EU-US High-Level Consultations on the Environment
The European Commission and the government of the United States conducted their annual High Level Consultations on the Environment, in Brussels, on 2-3 October 1996. These consultations were the first to be conducted since the New Transatlantic Agenda was adopted in December 1995. Under the New Transatlantic Agenda, the EU and the US agreed to intensify their cooperation on a broad range of issues of mutual concern, including the environment. During this year's discussions, the participants covered a very full agenda with particular attention being given to pressing global environmental issues such as trade and environment, climate change, chemicals, forests, and the forthcoming UN General Assembly Special Session on Sustainable Development. The delegations noted the importance of increasing consultation in the run-up to international negotiations and of improving efforts to coordinate the development of regulatory approaches. Both sides highlighted the usefulness of prior consultations in the context of negotiations on climate change, as well as in relation to biodiversity and biosafety. Several actions were proposed to expand cooperation in these areas including: - The organization of a joint air quality workshop to be held in 1997; - The organization of a transatlantic environmental conference on chemicals in 1998; - Improved efforts in the area of consumer education; - A possible workshop on biotechnology issues. In addition, both delegations agreed to hold technical meetings on ecolabelling. Other issues discussed included enforcement of international and domestic environmental regulations, waste issues, persistent organic pollutants, biodiversity, leg-hold traps, protection of the marine environment, and the good progress achieved in environmental cooperation with the New Independent States.
Paesi
United States