A unilateral political agreement was made in Brussels concerning the modification of directives on electric and electronic waste. It all took place during the meeting of Ministers of Environmental Protection while Mr. Sándor Fazekas was presiding. Public Announcement.

After two and a half years of negotiation the ministers managed to reach an agreement and suggested to recycle 45% of the accumulated electric and electronical waste. Moreover they recommended that four years after its implementation this ratio should increase to 65%.

The EU restored and recycled 33% of the above waste in 2010. The modified directives should be implemented in 2012. Brussels is ready to provide the member states with four years of preparation time till 2016 in order to reach the increased ratio. Some member states were supporting the Hungarian Presidency’s proposals according to which not four, but six, moreover eight years are necessary for the transition, that is the 65% should be achieved by 2020.

It was a highly debated issue what products should be included in the environmental protection programme of applying obligatory measures for the collection of e-waste. All expenses should be paid by the manufacturers. Member states will not support the committee’s proposals, which would introduce the concept of an European manufacturer. Janez Potocnic commissioner of environmental protection called the issue of electronic waste the litmus paper of environmental protection at the press conference held during the Council’s break. This clearly shows how serious the union is to find efficient ways to collect e-waste. He called attention to the fact that „in the whole world including Europe no other waste accumulates as quickly as electric and electronic waste.”

The commissioner praised the efforts of the Hungarian Presidency. „Hungary is making tremendous efforts, since this issue has been on the daily agenda during the past five presidencies, said Mr. Potocnik.

Review of the EU’s mercury strategy

In 2005 the environmental protection council approved the revision of conclusions on mercury strategy.

As Mr. Sándor Fazekas pointed out at the press conference held during the Council’s session, the ultimate goal is to prohibit the manifacturing and distribution of all products containing mercury and prevent the release of leftover mercury into the environment. Twenty different international measures concerning the EU were introduced in order to reduce contamination caused by mercury, including the ban on thermometers containing mercury and a ban on mercury export which is to take effect on 15 March 2011.

The Environmental Council called on the Commission to hasten the examination of health risks related to mercury that is emitted from dental amalgam and battery cells. Dental amalgam is the second largest source of mercury contamination.

The European Commitee conducted an investigation about the adoption of the previous mercury strategy and it was submitted for review in December 2010.

Grounds for Prohibiting GMOs

The ministers shared their views on the amandments of Directive 2001/18/EC on genetically modified organisms. Previously, the Presidency asked Member States about the possible grounds for restricting or prohibiting GMO cultivation.

At the press conference held after the meeting Mr. Sándor Fazekas, Minister of Rural Development explained that prohibiting GMO-s is only feasable currently via national amandments and several member states take advantage of it. However, the union would like to provide the member states with legal freedom. A heated debate started last summer in connection with this issue, concerning the European Commitee’s proposals. The reason being that health and environmental protection concerns stay under the Union’s control and therefore prohibition issued by member states cannot be applied.

The Ministers were concentrating on the European Commitee’s proposals that want to work out the grounds for partial or complete restriction. The proposal is enumerating such issues as the upkeep of public order, including averting demonstrations against the use of technology, ensuring the rights of producers and consumers, landscape design, preservation of traditional forms of cultivation in agriculture and protecting nature. Moreover religious, philosophical and moral considerations will also play a role.

Mr. Sándor Fazekas reminded us during the discussion that the Brussels Committee’s original proposal was not to modify the legal framework of the union’s licensing procedures, however it would permit the Member States to decide if they wish to grow GMO crops.

Mr. Zoltán Illés, Director of Environmental Protection voiced Hungary’s position during the debate, that is to say, member states should be allowed to prohibit or restrict GMO cultivation. The list submitted by the Committee is considered to be a good legal foundation by Hungary. He emphasized that Hungary is to support all efforts that provide member states with greater mobility and independence.

During the debate it became clear that the member states had vastly different views on GMO plants. Mr Fazekas summed up the debate by concluding that based on reasonable grounds, prohibition can become a reality in the member states. He indicated that the Hungarian Presidency is intent on representing the issue of GMOs. The Presidency will also do its utmost to clear the legal issues and pay attention to all concerns voiced during the debate.

„Greening” the Common Agricultural Policy

During the environmental Council’s session, the Ministers discussed the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) envisaged till 2020. The focus was centered on „greening” the CAP, namely, how the CAP could enhance environmental protection (for instance through direct assistance funds). This was the third debate on the CAP reform. Ministers for Agriculture are planning to approve a final document of conclusions at their next meeting on 17 March 2011.

(Ministry of Rural Development, Press Office)