with developing nations. “Lucky Circumstances” will enable the EU to meet their Kyoto requirements but in the longer term the future remains murky. “Lucky Circumstances” will enable the EU to meet their Kyoto requirements but in the longer term the future remains murky. What if the US were to enter the Kyoto Protocol? What if the US were to enter the Kyoto Protocol? What if the US remains opposed to Kyoto? What if the US remains opposed to Kyoto?

10. Sources Vig, Norman and Michael G. Faure. Green Giants. The MIT Press. Cambridge, Massachusetts. 2004. Gupta, Joyeeta and Michael Grubb. Climate Change and European Leadership, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht,2000. Another Article by Michael Grubb: http://www.greenyearbook.org/articles/95_03_ grubb.pdf Another Article by Michael Grubb: http://www.greenyearbook.org/articles/95_03_ grubb.pdf EU on line: http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/climat/home_en.htmhttp://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/climat/home_en.htm EU website in US (very optimistic) http://www.eurunion.org/legislat/climatechange.htm http://www.eurunion.org/legislat/climatechange.htm European Climate Change Programme (ECCP) very informative, lots of data, http://www.climnet.org/EUenergy/ECCP.html http://www.climnet.org/EUenergy/ECCP.html