BETA


2015/2137(INI) Mid-term review of the EU's biodiversity strategy

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead ENVI DEMESMAEKER Mark (icon: ECR ECR) LINS Norbert (icon: PPE PPE), KADENBACH Karin (icon: S&D S&D), BEARDER Catherine (icon: ALDE ALDE), AUKEN Margrete (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE), AFFRONTE Marco (icon: EFDD EFDD)
Committee Opinion DEVE SEBASTIA TALAVERA Jordi Vicent (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE) Nirj DEVA (icon: ECR ECR), Eleni THEOCHAROUS (icon: ECR ECR)
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54

Events

2016/06/08
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2016/02/02
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2016/02/02
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2016/02/02
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 592 votes to 52, with 45 abstentions, a resolution on the mid-term review of the EU‟s biodiversity strategy.

Increased political will : whilst welcoming the Commission report of mid-term review of 2 October entitled “ Mid-term review of the EU biodiversity strategy to 2020 ”, Parliament expressed extreme concern about the constant loss of biodiversity. It noted that the 2020 targets will not be achieved without additional, substantial and continuous efforts and that despite the positive impact of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives, there is still great potential for improvement.

Parliament noted that habitat fragmentation, degradation and destruction as a result of land-use change, climate change, unsustainable consumption patterns and the use of the seas are some of the main pressures and drivers causing biodiversity loss in the EU and beyond its borders.

Deploring the fact that, in Europe, around a quarter of wild species are at risk of extinction and many ecosystems are degraded, it recalled that the socio ‑ economic opportunity cost of missing the biodiversity headline target is estimated to be EUR 50 billion a year .

Accordingly, Parliament:

stressed the crucial importance of increased political will at the highest level to safeguard biodiversity and halt biodiversity loss, particularly through the implementation of existing legislation, enforcement and further integration of biodiversity protection into other policy areas and action by regional and local authorities to provide information about, and raise awareness of, biodiversity; urged the Commission to enhance the role that biodiversity and ecosystems play in economic affairs , with a view to moving to a green economy and to step up the measures taken in support of the greening of the European Semester; suggested that the economic value of biodiversity should be reflected in indicators which guide decision-making.

Headline targets : Parliament called on the Commission and Member States, as a matter of urgency, to give higher priority to achieving the 2020 targets and or the EU to reduce its biodiversity footprint worldwide:

Target 1: deploring the slow progress made by Member States in implementing EU environmental legislation, Members stressed that full implementation and enforcement, and adequate financing, of the nature directives are a vital prerequisite for ensuring the success of the strategy as a whole and meeting its headline target. They called on the Commission to: (i) improve the guidelines, which should facilitate the full implementation and enforcement of the directives; (ii) identify and compile the relevant national budget lines without delay.

They also urged Member States to complete the designation of terrestrial and marine Natura 2000 sites and draw up management plans, in consultation with all stakeholders. They reiterated their previous calls for EU co-funding for the management of Natura 2000 sites.

Target 2: Parliament called on the Commission to come forward with a specific proposal for the development of a trans-European network for green infrastructure (TEN-G) by 2017. It encouraged the joint development, in conjunction with the Member States, of a strategy for European wildlife corridors for targeted species.

Member States were called upon to: (i) develop and implement ecosystem restoration prioritisation frameworks immediately; (ii) prioritise the target of restoring 15 % of degraded ecosystems by 2020 and to use the appropriations available within the MFF for this purpose.

Target 3: incorporating nature conservation into other policy areas remains of paramount importance. Parliament stressed the crucial role of agriculture and forestry in this connection.

Member States were asked to make better use of existing CAP and cohesion policy instruments to assist farmers and forestry operators in achieving biodiversity targets.

Financial resources under the CAP should be redirected from subsidising environmentally harmful activities to financing sustainable agricultural practices.

The Commission was called upon to: (i) promote the sustainable management of the world's forests by ensuring ecological processes by respecting the rights of indigenous people to sustain forest resources; (ii) prohibit the destruction of natural forests; (iii) safeguard endangered species and (iv) ban toxic pesticides and the planting of genetically modified trees.

Target 4: Parliament called on the Commission and Member States to implement the reformed Common Fisheries Policy correctly and promptly, applying ecosystem-based fisheries management by, inter alia, promoting sustainable and innovative catch methods. It stressed the importance of reducing pollution in order to safeguard marine biodiversity and stocks.

Target 5: the Commission was urged to establish, in accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014, an accurate and comprehensive list of invasive alien species which are of concern to the Union. Such a list should not be limited to a fixed number of species and should include complete and coherent implementation actions – underpinned by appropriate resources – aimed at achieving the targets.

Target 6: the Commission and Member States were urged to fully endorse and facilitate the transition to a circular economy , and to phase out environmentally harmful subsidies by 2020 ensuring that evaluations of such subsidies are completed by 2016 and that reporting requirements are incorporated into relevant EU sectoral policy areas.

The way ahead : additional measures : Parliament encouraged the Commission and Member States to gather information and to develop appropriate frameworks to prevent habitat fragmentation and the net loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services by working with local authorities and civil society. Such a framework must comprise a bundle of complementary measures that address the root causes of biodiversity loss and improve the integration of biodiversity in sectoral policies, including agriculture, forestry, fisheries, energy and transport.

In order to use the available resources more efficiently and in a more targeted manner, the Commission should draw up specific criteria for the Natural Capital Financing Facility , which must guarantee that projects deliver appropriate, positive and scientifically tangible results for biodiversity.

The resolution also stressed the importance of:

innovation, research and development in order to achieve the objectives of the nature directives; expanding the multi-fund approach to biodiversity financing; improving coherence across relevant sectoral policies with a view to incorporating biodiversity goals; establishing an EU framework for environmental inspections; launching a European initiative on pollinators; fully applying the precautionary principle when authorising the use and the environmental release of living modified organisms; including matters relating to the environment and climate change in international agreements; not authorising any new hydraulic fracturing operations in the EU on the basis of the precautionary principle and the principle that preventive action should be taken.

In view of the failure to meet the biodiversity targets for 2020, the Commission was asked to provide Parliament with two-yearly reports in which the Council and the Commission elaborate on the state of play, reasons for non-achievement and the strategy for ensuring future compliance.

Documents
2016/02/02
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2016/02/01
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2016/01/08
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Details

The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety adopted an own-initiative report by Mark DEMESMAEKER (ECR, BE) on the mid-term review of the EU‟s biodiversity strategy.

It welcomed the Commission report of mid-term review of 2 October entitled “ Mid-term review of the EU biodiversity strategy to 2020 ”, Members were extremely concerned about the constant loss of biodiversity. They noted that the 2020 targets will not be achieved without substantial additional efforts, and that there is great potential for improvement.

The report noted that habitat fragmentation, degradation and destruction as a result of land-use change, climate change, unsustainable consumption patterns and the use of the seas are some of the main pressures and drivers causing biodiversity loss in the EU and beyond its borders.

Accordingly, Members stressed the crucial importance of increased political will at the highest level to safeguard biodiversity and halt biodiversity loss, particularly through the implementation of existing legislation, enforcement and further integration of biodiversity protection into other policy areas and action by regional and local authorities to provide information about, and raise awareness of, biodiversity.

The Commission was urged to enhance the role that biodiversity and ecosystems play in economic affairs , with a view to moving to a green economy and to step up the measures taken in support of the greening of the European Semester.

Headline targets : the report called on the Commission and Member States, as a matter of urgency, to give higher priority to achieving the 2020 targets and or the EU to reduce its biodiversity footprint worldwide:

Target 1: deploring the slow progress made by Member States in implementing EU environmental legislation, Members stressed that full implementation and enforcement, and adequate financing, of the nature directives are a vital prerequisite for ensuring the success of the strategy as a whole and meeting its headline target. They called on the Commission to improve the guidelines, which should facilitate the full implementation and enforcement of the directives. They also urged Member States to complete the designation of terrestrial and marine Natura 2000 sites and draw up management plans, in consultation with all stakeholders. They reiterated their previous calls for EU co-funding for the management of Natura 2000 sites. Target 2: the report called on the Commission to come forward with a specific proposal for the development of a trans-European network for green infrastructure (TEN-G) by 2017. It encouraged the joint development, in conjunction with the Member States, of a strategy for European wildlife corridors for targeted species.

Member States were called upon to: (i) develop and implement ecosystem restoration prioritisation frameworks immediately; (ii) prioritise the target of restoring 15 % of degraded ecosystems by 2020 and to use the appropriations available within the MFF for this purpose.

Target 3: incorporating nature conservation into other policy areas remains of paramount importance, and Members stressed the crucial role of agriculture and forestry in this connection. They pointed out that restoring, preserving and enhancing ecosystems related to agriculture and forestry, including in Natura 2000 areas, is highlighted as one of six key priorities for rural development in the EU.

Member States were asked to make better use of existing CAP and cohesion policy instruments to assist farmers and forestry operators in achieving biodiversity targets.

The Commission was called upon to: (i) promote the sustainable management of the world's forests by ensuring ecological processes by respecting the rights of indigenous people to sustain forest resources; (ii) prohibit the destruction of natural forests; (iii) safeguard endangered species and (iv) ban toxic pesticides and the planting of genetically modified trees.

Target 4: the report called on the Commission and Member States to implement the reformed Common Fisheries Policy correctly and promptly, applying ecosystem-based fisheries management by, inter alia, promoting sustainable and innovative catch methods. It stressed the importance of reducing pollution in order to safeguard marine biodiversity and stocks.

Target 5: the Commission was urged to establish, in accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014, an accurate and comprehensive list of invasive alien species which are of concern to the Union. Such a list should not be limited to a fixed number of species and should include complete and coherent implementation actions – underpinned by appropriate resources – aimed at achieving the targets.

Target 6: the Commission and Member States were urged to fully endorse and facilitate the transition to a circular economy , and to phase out environmentally harmful subsidies by 2020 ensuring that evaluations of such subsidies are completed by 2016 and that reporting requirements are incorporated into relevant EU sectoral policy areas.

The way ahead : additional measures : the report encourages the Commission and Member States to gather information and to develop appropriate frameworks to prevent habitat fragmentation and the net loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services by working with local authorities and civil society. Such a framework must comprise a bundle of complementary measures that address the root causes of biodiversity loss and improve the integration of biodiversity in sectoral policies, including agriculture, forestry, fisheries, energy and transport.

In order to use the available resources more efficiently and in a more targeted manner, the Commission should draw up specific criteria for the Natural Capital Financing Facility , which must guarantee that projects deliver appropriate, positive and scientifically tangible results for biodiversity.

The report also stressed the importance of:

innovation, research and development in order to achieve the objectives of the nature directives; expanding the multi-fund approach to biodiversity financing; improving coherence across relevant sectoral policies with a view to incorporating biodiversity goals; establishing an EU framework for environmental inspections; launching a European initiative on pollinators; fully applying the precautionary principle when authorising the use and the environmental release of living modified organisms; including matters relating to the environment and climate change in international agreements; not authorising any new hydraulic fracturing operations in the EU on the basis of the precautionary principle and the principle that preventive action should be taken.

In view of the failure to meet the biodiversity targets for 2020, the Commission was asked to provide Parliament with two-yearly reports in which the Council and the Commission elaborate on the state of play, reasons for non-achievement and the strategy for ensuring future compliance.

Documents
2015/12/22
   EP - Vote in committee
2015/12/08
   EP - Committee opinion
Documents
2015/11/19
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2015/10/27
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2015/09/23
   EP - SEBASTIA TALAVERA Jordi Vicent (Verts/ALE) appointed as rapporteur in DEVE
2015/07/09
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2015/06/17
   EP - DEMESMAEKER Mark (ECR) appointed as rapporteur in ENVI

Documents

Activities

Votes

A8-0003/2016 - Mark Demesmaeker - § 80/2 #

2016/02/02 Outcome: +: 370, -: 305, 0: 22
IT ES EL DE RO PT LT AT CY LU EE BE DK IE FI SI LV SE HR BG MT CZ NL HU SK FR GB PL
Total
68
48
20
85
32
20
11
17
5
6
6
21
13
6
12
8
7
19
10
17
5
18
24
18
12
72
65
51
icon: S&D S&D
177

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2

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1

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1

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1

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1

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1

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2

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3

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3
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
47

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1

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3

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A8-0003/2016 - Mark Demesmaeker - § 81/1 #

2016/02/02 Outcome: +: 647, -: 44, 0: 11
DE FR IT PL ES RO BE SE NL PT EL HU BG AT CZ FI DK SK LT HR SI LV LU IE EE CY MT GB
Total
90
72
68
51
47
32
21
19
24
20
20
18
17
17
18
12
13
12
11
10
8
7
6
6
6
5
5
66
icon: PPE PPE
204

Finland PPE

2

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1
2

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3

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2

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1

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1
icon: S&D S&D
178

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3

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2

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A8-0003/2016 - Mark Demesmaeker - § 81/2 #

2016/02/02 Outcome: +: 478, -: 211, 0: 11
IT FR EL AT DE SE BE ES DK LT RO PT NL FI EE SI PL CY MT LU HR BG IE CZ LV SK HU GB
Total
68
72
20
17
90
18
21
48
13
11
32
20
24
12
6
8
51
5
5
6
10
17
6
17
7
12
18
65
icon: S&D S&D
177

Netherlands S&D

3

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1

Slovenia S&D

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1

Cyprus S&D

2

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2

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icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
47

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2

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3

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2

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1

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1

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1

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3
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icon: EFDD EFDD
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205

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5

Cyprus PPE

1

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3
4

Ireland PPE

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2

A8-0003/2016 - Mark Demesmaeker - § 82 #

2016/02/02 Outcome: +: 469, -: 201, 0: 25
IT FR RO EL AT HU ES SE BE NL DK PT LT DE EE SI PL CY MT LU FI HR BG IE LV SK CZ GB
Total
68
72
32
21
17
17
48
19
21
23
13
20
11
86
6
8
51
5
5
6
11
9
17
6
7
12
18
65
icon: S&D S&D
176

Netherlands S&D

For (2)

2

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1

Slovenia S&D

For (1)

1

Cyprus S&D

2

Malta S&D

3

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1

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2

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1

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1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
45

Austria Verts/ALE

2

Hungary Verts/ALE

2

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

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For (1)

1

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For (1)

1

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For (1)

1

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For (1)

1

Croatia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

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5
icon: ALDE ALDE
67

Romania ALDE

3

Austria ALDE

For (1)

1

Denmark ALDE

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3

Estonia ALDE

3

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For (1)

1

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1

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2

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1

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1

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1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
43

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1

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3

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1

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2

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1

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2

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1
icon: ENF ENF
37

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1

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1

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3
2

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icon: ECR ECR
69

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2

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1

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1

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1

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4

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2

A8-0003/2016 - Mark Demesmaeker - § 88 #

2016/02/02 Outcome: +: 347, -: 298, 0: 49
IT FR EL ES PT SE AT NL LU DE CY FI LT IE RO HR EE BE DK MT BG SI LV SK CZ HU GB PL
Total
68
70
20
47
20
19
17
24
6
87
5
12
11
6
31
9
6
21
13
5
17
8
7
12
17
18
66
51
icon: S&D S&D
175

Netherlands S&D

3

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Cyprus S&D

2

Ireland S&D

For (1)

1

Croatia S&D

2

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1

Malta S&D

3

Slovenia S&D

For (1)

1

Latvia S&D

1
4
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
47

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Austria Verts/ALE

2

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Lithuania Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Croatia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Estonia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Slovenia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Hungary Verts/ALE

2

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

5
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
43

Sweden GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

3

Cyprus GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

2

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Ireland GUE/NGL

2

Denmark GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

1
icon: ENF ENF
35

Netherlands ENF

3

Romania ENF

1

Belgium ENF

For (1)

1

United Kingdom ENF

Against (1)

1
2
icon: ALDE ALDE
67

Austria ALDE

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Lithuania ALDE

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

4

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Romania ALDE

3

Croatia ALDE

For (1)

Against (1)

2

Estonia ALDE

For (1)

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

3

Denmark ALDE

For (1)

3

Bulgaria ALDE

Abstain (1)

4

Slovenia ALDE

For (1)

1

Latvia ALDE

1

United Kingdom ALDE

Against (1)

1
icon: NI NI
12

France NI

For (1)

Against (1)

2

Germany NI

2

Hungary NI

For (1)

1

United Kingdom NI

Against (1)

1

Poland NI

1
icon: EFDD EFDD
43

France EFDD

Against (1)

1

Sweden EFDD

2

Lithuania EFDD

For (1)

1

Czechia EFDD

Against (1)

1

Poland EFDD

1
icon: ECR ECR
69

Italy ECR

2

Greece ECR

For (1)

1

Netherlands ECR

For (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Finland ECR

Against (1)

2

Lithuania ECR

Against (1)

1

Romania ECR

Against (1)

1

Croatia ECR

Against (1)

1

Bulgaria ECR

2

Latvia ECR

Against (1)

1

Slovakia ECR

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

3

Czechia ECR

Against (1)

1
icon: PPE PPE
202

Luxembourg PPE

Against (1)

3

Cyprus PPE

1

Finland PPE

2

Lithuania PPE

2

Ireland PPE

Against (2)

2

Croatia PPE

For (1)

3

Estonia PPE

Against (1)

1

Belgium PPE

4

Denmark PPE

Against (1)

1

Malta PPE

2

A8-0003/2016 - Mark Demesmaeker - Résolution #

2016/02/02 Outcome: +: 592, -: 52, 0: 45
FR DE IT ES RO GB PL PT BE HU EL AT BG CZ SK DK LT HR SE SI NL LV LU IE FI EE CY MT
Total
72
88
66
47
31
62
49
20
21
18
20
16
17
18
12
13
10
10
19
8
24
7
6
6
12
6
5
5
icon: S&D S&D
175

Croatia S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

For (1)

1

Netherlands S&D

3

Latvia S&D

1

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Ireland S&D

For (1)

1

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1

Cyprus S&D

2

Malta S&D

3
icon: PPE PPE
202

Belgium PPE

4

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Lithuania PPE

1

Luxembourg PPE

3

Ireland PPE

2

Finland PPE

For (1)

Against (1)

2

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Cyprus PPE

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
65

Romania ALDE

3

United Kingdom ALDE

1

Austria ALDE

For (1)

1

Denmark ALDE

3

Croatia ALDE

2

Slovenia ALDE

For (1)

1

Latvia ALDE

1

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Finland ALDE

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

4

Estonia ALDE

3
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
47

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

5

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Hungary Verts/ALE

2

Austria Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Lithuania Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Croatia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Slovenia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Estonia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
44

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

3

Ireland GUE/NGL

2

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2
icon: ECR ECR
68

Italy ECR

2

Romania ECR

For (1)

1

Greece ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Bulgaria ECR

Against (1)

2

Czechia ECR

2

Lithuania ECR

1

Croatia ECR

For (1)

1

Netherlands ECR

2

Latvia ECR

For (1)

1

Finland ECR

Abstain (1)

2
icon: ENF ENF
36

Romania ENF

1

United Kingdom ENF

Against (1)

1

Poland ENF

2

Belgium ENF

For (1)

1

Austria ENF

3

Netherlands ENF

3
icon: NI NI
11

France NI

2

Germany NI

For (1)

Against (1)

2

United Kingdom NI

For (1)

1

Poland NI

Abstain (1)

1

Hungary NI

For (1)

1
icon: EFDD EFDD
40

France EFDD

1

Poland EFDD

1

Czechia EFDD

Against (1)

1

Lithuania EFDD

For (1)

1

Sweden EFDD

2
AmendmentsDossier
417 2015/2137(INI)
2015/11/11 DEVE 44 amendments...
source: 571.519
2015/11/19 ENVI 373 amendments...
source: 571.781

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

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  • date: 2015-07-09T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: False committee: DEVE date: 2015-09-23T00:00:00 committee_full: Development rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: SEBASTIÀ Jordi body: EP shadows: group: EPP name: LINS Norbert group: S&D name: KADENBACH Karin group: ALDE name: BEARDER Catherine group: GUE/NGL name: BOYLAN Lynn group: Verts/ALE name: AUKEN Margrete group: EFD name: AFFRONTE Marco responsible: True committee: ENVI date: 2015-06-17T00:00:00 committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety rapporteur: group: ECR name: DEMESMAEKER Mark
  • date: 2015-12-22T00:00:00 body: EP type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: False committee: DEVE date: 2015-09-23T00:00:00 committee_full: Development rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: SEBASTIÀ Jordi body: EP shadows: group: EPP name: LINS Norbert group: S&D name: KADENBACH Karin group: ALDE name: BEARDER Catherine group: GUE/NGL name: BOYLAN Lynn group: Verts/ALE name: AUKEN Margrete group: EFD name: AFFRONTE Marco responsible: True committee: ENVI date: 2015-06-17T00:00:00 committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety rapporteur: group: ECR name: DEMESMAEKER Mark
  • date: 2016-01-08T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A8-2016-0003&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading title: A8-0003/2016 body: EP type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
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docs
  • date: 2015-10-27T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE569.794 title: PE569.794 type: Committee draft report body: EP
  • date: 2015-11-19T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE571.781 title: PE571.781 type: Amendments tabled in committee body: EP
  • date: 2015-12-08T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE569.717&secondRef=02 title: PE569.717 committee: DEVE type: Committee opinion body: EP
  • date: 2016-06-08T00:00:00 docs: url: /oeil/spdoc.do?i=26607&j=0&l=en title: SP(2016)242 type: Commission response to text adopted in plenary
events
  • date: 2015-07-09T00:00:00 type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2015-12-22T00:00:00 type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2016-01-08T00:00:00 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A8-2016-0003&language=EN title: A8-0003/2016 summary: The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety adopted an own-initiative report by Mark DEMESMAEKER (ECR, BE) on the mid-term review of the EU‟s biodiversity strategy. It welcomed the Commission report of mid-term review of 2 October entitled “ Mid-term review of the EU biodiversity strategy to 2020 ”, Members were extremely concerned about the constant loss of biodiversity. They noted that the 2020 targets will not be achieved without substantial additional efforts, and that there is great potential for improvement. The report noted that habitat fragmentation, degradation and destruction as a result of land-use change, climate change, unsustainable consumption patterns and the use of the seas are some of the main pressures and drivers causing biodiversity loss in the EU and beyond its borders. Accordingly, Members stressed the crucial importance of increased political will at the highest level to safeguard biodiversity and halt biodiversity loss, particularly through the implementation of existing legislation, enforcement and further integration of biodiversity protection into other policy areas and action by regional and local authorities to provide information about, and raise awareness of, biodiversity. The Commission was urged to enhance the role that biodiversity and ecosystems play in economic affairs , with a view to moving to a green economy and to step up the measures taken in support of the greening of the European Semester. Headline targets : the report called on the Commission and Member States, as a matter of urgency, to give higher priority to achieving the 2020 targets and or the EU to reduce its biodiversity footprint worldwide: Target 1: deploring the slow progress made by Member States in implementing EU environmental legislation, Members stressed that full implementation and enforcement, and adequate financing, of the nature directives are a vital prerequisite for ensuring the success of the strategy as a whole and meeting its headline target. They called on the Commission to improve the guidelines, which should facilitate the full implementation and enforcement of the directives. They also urged Member States to complete the designation of terrestrial and marine Natura 2000 sites and draw up management plans, in consultation with all stakeholders. They reiterated their previous calls for EU co-funding for the management of Natura 2000 sites. Target 2: the report called on the Commission to come forward with a specific proposal for the development of a trans-European network for green infrastructure (TEN-G) by 2017. It encouraged the joint development, in conjunction with the Member States, of a strategy for European wildlife corridors for targeted species. Member States were called upon to: (i) develop and implement ecosystem restoration prioritisation frameworks immediately; (ii) prioritise the target of restoring 15 % of degraded ecosystems by 2020 and to use the appropriations available within the MFF for this purpose. Target 3: incorporating nature conservation into other policy areas remains of paramount importance, and Members stressed the crucial role of agriculture and forestry in this connection. They pointed out that restoring, preserving and enhancing ecosystems related to agriculture and forestry, including in Natura 2000 areas, is highlighted as one of six key priorities for rural development in the EU. Member States were asked to make better use of existing CAP and cohesion policy instruments to assist farmers and forestry operators in achieving biodiversity targets. The Commission was called upon to: (i) promote the sustainable management of the world's forests by ensuring ecological processes by respecting the rights of indigenous people to sustain forest resources; (ii) prohibit the destruction of natural forests; (iii) safeguard endangered species and (iv) ban toxic pesticides and the planting of genetically modified trees. Target 4: the report called on the Commission and Member States to implement the reformed Common Fisheries Policy correctly and promptly, applying ecosystem-based fisheries management by, inter alia, promoting sustainable and innovative catch methods. It stressed the importance of reducing pollution in order to safeguard marine biodiversity and stocks. Target 5: the Commission was urged to establish, in accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014, an accurate and comprehensive list of invasive alien species which are of concern to the Union. Such a list should not be limited to a fixed number of species and should include complete and coherent implementation actions – underpinned by appropriate resources – aimed at achieving the targets. Target 6: the Commission and Member States were urged to fully endorse and facilitate the transition to a circular economy , and to phase out environmentally harmful subsidies by 2020 ensuring that evaluations of such subsidies are completed by 2016 and that reporting requirements are incorporated into relevant EU sectoral policy areas. The way ahead : additional measures : the report encourages the Commission and Member States to gather information and to develop appropriate frameworks to prevent habitat fragmentation and the net loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services by working with local authorities and civil society. Such a framework must comprise a bundle of complementary measures that address the root causes of biodiversity loss and improve the integration of biodiversity in sectoral policies, including agriculture, forestry, fisheries, energy and transport. In order to use the available resources more efficiently and in a more targeted manner, the Commission should draw up specific criteria for the Natural Capital Financing Facility , which must guarantee that projects deliver appropriate, positive and scientifically tangible results for biodiversity. The report also stressed the importance of: innovation, research and development in order to achieve the objectives of the nature directives; expanding the multi-fund approach to biodiversity financing; improving coherence across relevant sectoral policies with a view to incorporating biodiversity goals; establishing an EU framework for environmental inspections; launching a European initiative on pollinators; fully applying the precautionary principle when authorising the use and the environmental release of living modified organisms; including matters relating to the environment and climate change in international agreements; not authorising any new hydraulic fracturing operations in the EU on the basis of the precautionary principle and the principle that preventive action should be taken. In view of the failure to meet the biodiversity targets for 2020, the Commission was asked to provide Parliament with two-yearly reports in which the Council and the Commission elaborate on the state of play, reasons for non-achievement and the strategy for ensuring future compliance.
  • date: 2016-02-01T00:00:00 type: Debate in Parliament body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20160201&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2016-02-02T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=26607&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2016-02-02T00:00:00 type: Debate in Parliament body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20160202&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2016-02-02T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2016-0034 title: T8-0034/2016 summary: The European Parliament adopted by 592 votes to 52, with 45 abstentions, a resolution on the mid-term review of the EU‟s biodiversity strategy. Increased political will : whilst welcoming the Commission report of mid-term review of 2 October entitled “ Mid-term review of the EU biodiversity strategy to 2020 ”, Parliament expressed extreme concern about the constant loss of biodiversity. It noted that the 2020 targets will not be achieved without additional, substantial and continuous efforts and that despite the positive impact of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives, there is still great potential for improvement. Parliament noted that habitat fragmentation, degradation and destruction as a result of land-use change, climate change, unsustainable consumption patterns and the use of the seas are some of the main pressures and drivers causing biodiversity loss in the EU and beyond its borders. Deploring the fact that, in Europe, around a quarter of wild species are at risk of extinction and many ecosystems are degraded, it recalled that the socio ‑ economic opportunity cost of missing the biodiversity headline target is estimated to be EUR 50 billion a year . Accordingly, Parliament: stressed the crucial importance of increased political will at the highest level to safeguard biodiversity and halt biodiversity loss, particularly through the implementation of existing legislation, enforcement and further integration of biodiversity protection into other policy areas and action by regional and local authorities to provide information about, and raise awareness of, biodiversity; urged the Commission to enhance the role that biodiversity and ecosystems play in economic affairs , with a view to moving to a green economy and to step up the measures taken in support of the greening of the European Semester; suggested that the economic value of biodiversity should be reflected in indicators which guide decision-making. Headline targets : Parliament called on the Commission and Member States, as a matter of urgency, to give higher priority to achieving the 2020 targets and or the EU to reduce its biodiversity footprint worldwide: Target 1: deploring the slow progress made by Member States in implementing EU environmental legislation, Members stressed that full implementation and enforcement, and adequate financing, of the nature directives are a vital prerequisite for ensuring the success of the strategy as a whole and meeting its headline target. They called on the Commission to: (i) improve the guidelines, which should facilitate the full implementation and enforcement of the directives; (ii) identify and compile the relevant national budget lines without delay. They also urged Member States to complete the designation of terrestrial and marine Natura 2000 sites and draw up management plans, in consultation with all stakeholders. They reiterated their previous calls for EU co-funding for the management of Natura 2000 sites. Target 2: Parliament called on the Commission to come forward with a specific proposal for the development of a trans-European network for green infrastructure (TEN-G) by 2017. It encouraged the joint development, in conjunction with the Member States, of a strategy for European wildlife corridors for targeted species. Member States were called upon to: (i) develop and implement ecosystem restoration prioritisation frameworks immediately; (ii) prioritise the target of restoring 15 % of degraded ecosystems by 2020 and to use the appropriations available within the MFF for this purpose. Target 3: incorporating nature conservation into other policy areas remains of paramount importance. Parliament stressed the crucial role of agriculture and forestry in this connection. Member States were asked to make better use of existing CAP and cohesion policy instruments to assist farmers and forestry operators in achieving biodiversity targets. Financial resources under the CAP should be redirected from subsidising environmentally harmful activities to financing sustainable agricultural practices. The Commission was called upon to: (i) promote the sustainable management of the world's forests by ensuring ecological processes by respecting the rights of indigenous people to sustain forest resources; (ii) prohibit the destruction of natural forests; (iii) safeguard endangered species and (iv) ban toxic pesticides and the planting of genetically modified trees. Target 4: Parliament called on the Commission and Member States to implement the reformed Common Fisheries Policy correctly and promptly, applying ecosystem-based fisheries management by, inter alia, promoting sustainable and innovative catch methods. It stressed the importance of reducing pollution in order to safeguard marine biodiversity and stocks. Target 5: the Commission was urged to establish, in accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014, an accurate and comprehensive list of invasive alien species which are of concern to the Union. Such a list should not be limited to a fixed number of species and should include complete and coherent implementation actions – underpinned by appropriate resources – aimed at achieving the targets. Target 6: the Commission and Member States were urged to fully endorse and facilitate the transition to a circular economy , and to phase out environmentally harmful subsidies by 2020 ensuring that evaluations of such subsidies are completed by 2016 and that reporting requirements are incorporated into relevant EU sectoral policy areas. The way ahead : additional measures : Parliament encouraged the Commission and Member States to gather information and to develop appropriate frameworks to prevent habitat fragmentation and the net loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services by working with local authorities and civil society. Such a framework must comprise a bundle of complementary measures that address the root causes of biodiversity loss and improve the integration of biodiversity in sectoral policies, including agriculture, forestry, fisheries, energy and transport. In order to use the available resources more efficiently and in a more targeted manner, the Commission should draw up specific criteria for the Natural Capital Financing Facility , which must guarantee that projects deliver appropriate, positive and scientifically tangible results for biodiversity. The resolution also stressed the importance of: innovation, research and development in order to achieve the objectives of the nature directives; expanding the multi-fund approach to biodiversity financing; improving coherence across relevant sectoral policies with a view to incorporating biodiversity goals; establishing an EU framework for environmental inspections; launching a European initiative on pollinators; fully applying the precautionary principle when authorising the use and the environmental release of living modified organisms; including matters relating to the environment and climate change in international agreements; not authorising any new hydraulic fracturing operations in the EU on the basis of the precautionary principle and the principle that preventive action should be taken. In view of the failure to meet the biodiversity targets for 2020, the Commission was asked to provide Parliament with two-yearly reports in which the Council and the Commission elaborate on the state of play, reasons for non-achievement and the strategy for ensuring future compliance.
  • date: 2016-02-02T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
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  • 3.70.01 Protection of natural resources: fauna, flora, nature, wildlife, countryside; biodiversity
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  • The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety adopted an own-initiative report by Mark DEMESMAEKER (ECR, BE) on the mid-term review of the EU‟s biodiversity strategy.

    It welcomed the Commission report of mid-term review of 2 October entitled “Mid-term review of the EU biodiversity strategy to 2020”, Members were extremely concerned about the constant loss of biodiversity. They noted that the 2020 targets will not be achieved without substantial additional efforts, and that there is great potential for improvement.

    The report noted that habitat fragmentation, degradation and destruction as a result of land-use change, climate change, unsustainable consumption patterns and the use of the seas are some of the main pressures and drivers causing biodiversity loss in the EU and beyond its borders.

    Accordingly, Members stressed the crucial importance of increased political will at the highest level to safeguard biodiversity and halt biodiversity loss, particularly through the implementation of existing legislation, enforcement and further integration of biodiversity protection into other policy areas and action by regional and local authorities to provide information about, and raise awareness of, biodiversity.

    The Commission was urged to enhance the role that biodiversity and ecosystems play in economic affairs, with a view to moving to a green economy and to step up the measures taken in support of the greening of the European Semester.

    Headline targets: the report called on the Commission and Member States, as a matter of urgency, to give higher priority to achieving the 2020 targets and or the EU to reduce its biodiversity footprint worldwide:

    Target 1: deploring the slow progress made by Member States in implementing EU environmental legislation, Members stressed that full implementation and enforcement, and adequate financing, of the nature directives are a vital prerequisite for ensuring the success of the strategy as a whole and meeting its headline target. They called on the Commission to improve the guidelines, which should facilitate the full implementation and enforcement of the directives. They also urged Member States to complete the designation of terrestrial and marine Natura 2000 sites and draw up management plans, in consultation with all stakeholders. They reiterated their previous calls for EU co-funding for the management of Natura 2000 sites. Target 2: the report called on the Commission to come forward with a specific proposal for the development of a trans-European network for green infrastructure (TEN-G) by 2017. It encouraged the joint development, in conjunction with the Member States, of a strategy for European wildlife corridors for targeted species.

    Member States were called upon to: (i) develop and implement ecosystem restoration prioritisation frameworks immediately; (ii) prioritise the target of restoring 15 % of degraded ecosystems by 2020 and to use the appropriations available within the MFF for this purpose.

    Target 3: incorporating nature conservation into other policy areas remains of paramount importance, and Members stressed the crucial role of agriculture and forestry in this connection. They pointed out that restoring, preserving and enhancing ecosystems related to agriculture and forestry, including in Natura 2000 areas, is highlighted as one of six key priorities for rural development in the EU.

    Member States were asked to make better use of existing CAP and cohesion policy instruments to assist farmers and forestry operators in achieving biodiversity targets.

    The Commission was called upon to: (i) promote the sustainable management of the world's forests by ensuring ecological processes by respecting the rights of indigenous people to sustain forest resources; (ii) prohibit the destruction of natural forests; (iii) safeguard endangered species and (iv) ban toxic pesticides and the planting of genetically modified trees.

    Target 4: the report called on the Commission and Member States to implement the reformed Common Fisheries Policy correctly and promptly, applying ecosystem-based fisheries management by, inter alia, promoting sustainable and innovative catch methods. It stressed the importance of reducing pollution in order to safeguard marine biodiversity and stocks.

    Target 5: the Commission was urged to establish, in accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014, an accurate and comprehensive list of invasive alien species which are of concern to the Union. Such a list should not be limited to a fixed number of species and should include complete and coherent implementation actions – underpinned by appropriate resources – aimed at achieving the targets.

    Target 6: the Commission and Member States were urged to fully endorse and facilitate the transition to a circular economy, and to phase out environmentally harmful subsidies by 2020 ensuring that evaluations of such subsidies are completed by 2016 and that reporting requirements are incorporated into relevant EU sectoral policy areas.

    The way ahead: additional measures: the report encourages the Commission and Member States to gather information and to develop appropriate frameworks to prevent habitat fragmentation and the net loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services by working with local authorities and civil society. Such a framework must comprise a bundle of complementary measures that address the root causes of biodiversity loss and improve the integration of biodiversity in sectoral policies, including agriculture, forestry, fisheries, energy and transport.

    In order to use the available resources more efficiently and in a more targeted manner, the Commission should draw up specific criteria for the Natural Capital Financing Facility, which must guarantee that projects deliver appropriate, positive and scientifically tangible results for biodiversity.

    The report also stressed the importance of:

    • innovation, research and development in order to achieve the objectives of the nature directives;
    • expanding the multi-fund approach to biodiversity financing;
    • improving coherence across relevant sectoral policies with a view to incorporating biodiversity goals;
    • establishing an EU framework for environmental inspections;
    • launching a European initiative on pollinators;
    • fully applying the precautionary principle when authorising the use and the environmental release of living modified organisms;
    • including matters relating to the environment and climate change in international agreements;
    • not authorising any new hydraulic fracturing operations in the EU on the basis of the precautionary principle and the principle that preventive action should be taken.

    In view of the failure to meet the biodiversity targets for 2020, the Commission was asked to provide Parliament with two-yearly reports in which the Council and the Commission elaborate on the state of play, reasons for non-achievement and the strategy for ensuring future compliance.

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  • group: Verts/ALE name: SEBASTIÀ Jordi
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ALDE
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BEARDER Catherine
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BOYLAN Lynn
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    • body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Development committee: DEVE
    • body: EP shadows: group: EPP name: LINS Norbert group: S&D name: KADENBACH Karin responsible: True committee: ENVI date: 2015-06-17T00:00:00 committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety rapporteur: group: ECR name: DEMESMAEKER Mark
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      procedure
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      2015/2137(INI)
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      Mid-term review of the EU's Biodiversity Strategy
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      3.70.01 Protection of natural resources: fauna, flora, nature, wildlife, countryside; biodiversity