Environmental results during the Swedish EU Presidency - Main contents

During the autumn of 2009, Sweden has been President of the EU Council of Ministers. The climate issue has been highlighted from a broader perspective together with an eco-efficient economy, biodiversity and the marine environment.

The climate - a key issue for Sweden’s entire Presidency

Several ministerial configurations have discussed the climate issue during the autumn’s council sessions and informal ministerial meetings. The climate has, for example, been discussed by environment, energy and finance ministers as well as in the European Council.

At the Environment Council in Brussels on 22 December the EU's environment ministers discussed the outcome of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen on 7-18 December. Ministers expressed disappointment over the outcome of the meeting in Copenhagen and agreed that the EU should continue to strive for high ambitions and leadership in the work on climate change. The ministers will continue to discuss how to continue with the issue at the informal meeting of environment ministers in Seville on 15-17 January 2010.

Four environmental issues have been given top priority

During the Swedish Presidency, the spotlight has been turned on the climate issue from a broader perspective. Four environmental issues have been highlighted as particularly important, one of which is the climate. The other three are: an eco-efficient economy, biodiversity and the marine environment, focusing on the Baltic Sea.

“The economic significance of biodiversity must be brought to the fore. Putting a price on the services provided by nature is one way of clarifying what is required to preserve biodiversity. Our approach to nature’s services must change. We must use the ecosystems without using up nature’s capital,” says Environment Minister Andreas Carlgren.