08/01/2004
Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.
Gallagher emphasises environmental agenda during EU Presidency
"The environment is a key priority during the Irish Presidency of the EU over the next six months", said Pat the Cope Gallagher, Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government at a special European Parliament Public Hearing on waste prevention and recycling in Brussels today (7 January).
The hearing was the first stage in a public consultation process initiated by the European Parliament to assist in formulating its position on a recent EU Commission communication "Towards a Thematic Strategy on Waste Prevention and Recycling", aimed at developing new approaches towards waste prevention, recycling and waste management generally in the European Union. The communication is one of three inter-linked documents developed by the EU Commission on Waste Prevention and Recycling, Integrated Product Policy and the Sustainable Use of Natural Resources.
"An extensive corpus of legislation and practice guides performance across a range of waste streams. But waste growth remains relentless", Minister of State Gallagher stated. "New policies need to be crafted to meet the demands of a much more complex and sophisticated waste sector in a greatly expanded European Union", he added.
Referring to the accession of the ten new Member States on 1 May next, Minister of State Gallagher stated that "we are committed to growth and social progress throughout the enlarged Community, decoupled from environmental damage". In this regard, he referred to the continuing need for balance between, and integration of, economic, social and environmental objectives in the interests of sustainable development.
"Better waste management is, of course, a critical test of sustainable development. Our current debate on Waste Prevention and Recycling is premised on a recognition that today's policies and practices may no longer be sufficient to meet the challenges presented by modern production, consumption and lifestyle choices", stated Minister of State Gallagher. He further stated that he hoped the Irish Presidency would provide a positive perspective to assist the accession states in the challenges ahead.
The Minister of State also indicated that Ireland intended to play a lead role in co-ordinating the development of the Thematic Strategy during its Presidency.