Spain waits on Danish deals

Events in Denmark will set the scene for the Spanish presidency’s work on the environment. The outcome of the Copenhagen climate summit, which ends on 18 December, will determine what Spain must do during its six months in charge. 

EU leaders want a legally binding global treaty on climate change to be agreed within six months of Copenhagen. This puts pressure on Spain to lead the EU through the final stages of the discussions. Spain has played its part in the talks, but its domestic performance on climate change is poor. It is one of the few EU countries set to miss its greenhouse gas emissions targets under the Kyoto protocol. Spain’s annual emissions were almost 50% higher in 2003-07 than in 1990. Under the Kyoto protocol Spain is allowed an increase of 15% for the period 2008-12.

But Spain’s government hardly needs to be convinced of the problem. The effects of climate change, such as droughts and an increase in forest fires, will hit Spain hard. In April, Spain will host a ministerial conference on protection of forests. The presidency also wants to develop thinking on water management in the Mediterranean.

Policy reviews

On agriculture and fisheries, Spain takes charge when major policy reviews of the EU’s common policies are already under way. Ministers will discuss the European Commission’s green paper on reform of the common fisheries policy. They will also have to decide on measures to safeguard stocks of salmon, herring, sprat and Bay of Biscay anchovies – the latter a favourite of Spanish fishermen.

Elena Espinosa, Spain’s environment, agriculture and fisheries minister, is keen for the EU’s marine strategy to take off. It aims to ensure that all European seas are of a ‘good’ environmental standard by 2021. With the deadline for its transposition into national law looming – July 2010 – Spain wants to ensure that member states are ready.