European Commission Daily News – 1 April
EU and China step up their cooperation on environment, water and circular economy
From 1 to 3 April 2019, an EU delegation headed by EU Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella is visiting China to continue and deepen EU – China environmental bilateral relations. He will co-chair the 7th environmental dialogue and will initiate two new high-level dialogues on Water and Circular Economy. The Commissioner will meet several Chinese ministers to discuss shared priorities related to water and circular economy, wildlife and forest protection, the EU-China Ocean Partnership, and the fight against illegal fishing. Commissioner Vella said: “Both the EU and China are facing similar environmental challenges. Threats to biodiversity, pressures on scarce natural resources, waters and oceans as well as the threat of pollution require strong governance. Together we can better respond to these challenges and we can take the lead globally.” Circular economy is an important political priority both in the EU and in China as confirmed by the ‘Memorandum of Understanding on Circular Economy Cooperation‘ signed in July 2018. Taking into account the experience gained with the implementation of the EU Circular Economy Action Plan and the EU Plastic Strategy leaders will discuss how to accelerate bilateral collaboration to better respond to common challenges and support a global transition to a resource-efficient and circular economic model in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. Biodiversity will also be high on the agenda, looking ahead to the Biodiversity Summit in Chinanext year, where world leaders are expected to agree on a post-2020 plan to stop the rapid decline of the natural world. More information is available online. (For more information: Enrico Brivio – Tel.: + 32 229 56172; Stephan Meder – Tel.: +32 229 13917)
Vice-President Katainen in Finland for a visit at the European Chemicals Agency and for Citizens’ Dialogues
Vice-President Jyrki Katainen, responsible for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness, visits Helsinki, Finland, today 1st April. He will participate in a Citizens’ Dialogue on the Future of Europe and meet with the students of the European School in Helsinki to discuss the Circular Economy. He will also visit the European Chemicals Agency to discuss the reduction of intentionally added microplastics and meet the staff. The Vice-President will visit also Valio, a Finnish Dairy company, meet Juha Marttila, President of The Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK) and Timo Jaatinen, Director General of Finnish Forest Industries. Tomorrow, the Vice-President will bein Jyväskylä, Finland, where he will participate in a Citizens’ Dialogue at the University of Jyväskylä. He will meet the President of the University as well as its management board to discuss the focus and priorities of the University. He will attend a working lunch hosted by the Regional Council of Central Finland and visit circular and bioeconomy projects. (For more information: Annika Breidthardt – Tel.: +32 229 56153; Sophie Dupin de Saint-Cyr – Tel.: +32 229 5616)
EU discusses global food crises with international community and civil society
On 2-3 April 2019, the European Commission hosts the high-level event on food and agriculture in times of crisis, on behalf of the Global Network against Food Crises. The European Commission will co-launch the Global Report on Food Crises 2019, together with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP). The event will be attended by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini, Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica, Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides, and Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan. Together with representatives from the international community and civil society, they will discuss concrete ways to enhance cooperation for preventing and addressing food crises. A press release will be published tomorrow at 12:00 and a press conference will be held at 12:00 at “The Square” Brussels Conference Centre in Brussels, and will be available on EbS. (For more information: Carlos Martin Ruiz De Gordejuela – Tel.: +32 229 65322; Christina Wunder – Tel.: +32 229 92256)
Read the European Commission – Daily News in full here
