Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2016-02-01-Speech-1-236-000"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20160201.15.1-236-000"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spoken text |
"Madam President, this mid-term review could not be clearer: unless Member States step up their efforts to better deliver and enforce legislation in the EU, we will once again fail to meet our biodiversity targets for 2020 – just like we did in 2010.
Given this worrying trend, we cannot afford to waste time by opening up our legislation, which is recognised globally to be the gold standard in environmental protection, as it protects our biodiversity – namely, the Birds and Habitats Directive. Thanks to the Natura 2000 sites across the EU, thousands of species enjoy protection. These sites generate environmental and socio-economic benefits worth around EUR 300 billion annually. Revising the directives now would lead to years of legal uncertainty and would further divert us from reaching our biodiversity targets. We know what we need: better enforcement and implementation of existing laws. Protecting biodiversity makes economic sense too. If we miss our overall biodiversity targets, it is estimated that this will cost EUR 50 billion per year in lost natural services, never mind the risks of destroying the biosphere and permanently damaging the life-sustaining forces on our continent.
We all know that we are running out of time. There are things that you could do, Commissioner, to help us reach the 2020 targets. Will you commit here today to working with the Council to ensure better delivery of the regulations which protect our biodiversity? We know that the lack of enforcement by Member States is the big elephant in the room. Countries are refusing to accept their responsibilities, so it is very sad that the Council is not here today to take part in the debate. Will you, Commissioner, propose without delay an EU legal framework of environmental inspections and access to justice for those who are working to protect our treasured biodiversity? Citizens look to us to give them better tools to ensure that they can hold their governments to account. I understand you share this Parliament’s frustrations, but these are steps that Europe can and must take to ensure we meet our biodiversity targets."@en1
|
| lpv:spokenAs | |
| lpv:unclassifiedMetadata | |
| lpv:videoURI |
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples