Europaudvalget 2004-05 (2. samling)
KOM (2003) 0492 Bilag 3
Offentligt
Chairman of the European Affairs Committee
Parliament of Denmark
To xxx
17 December 2004
Ref.No. EUU 225/MATA
Dear colleague,
At the COSAC-meeting in the Hague 23 November 2004 the Danish delegation brought up the problem
with the
proposal on the European Parliament and Council Regulation on limiting emissions to the at-
mosphere of certain greenhouse gases containing fluorine.
In the conclusions from the meeting COSAC
urges EU governments to live up to the Lisbon Strategy:
.. by ensuring more flexibility and well-functioning labour markets while respecting social cohesion,
more investment in education and research, more and better jobs, and further reductions in emissions of
greenhouse gases, with full respect for the ability of Member States to maintain or enact stricter envi-
ronmental legislation in order to live up to the principle of sustainable development, and highlights the
need for active involvement by national parliaments;
As mentioned in the meeting I now contact you with a plea to help us work for a reduction in CO
2
gases
at EU level. It is the Danish view both in Government and in Parliament that the proposal is a step for-
ward in the right direction for EU to fulfil the obligations in the Kyoto Protocol to reduce CO
2
emissions
when you look at the EU as a whole. But the proposal does have some unfortunate consequences and is
in conflict with the goals embedded in the Lisbon-Strategy, since the proposal ignores already existing
technology able to reduce CO
2
emission by making the use of the harmful greenhouse gases superfluous.
The Lisbon Strategy calls for respect for the environment in the core of growth and jobs. In pursuance of
the Lisbon Strategy Denmark has already by law prohibited the use of greenhouse gases containing fluo-
rine. Denmark invested in technology which combines innovative new technology with investments and
the creation of new jobs in line with the environmental policy goals in the Lisbon Strategy.
This means that the consequence of the decision made by the Council of Ministers for the Environment
on greenhouse gases is that this entire effort will be wasted and the regulation will come to represent a
political direction that forbids a country to use the technology developed to benefit employment and the
environment. The result will be that EU is harmonising environmental standards downwards in a country
solely out of deference to the single market, without taking account of the objectives regarding sustaina-
bility, and in conflict with the Lisbon processes.
So I urge you to help us work to tighten up the Commissions proposal - both during the second reading
in the European Parliament and in the Council.
Yours sincerely
Claus Larsen-Jensen
Direct Fax (+45) 33 37 36 90