Activities of Gaston FRANCO related to 2011/2194(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Review of the 6th Environment Action Programme and the setting of priorities for the 7th Environment Action Programme (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the review of the 6th Environment Action Programme and the setting of priorities for the 7th Environment Action Programme – A better environment for a better life PDF (238 KB) DOC (153 KB)
Amendments (26)
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 bis (new)
Paragraph 4 bis (new)
- research and innovation
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes with concern that implementation of the environmental acquis is still insufficient; considers that full implementation and enforcement, at all levels, as well as further strengthening of key environmental priorities – climate change, biodiversity, resources, environment and health – are crucial; therefore emphasises the need for clear, consistent environmental legislation, based on public policy evaluations and feedback;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Invites the Commission to includehighlight in the 7th EAP binding targets for energy efficiency and/or energy savinghow energy efficiency measures, as set out in the Energy Efficiency Directive amending Directives 2004/8/EC and 2006/32/EC, contribute to combating climate change and to environmental protection; stresses the importance of a flexible Community framework that complies with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, in order to ensure that the implementation of energy efficiency measures at European level takes due account of the specificities in each Member State and leaves scope for national and local initiatives;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Considers that adaptation to climate change should be properly addressed by the 7th EAP, taking into account the different necessities of the regions, on the basis of the upcoming EU Adaptation Strategy; invites the Commission to put forward an ambitious proposal for reforming EU plant health legislation in order to effectively combat the proliferation of invasive species and pests, some of which are the result of climate change;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 bis (new)
Paragraph 10 bis (new)
10a. Recommends increasing support for regional low-carbon, climate-resilient strategies and small-scale climate projects by SMEs, NGOs and local authorities under the ‘Climate Action’ sub- programme included in the new LIFE programme proposed by the Commission;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Invites the Commission to already use – and improve – existing resource efficiency indicators where available and set targets without any delay, and to develop as soon as possible new indicators and targets where needed, as requested in the Roadmap; in view of the limitations of the flagship indicator on resource productivity, calls on the Commission to define an indicator for material consumption using a lifecycle-based approach that integrates hidden flows, i.e. the potential for environmental pressures to be transferred outside the EU, and movements of shortfalls and dependencies, without delay;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 bis (new)
Paragraph 13 bis (new)
13a. Considers that, inter alia, the 7th EAP should take a lifecycle-based approach to raw materials management, extend the scope of the Ecodesign Directive and review the implementation thereof in order to take due account of the component materials and their shelf life; invites the Commission to investigate how to make collecting waste from consumer products more efficicent both by extending the principle of extended producer responsibility and through guidelines on managing recovery, collection and recycling systems;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Considers that the 7th EAP should provide for full attainment of the goals for sustainable consumption and production set in the Roadmap, strengthening them where needed, in particular as regards Green Public Procurement; supports national tests for environmental labelling designed to provide consumers with information about products’ environmental impact; calls on the Commission, once the harmonised European method for calculating a product’s environmental footprint has been finalised, to propose ambitious political applications, including additional information for consumers about products that do not qualify for existing schemes (eco-label, energy label, organic certification, etc.);
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 bis (new)
Paragraph 15 bis (new)
15a. Considers that the 7th EAP should encourage the creation of incentive schemes to promote demand for recycled materials, particularly when incorporated in finished products;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Takes the view that the 7th EAP should provide for full implementation of waste legislation and should set very ambitious targets, including a net decrease of waste generation and ‘zero landfill’, without driving waste to incineration, including compliance with the waste treatment hierarchy, setting ambitious prevention and recovery targets, sectoral objectives for resource efficiency and process efficiency benchmarks in order to reduce sectoral waste generation; considers that the 7th EAP should set progressive targets for banning the use of landfill sites where the waste could be recycled if collected separately;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 bis (new)
Paragraph 17 bis (new)
17a. Is of the opinion that the 7th EAP should call for the full and effective implementation of water legislation;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 sexies (new)
Paragraph 17 sexies (new)
17e. Invites the Commission to encourage the optimisation of the successive uses of water extracted from the water cycle, including recycling water used for agricultural and industrial purposes where appropriate, and recovering the nutrients and energy contained in waste water;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 octies (new)
Paragraph 17 octies (new)
17g. Calls on the Commission to facilitate access to solutions to water shortages such as artificially replenishing aquifers, water recovery and developing alternative irrigation techniques;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 4 bis (new)
Subheading 4 bis (new)
Forestry
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 ter (new)
Paragraph 19 ter (new)
19b. Invites the Commission to publish a communication on the new European Forestry Strategy by the end of 2012, to propose effective measures intended to improve cooperation between Member States on forestry issues and to encourage a rational use of forestry resources and sustainable forest management;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 quater (new)
Paragraph 19 quater (new)
19.c. Recommends including a stronger focus on forests in the new Common Agricultural Policy by promoting agroforestry and a rural development policy based on sustainable landscapes;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 quinquies (new)
Paragraph 19 quinquies (new)
19d. Calls for the introduction of a new Community regulation on preventing fires or, at the very least, proposes to strengthen cooperation between Member States in this area;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 sexies (new)
Paragraph 19 sexies (new)
19e. Advocates establishing a common forestry policy;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 – indent 3
Paragraph 20 – indent 3
– provide for the development of specific measures relating to emergingtackle potential health threats, such as nanomaterials or, endocrine disruptors and the combination effects of chemicals, on the basis of scientific studies and commonly accepted definitions;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 – indent 3 bis (new)
Paragraph 20 – indent 3 bis (new)
– tie in with the second Environmental Health Action Plan
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Considers it essential to strengthen the European Union Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (IMPEL) and urges the Commission to report on possible ways of doing so, including theexamining whether it would be appropriate to establishment of a Community environmental inspection force and capacity-building, and asks the Commission to submit a proposal for a directive on environmental inspections; in the short term, stresses the need for capacity building and harmonising the activities of the various inspection bodies in the Member States; invites the Member States to increase the emphasis on environmental law when training magistrates;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls on the Commission to step up its role as the ‘guardian of the Treaties’ to ensure correct transposition and implementation of environmental legislation by all Member States; recommends greater local authority participation throughout the process of defining environmental policy so as to improve implementation of the legislation across the board, including setting up teams to transpose environmental law at regional and local level;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Underlines that the 7th EAP should provide for the full implementation of the Aarhus Convention, in particular regarding access to justice; stresses in that context the urgent need to adopt the directive on access to justice;
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Recalls that the 7th EAP should constitute the right framework to ensure adequate funding, including funding for innovation, research and development as essential components to contribute to protecting and improving the environment and to developing a just and sustainable economic model. Accordingly, it would be necessary to strengthen the synergies between the future Action Programme and the new Research Framework Programme;
Amendment 172 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Considers that the 7th EAP should have as a goal to integrate environmental considerations into all EU external relations, in particular into development aid and trade agreements; urges the EU to promote joint programming of environmental research activities with its neighbours;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Invites the Commission to include in its proposal a goal for the EU to fully support the UN work on environmental accounting done by the UN, the World Bank and European Environment Agency, in order to equip the world with a harmonised environmental accounting system; welcomes the commitments made in the EU Biodiversity Strategy to improving knowledge of ecosystems and their services in the EU (as in the case of forests); encourages Member States to share information about their experiences and to compare notes on methodologies relating to ecosystem compatibility;