Chairperson of the Committee on Tourism, Agriculture, Ecology and Spatial Planning Mr Predrag Sekulić, PhD and Deputy Chairperson of the Committee Ms Jelisava Kalezić, professor PhD participated in the meeting of Chairpersons of Environment and Energy Committees of National Parliaments of the EU Member States, which was held in Dublin on 13th May.

The topic of the meeting was “Clean Energy for the Future”, with a special view to sustainable energy production, new EU Environment Action Programme and the progress achieved in combating climate change.

It was pointed out at the meeting that by 2030 the new climate and energy policy framework should ensure adequate investment to enable sustainable development, affordable energy prices and higher energy safety, but also to contribute to achieving a long term goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80-95% until 2050.

New, seventh in line, Environment Action Programme titled “Living well, within the limits of our planet” provides framework for EU policy in the field of the environment by 2020. The Programme sets a goal to preserve and promote biodiversity, develop green, more efficient economy, with regard to resource usage, and coherency of the environment policy.

It was concluded that the EU must endeavour to switch to green economy and complete integration of requirements for environment protection into other sector policies. Switching from traditional to alternative energy sources, especially the renewable ones, as well as better measures for energy efficiency, would require enhanced coordination at the EU level. Greater participation of the renewable energy sources and promotion of development of green-based technologies would help to build a more competitive, sustainable and significantly safer energy economy of Europe.

Among others, the following spoke at the meeting: European Commissioner for Energy Mr Günther Oettinger, Irish Minister for Energy Mr Pat Rabbitte, European Commissioner for Climate Action Ms Connie Hedegaard and director of the Environmental Protection Agency Ms Laura Burk.

The meeting was organised within the parliamentary dimension of the Irish presidency over the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2013.