EU & International Unit

A | A | A

You are here:
Home > Environment > EU & International Unit

Gaeilge ››› English ›››

EU Environmental Council
Oireachtas Scrutiny
International Bodies
United Nations Environment Programme
Global Environment Facility
Commission on Sustainable Development
Further Information

EU Environment Council

Four times a year, the Environment Ministers of the EU Members States and the EU Environment Commissioner meet in the Environment Council to develop European environment policy, and policies towards sustainable development at a global level. Over the course of the year, there are usually two meetings held in Luxembourg and two meetings in Brussels. Reports of Council meetings are available on the EUROPA website (external link), the portal site of the EU.

The Presidency of the Council is held for six months by each Member State on a rotational basis. From July to December 2010, Belgium will host the Presidency followed by Hungary from January to June 2011 and Poland from July to December 2011. Visit the Belgian Presidency website (external link).

Oireachtas Scrutiny

Legislative proposals produced by the EU are subject to scrutiny by the Oireachtas under the European Union (Scrutiny) Act, 2002. Information notes are provided to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on EU Scrutiny on legislative proposals falling within the responsibility of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Joint-Committee examines these information notes and may refer the matter for further scrutiny to the relevant sectoral Oireachtas Joint Committee. Schedules of documents for scrutiny and reports of the various Oireachtas committee meetings are available from the European Affairs section of the Oireachtas website (external link) .

International Bodies

In recognition of the transboundary nature of many environmental problems, Ireland participates in international work to address regional and global environmental problems including actively engaging with the following international bodies:

United Nations Environment Programme

The Environment Fund of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is a voluntary fund established in 1972 to provide additional financing for environmental programmes. The mission statement of the United Nations Environment Programme is “to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations”.

All members of the United Nations, including the Member states of the EU, are members of UNEP (external link).

Global Environment Facility

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is an independent financial organisation that provides grants to developing countries for projects that benefit the global environment and promote sustainable livelihoods in local communities. The Global Environment Facility’s portfolio of activities is wide ranging: reducing the risk of climate change, conserving and sustainably using biological diversity, protecting the ozone layer, safeguarding international waters, eliminating persistent organic pollutants, and promoting sustainable land management.

Ireland has been a member of the Global Environment Facility since 1994. Further information on the GEF is availableon the GEF website (external link) .

Commission on Sustainable Development

Following the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the UN General Assembly established the Commission on Sustainable Development in order to ensure effective follow up to the summit. The Commission has met every year since, in the UN headquarters in New York. The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government leads Irish representation at the annual meeting of the Commission having regard to the sustainable development focus. The Commission meets in two-year cycles, with each cycle focussing on clusters of related issues.

See http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/index.shtml for details of the current cycle of the Commission. (2009/2011) focuses on Transport, Chemicals, Waste Management, Mining, Sustainable Consumption and Production.