Published: 2013-11-20
Corporate author(s): Council of the European Union , European Parliament
Subject: biodiversity , economic growth , environmental impact , environmental protection , EU programme , investment , management of resources , pollution control
Following a thorough evaluation of the Birds and Habitats Directives, the European Commission has adopted the Action Plan for nature, people and the economy to improve their implementation and boost their contribution towards reaching the EU's biodiversity targets for 2020. The Action Plan focuses on four priority areas and comprises 15 actions to be carried out by end 2019.
The Plan is complemented by detailed factsheets providing more information on each of the 15 actions. Measures will be taken at EU level, but Member States and stakeholders concerned will also need to act, with increased support and assistance from the European Commission.
Green infrastructure is a strategically planned network of natural and semi-natural areas with other environmental features designed and managed to deliver a wide range of ecosystem services such as water purification, air quality, space for recreation and climate mitigation and adaptation. This network of green (land) and blue (water) spaces can improve environmental conditions and therefore citizens' health and quality of life. It also supports a green economy, creates job opportunities and enhances biodiversity. The Natura 2000 network constitutes the backbone of the EU green infrastructure.
In decision X/2, the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, held from 18 to 29 October 2010, in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, adopted a revised and updated Strategic Plan for Biodiversity, including the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, for the 2011-2020 period. This Plan provides an overarching framework on biodiversity, not only for the biodiversity-related conventions, but for the entire United Nations system and all other partners engaged in biodiversity management and policy development.
A Community strategy to reduce CO2 emissions from passenger cars and improve fuel economy (COM(95) 689 final) was adopted on the 20th of December in 1995.
Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848 of 17 May 2017 laying down criteria and methodological standards on good environmental status of marine waters and specifications and standardised methods for monitoring and assessment, and repealing Decision 2010/477/EU
Reference Document on Best Available Techniques (BREF) for Large Combustion Plants
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
A policy framework for climate and energy in the period from 2020 to 2030
The directive is amending Directive 2003/35/EC (providing for public participation in respect of the drawing up of certain plans and programmes relating to the environment) and repealing Directive 2001/81/EC. It entered into force at the end of 2016 and aims at compliance with the 2012 amended Gothenburg Protocol. In July 2017, the EU ratified the 2012 amendments to the 1999 protocol.
The United Nations General Assembly ad opted the Resolution 70/1, Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development on 25th September 2015. This document lays out the 17 Sustainable Development Goals , which aim to end poverty and hunger, protect human rights and human dignity, to protect the planet from degradation, and foster peace.
EC, 2013, 12007/13.
EC (European Commission), 2012.
EC (European Commission), 2009.
EC (European Commission), 2006. COM(2006) 360 final. Brussels: European Commission.
Commission Decision (EU) 2017/1471 of 10 August 2017 amending Decision 2013/162/EU to revise Member States' annual emission allocations for the period from 2017 to 2020 (notified under document C(2017) 5556
Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 March 2007 establishing an Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community (INSPIRE)
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
A European Strategy for more Growth and Jobs in Coastal and Maritime Tourism
It focuses on the challenges to be addressed and proposes a strategy to enhance the sector's sustainability and competitiveness, to be implemented by the Commission, Member States, regional and local authorities, private operators and other stakeholders.
In particular it addresses the following challenges and topics:
- Stimulate performance and competitiveness
- Improving knowledge
- Addressing demand volatility
- Overcoming sector fragmentation
- Promoting skills and innovation
- Strengthening sustainability
- Addressing environmental pressures
- Promoting an innovative, sustainable and high-quality offer
- Insularity and remoteness – seeing opportunities in geographical constraints
- Maximise available EU funding/European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF)
- Research, innovation and competitiveness
- Education, training and culture
- Mainstreaming EU policies affecting coastal and maritime tourism
Conclusions:
Coastal and maritime tourism needs an ambitious policy framework. The Commission, Member States, regional and local authorities, industry and other stakeholders must take targeted action in coherence with EU policies that have an impact on this sector.
The Commission will regularly monitor this process to ensure that actions are implemented. It will then report to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions and will assess the results.
Common Implementation Strategy for the Water Framework Directive.
To maintain Europe’s position as the world’s top tourist destination, the European Commission put forward a series of suggestions for coordinated actions at European Union (EU) level. These are designed to increase the tourism sector’s competitiveness and capacity for sustainable growth and delivering quality.
![Communication from the Commission - Agenda for a sustainable and competitive European tourism [COM/2007/0621 final]/](https://www.eea.europa.eu/policy-documents/communication-from-the-commission-agenda/image_mini "Communication from the Commission - Agenda for a sustainable and competitive European tourism [COM/2007/0621 final]/")
Europe is the most attractive tourist destination in the world, and tourism plays a major part in growth and job creation in Europe. The sector's competitiveness is closely linked to its sustainability, as the quality of tourist destinations is very much influenced by their natural environment and their local community. For this reason it is necessary to take a holistic approach, addressing not only the economic prosperity of the sector, but also social cohesion, environmental protection and promotion of the culture of European tourist destinations.
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