Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1174220
OPINION 26 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 6 OCTOBER 2019 Amongst my environmental priorities was to help steer Europe towards a more circular economy A Green Deal for Europe Karmenu Vella Karmenu Vella was European Commissioner for the Environment OVER the past five years, I have sometimes thought of the European Commission as a large sea-going vessel. It can feel static and monu- mental when things are quiet, but when a storm hits, it cuts through the waves with power- ful engines. Now it is time for the crew to change. A time of continuity and innovation. I was delighted last Wednes- day to see the responsible Eu- ropean Parliament committees confirming my Maltese suc- cessor Helena Dalli's nomina- tion as the EU Commissioner for Equality. Helena's expertise in this field will ensure that equality is applied across the EU policies. Five years at the helm of the environment, maritime affairs and fisheries portfolio made for an exciting journey. Amongst my environmental priorities was to help steer Europe towards a more circu- lar economy. The transition from a linear to a circular economy is an opportunity to transform our economy and make it more sustainable. The Circular Economy Action Plan set ambitious measures to minimise waste generation and maintain the value of products, materials and resources in the economy for as long as pos- sible. Three years later, all 54 of the actions included in the circular economy plan have been delivered. The new waste legislation already in force makes Europe a global front- runner in waste management. The Single-Use Plastics Direc- tive is the world's most com- prehensive legal instrument to address the problem of marine litter. Circular activities such as repair, reuse and recycling now generate almost 147 bil- lion Euro in value added. The Environment Council this week saw the EU28 opting to up the level of ambition for the circular economy, by tak- ing it to new areas like textiles, food and ICT. I am sure that my new portfolio successor Commissioner for Environ- ment and Ocean Virginijus Sinkevicius will relish the prospect, and I wish him every success in that endeavour. The Council also united around the need for a new 8th Environmental Action Plan – a guiding framework focus- ing on delivering resource- efficient, low carbon growth, protecting our natural capital and safeguarding the health and well-being of our citizens. An important guide for all Member States, including of course, our own. As we saw from the recent report of the IPBES, a UN inter-governmental panel of renowned scientists, nature is under threat like never before. This, despite all the achieve- ments of the past five years such as the thorough check-up of the EU's nature legislation, and the rigorous EU action plan to ensure it delivers. More than two-thirds of the 112 actions included in the Action Plan for Nature, People and the Economy are deliv- ered, with updated Natura 2000 guidance documents, new plans for habitats and spe- cies, and an increase in LIFE funding of 10%. The remaining actions are well under way. Yet more is needed. As European Commission- er, I committed to safeguard the health and well-being of our citizens by addressing harmful pollutants. It is sim- ply unacceptable that every year more than 400,000 EU citizens die prematurely due to polluted air. In 2016, as part of the Clean Air Policy Package, the co- legislators adopted a new National Emissions Ceilings Directive. This directive aims to reduce by almost 50% the negative health impacts of air pollution, such as respiratory diseases and premature death, by 2030. This Commission has also responded to the citizens' concerns related to water. The water proposals, on better Drinking Water and water recycling, are still in the works, but we are closing in on adop- tion and they will represent further concrete progress. When I look ahead at the priorities of the new Com- mission, my greatest satisfac- tion is to see that the first and top priority is a "Green Deal" for Europe. I have no doubt that this is also thanks to our efforts to ensure sustainable management of our environ- ment and to deliver policies that bring tangible benefits to our citizens. These policies also helped the EU to main- tain its international lead in environmental issues and to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It is simply unacceptable that every year more than 400,000 EU citizens die prematurely due to polluted air