MEPs briefed on Dutch Presidency's environmental priorities 

Speaking on 20 September before the Parliament's Environment Committee in Brussels, Van Geel said the Dutch Presidency would try to avoid the "traditional conflict between economic and environmental interests".

Noting that "attention is at times focused too exclusively on economic growth", he said he believed environment-friendly innovations "can help cut costs by reducing consumption of energy and raw materials" and "can be used to create new markets".

To him, solutions lie in "a mixture of instruments" that "should focus first and foremost on green procurement policies, fiscal incentives and green investment". He also noted the importance of working for "better internalisation of environmental costs" by businesses and to "abolish subsidies that harm the environment".

Van Geel stated his "ultimate goal" is to persuade heads of state and government at the next Spring European Council to "endorse the proposition that eco-efficient innovations offer opportunities to strengthen the competitiveness of the Union".

On specific policy issues, Van Geel gave detailed indications on the Dutch Presidency's agenda:

• Sustainable transport: 

The matter will be debated at the next Environment Council on 14 October with a series of concrete short-term solutions focusing on road transport. Citing "fine dust and nitrogen oxide from diesel engines" as being "among the most polluting road traffic emissions", Van Geel called on Member States to encourage the Commission to present new proposals on emission requirements for cars "without delay". "Ambitious Euro 5 norms for cars can do much to solve environmental and health problems," Van Geel explained, pointing to soot filters and catalytic converters as "possible solutions" to reduce emissions of fine dust and nitrogen dioxide.

Traffic noise was mentioned as another "major problem" whose impact on health is "greatly underestimated". Van Geel said he would "advocate measures which act rapidly and effectively" such as quieter tyres and engines, which "have already been developed".

CO2 emissions from cars will also be discussed at the next Environment Council. Referring to agreements signed with car manufacturers until 2008-2009, Van Geel said it was "vital to start thinking now about aims and policy instruments for the period beyond that". He said he hoped to "use the Council's influence to persuade the Commission to take action".

• REACH: 

The reform of the EU's chemical policy (REACH) will be debated both at the Competitiveness Council on 25-26 November and at the Environment Council of 20 December. Van Geel said he hoped to use the Environment Council to "reveal agreements and differences between Member States on key parts of the proposal, such as 'registration', 'data sharing and the avoidance of unnecessary animal testing' and the 'general aspects' of REACH".

The Dutch Presidency will be holding a workshop at the end of October to discuss the impact studies that have been published to date on the REACH proposal and to "draw conclusions" on the consequences of REACH "for industry and for society as a whole". Van Geel said he expects to make good progress this year so that decisions can be taken in 2005.

• Climate change: 

According to the Dutch environment State Secretary, enlargement should allow Europe to "speak with an even louder voice" in global environmental negotiations, "for example a the COP 10 on climate change". He pointed to the ongoing dialogue between the EU, Member States, NGOs and academics to develop new approaches in regulating industrial installation under the ENAP project (Exploring New Approaches). Initial findings of the project, which included emissions trading, will be presented to EU heads of state and government at the European Council in December.

• Others: 

On the proposed Batteries Directive Van Geel said he was "personally in favour of a blanket ban on all batteries containing cadmium provided there are adequate alternatives". But he added that, as Council president it it his "job to seek a compromise that takes due account of the positions of all the Member States". "At present, I cannot tell you the precise terms of that compromise," he said.

On Fluorinated gases (F-gases), Van Geel said he would strive to achieve a political agreement in Council before the end of the Dutch Presidency.