EU Legislation, Initiatives, etc.
ScotGov: The future of Scotland's West Coast fishing communities must not be put in peril by the European Commission, Maritime Commissioners Joe Burg was told in Brussels, before the start of the recent Fisheries Council meeting recently.
Mr Lochhead called for a major re-think when, along with the UK Government, he met Commissioner Borg to stress that 'knee jerk' proposals to close the west of Scotland fisheries especially in the current economic climate are 'simply unacceptable'. The Cabinet Secretary has also warned that the proposals amount to 'outrageous negotiating tactics' from the EC and harm relations between fishermen and EU policy makers.
The EC published proposals would see the West of Scotland whitefish fishery closed up to a distance of 200 miles from the shore. The aim of the proposals is to give the West Coast whitefish stocks 'some breathing space' in light of recent ‘very challenging’ scientific advice.
Press release ~ EC published proposals ~ ScotGov - Fisheries ~ Fishermen on west coast 'facing crisis' ~ Fisheries Research Services ~ EC - Fisheries ~ BBC: Wasted catches hit Europe's cod ~ Telegraph: UK fishing boat filmed dumping 5 tons of fish ~ Developing Scottish Inshore Fisheries Groups (IFGS) Management Plans ~ Bill Ellis, IFG National Coordinator Tel: 0131 244 4756 ~ European Fisheries Fund (EFF) ~ Sea Fish
Defra: The Government has held Europe's first carbon allowance auction in Phase II (2008 - 2012) of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). Four million allowances were sold at a total value of £54m excluding VAT, or £13.60 per allowance, Euro/Sterling exchange rate 0.8428.
The EU ETS puts a cap on emissions from around 12,000 installations throughout the EU, including the energy and heavy industrial sectors. These sectors are collectively responsible for close to half of the EU's emissions of carbon dioxide. During 2009 the Government plans to auction 25 million allowances. Dates for future auctions will be announced in due course.
Press release ~ Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) ~ UNFCCC ~ Debt Management Office - EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) ~
Defra: Lord Hunt, Minister for Sustainable Development and Energy Innovation, has welcomed the launch of the EU Code of Conduct for Data Centres. Data centres are rooms or buildings within which computer servers operate to provide a wide range of data services, from websites and financial transactions, to emails and online computer games. Data centres are responsible for almost 3% of electricity use in the UK and this is expected to double by 2020.
The EU Code of Conduct was developed in close collaboration with the industry, including the British Computer Society (BCS). Signatories to the Code will be expected to implement the Code of Conduct's energy efficiency best practice, meet minimum procurement standards and annually report energy consumption. Over the next six years a successful implementation of the Code could allow UK businesses to save almost £700m in electricity costs.
Press release ~ The final European Code of Conduct on Data Centres Energy Efficiency, version 1 ~ The Best Practice Guidelines, version 1 ~ The Reporting form – version 1 ~ Intellect ~ The Green Grid ~ EU – End Use Energy Efficiency ~ British Computer Society (BCS) ~ Market Transformation Programme (MTP) ~ The Green IT Department
Defra: The agreement reached on the CAP Health Check in Brussels is ‘a step in the right direction of further reform, but it was also a missed opportunity to speed up the process of change’, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has claimed, saying: "This is a mixed result. On the big items of reform this is a step forward, but I regret what has been conceded in order to secure a deal which will lead to some new distortions in the short term”.
Press release ~ Defra - CAP ~ EU Commission - CAP ~ NFU - CAP ~ French presidency - CAP ~ Previous UK government response to EU CAP reform proposals ~
Defra: A consultation (closes 10 February 2009) on the implementation of changes to the EU School Milk Scheme in England has been launched by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) - See ‘Consultations’ for more information.
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