E.U. Announces a Rash of Programmes

By Hilmi Toros

As the heads-of-state segment of the World Summit on Sustainable Development got underway yesterday, the European Union’s top guns displayed both unity and divergence: unity in fresh appeals to both the United States and Russia to embrace the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gas emissions, but they appeared split on agricultural subsidies.

And, in a move to show that this summit is action-oriented, E.U. leaders announced a variety of new initiatives for new sustainable development projects.

In their statements and meetings with the media, they appeared optimistic that remaining differences could be overcome in the last two days of the summit. The main stumbling blocks seemed to be rewording the brief political declaration on energy in the 30,000-word plan of action for implementation.

“I am optimistic that compromise can be reached,” Danish Prime Minister and current E.U. President Anders Fogh Rasmussen told journalists. He also asked that future summits be more focussed, saying: “If we deal with everything, it risks being nothing.”

The pressure on both the United States and Russia not to discard the Kyoto Protocol built up as British Prime Minister Tony Blair, French President Jacques Chirac, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder as well as E.U. Commission President Romano Prodi issued strong calls for the two nations to fall in line with the rest of the world.

"The whole world must face up to the challenge of climate change," Blair stated. “Kyoto is right and it should be ratified by all of us.”

Referring to floods in parts of Europe and Asia, Chancellor Schroder declared, “the global increase in extreme weather shows very clearly that climate change is no longer a sceptical forecast, but bitter reality.” He said the summit should call on states to ratify the Kyoto Protocol so that it can enter into force before the end of this year.

“And I appeal to those industrial countries which are not acceding to the Kyoto Protocol at least to make an equal contribution toward reducing greenhouse gases.”

On the controversial energy topic, the German chancellor was optimistic, saying: “I expect us to agree on concrete objectives and measures in this field here in Johannesburg.” He also announced that Germany will host an international conference on renewable energy, will participate in the global energy agency network decided two days ago and will provide 500 million euro to promote cooperation in renewable energy over the next five years.

The E.U. has also launched a 700-million-euro assistance package in energy and will announce today a 1.4-billion-euro safe drinking water project in the developing world. At a joint news conference, Blair and Chirac also announced they would spearhead a partnership to attract private investment for sustainable development projects.

At another joint press conference after addressing the Plenary, both Prodi and Rasmussen spoke against agricultural subsidies. But, with French farmers among the major beneficiaries, President Chirac made no reference to the subject in his statement. On the farm issue, E.U. leaders also spoke of the need to reform the E.U.’s Common Agricultural Policy.

Chirac told the summit: “Our house is burning and we are blind to it … Ten years after Rio, we have no reason to celebrate.” He asked for “an alliance that will lead the developed countries to embark on the ecological revolution, the revolution of production and consumption models”.

His proposals to the summit included reaching 0.7 percent of GDP for official development assistance in 10 years; creation of an Economic and Social Security Council and the establishment of a World Environmental Organisation.

By announcing a flurry of new initiatives, the European Union is standing apart from the United States, which is resisting lavish outlays and ambitious targets and timetables.