Cyprus and Sweden discuss environmental priorities of Swedish EU Presidency

One of the main priorities of the Swedish EU Presidency on environmental policy will be to reach an international agreement in Copenhagen regarding climate change, the Swedish Environment Minister Andreas Carlgren has said here today.

Speaking after presenting the priorities and aims of the Swedish Presidency on environmental policy in a meeting with the Cypriot Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Michalis Polynikis, Carlgren pointed out that the Swedish Presidency is very ambitious on this issue.

“There is no plan B and we expect a result in Copenhagen,” he said, adding that one of the main issues will be to make sure that sufficient emission reductions will be agreed by the developed countries but also by emerging economies like China, Brazil, South Africa.

He also stressed the importance for EU to upgrade from 20% emission reductions by 2020 to 30% emission reductions by the same year.

“That would be important for Europe, that would be important for the world and will also have a great impact here on Cyprus,” he said adding that part of the meeting with the Cypriot Minister was focused on the fact Cyprus is expected to be one of the first EU countries to experience serious climate threat.

In his remarks, the Minister of Agriculture Michalis Polynikis said that the discussion covered a wide range of issues related to the environmental policy priorities of the Swedish Presidency such as climate change, sustainable development, eco-efficient economy, biodiversity and the IPPC directive.

“In many issues I would rather say that we have common approach,” he said, noting nevertheless that in some issues the Cypriot Ministry has already expressed its concerns.

“We delivered our messages to the Swedish Presidency, hoping that on the way we will have the possibility to further exchange views and to support our approaches,” he added.