EU policy news

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This section summarises recent EU policy news and opportunities that are relevant to geoscientists. It includes recently passed legislation, EU funding opportunities and EU Commission consultations.

The tags on the right-hand side of this page can be used to easily locate open EU funding calls sourced from the EU’s participant portal and the EU Commission consultations that are most likely to be of interest to EGU members. EU consultations allow individuals and organisations to provide expertise or submit their opinion on a particular issue.

If you would like to inform others about an EU geoscience-relevant news item or opportunity that is not listed below, please forward the details to the EGU’s Policy Officer, Chloe Hill via policy@egu.eu.

5 items found

European Consultation: Integrated water management – revised lists of surface and groundwater pollutants

EU consultations
1 September 2021

A recent ‘fitness check’ (evaluation) found EU water legislation to be broadly fit for purpose. However, improvement was found to be needed on aspects such as investment, implementing rules, integrating water objectives into other policies, chemical pollution, administrative simplification and digitalisation. While there have been a number of experts involved in this process already, this Consultation gives stakeholders who have not yet been involved with the process an opportunity to also provide feedback.

European Consultation: Protecting the marine environment – review of EU rules

EU consultations
25 August 2021

The marine environment is subject to multiple and often increasing pressures from human activities. The EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive was adopted in 2008 with the aim of supporting healthy, productive and resilient marine ecosystems and a more sustainable use of marine resources and the Commission is in the process of evaluating the Directive’s effectiveness and current relevance. The information collected from the consultation will be summarised by the Commission and, where possible, considered in the updated strategy.

Protecting nature against invasive alien species

General policy news
19 August 2021

The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre has also recently published Protecting nature against invasive alien species. This report details how animals and plants are introduced and why they represent a threat to native species and ecosystem services in Europe. The report explains how these invasive species cause damage worth billions of euros to the European economy every year and how a new “Invasive Alien Species in Europe” smartphone App can potentially help to collect data on where these species are.

Disastrous floods: how to better estimate risks and reduce impacts?

General policy news
12 August 2021

The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre has recently published a number of reports that highlight the important role geosciences play in European society. Their most recent report, Disastrous floods: how to better estimate risks and reduce impacts? outlines how we can better estimate the risks associated with floods and develop adequate risk reduction measures. Not only does this report outline the importance of increasing predictive abilities but also the role that cognitive biases play when perceiving risk.

The European Commission proposes transformation of EU economy and society to meet climate ambitions

General policy news
21 July 2021

In July 2021, the European Commission adopted a package of proposals to make the EU’s climate, energy, land use, transport and taxation policies fit for reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. This package aims to fundamentally transform Europe’s economy and create a society for a fair, green, and prosperous future.

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