Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-09-19-Speech-3-181"
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"en.20010919.12.3-181"2
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". – Mr President, honourable Members, I am very pleased that these two important additions to Community legislation on air pollution are reaching the stage of final adoption. I join with you in congratulating and thanking both rapporteurs, Mrs Oomen-Ruijten and Mrs Myller, for their efforts, but I would also like to thank the President of Parliament's delegation, Mr Friedrich, for his role in bringing these negotiations to a successful conclusion – unfortunately he cannot be here this evening – and Mr Provan for stepping in at the last moment in what proved to be one of the finest evenings of the summer.
The proposals on national emission ceilings (NECs) and large combustion plants (LCPs) represent a major advance in Community legislation on air pollution. As you know, the NEC proposal would help to establish an ongoing programme for tackling transboundary air pollution by requiring Members States to limit the emissions which cause most damage, not only to themselves but, as Mrs Hulthén said, to their neighbours.
The first stage sets legally binding emissions ceilings which Member States will have to meet by 2010. It provides for a series of periodic reviews – in 2004, 2008 and 2012 – in order to reduce emissions ceilings more in the future: this review system has been strengthened a great deal in response to Parliament's concerns. The first reviews will try to make up the shortfall by 2010 taking into account total emissions for the Community as a whole as set out in the Commission original proposal. All reviews will look at how we can achieve our long-term goals of staying below critical environmental levels after 2010. The year 2020 will then be taken as a benchmark. In subsequent reviews, the Commission will report, in particular, on progress towards attaining our long-term goals and, with these aims in mind, will consider what further measures are necessary to achieve these goals, as the rapporteur has said, "preferably by 2020".
At the same time, with the large combustion plant proposal, new and tougher emissions standards will apply in the power generation sector, in particular for older power plants which are a major cause of acidification and ozone pollution. The Commission's analysis of the common position on large combustion plants shows that both sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from this sector will fall substantially as a result of this legislation.
The compromise on the LCP proposal will provide medium-term flexibility to take account of differing circumstances in the Member States as well as substantial environmental benefits in the long term in an enlarged Community.
Parliament has achieved a great deal in this debate and should be very proud of its contribution. The Commission is pleased with the outcome. By approving this legislation, the Commission will be under an obligation to return in 2004 to review both directives and present its proposals for further progress. We have already explained how we intend to prepare for this first review in the communication on clean air for Europe which we presented in May 2001, and work is already under way on this.
In conclusion, I invite Parliament to adopt the outcome of conciliation and to join us in moving forward. I look forward to Parliament's support for CAFE."@en1
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