The Hungarian delegation led by Minister of State for Climate Policy Attila Imre Horváth successfully represented the interests of Visegrád Countries for the adoption of an EU mandate authorising for a more balanced global agreement in 2015, at the meeting of the Environment Council of the European Union in Luxembourg on 14 October, 2013.

The main issue on the agenda of the meeting was the adoption of the Council Conclusions establishing the position and mandate of the European Union in the issues of the Conference on the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to be held in Warsaw in November.

Hungary and Visegrád Countries are ready to accept the concept of only a 2015 convention that sets emission reduction targets obligatory for all UN Parties, Attila Imre Horváth explained at the meeting. Europe must not risk its own industry, economic growth or work places unilaterally or without a global agreement by voluntarily setting a higher target, he said. The main objective of the Warsaw meeting is thus to set up a stable framework convention by 2015, within which obligatory and quantifiable targets can be set by as far as even 2020.

Thank to the successful interest representation, the position of Visegrád Countries is entirely reflected in the adopted conclusions, so the document gives time to all UN Parties for a well-considered scheduling of the undertaken emission reduction targets. The new wording confirms Europe’s ambitious role at global climate protection negotiations, while making the mandate more authentic and reliable for the Commission and Member States. The new mandate makes it possible to prevent failure like the Copenhagen Fiasco and gives new reinforcement and authorisation to the consecutive Polish, Peruvian and French UN presidencies for working out the details of the Convention. 

At the Council meeting, delegates of Member States were informed on the state of affairs of international negotiations on involving aviation emissions in the EU emissions trade system and reducing fluorinated carbohydrate emissions at the global level. Participants also had a chance to familiarise themselves with the new bill to determine the control of maritime greenhouse gas emissions and details of the Danish proposal concerning the use of industrial gas credits.

(Ministry of National Development Communications Department)