German-French environmental council

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The Franco-German Environment Council ( French Conseil Franco-allemand de l'Environnement (CFAE)) is a permanent body that coordinates Franco-German cooperation in the field of environmental policy . The council, founded in 1989, is intended not only to coordinate the two countries on environmental issues, but also to generate new initiatives and ideas. The Environment Council meets at least once a year.

History and tasks

During the Franco-German summit on July 6, 1971, the two countries agreed to work together on environmental policy. The permanent working group for environmental issues was set up for this purpose.

In the 1980s there was increased tension between France and Germany over environmental issues. The reason for this was that both countries tried to take on the pioneering role in the European Community in this area. It was often the standards of the pioneering country that also became the standard at European level; this led to increased political competition. In order to counteract this competitive climate, the plan arose to found a Franco-German environmental council. An exchange of notes on the establishment of such a council was finally signed by the foreign ministers of both countries at the 54th Franco-German consultations on November 2, 1989. The idea was to fight the environmental problems together on a bilateral and European level. The signal should be sent that cross-border cooperation is best for effectively tackling environmental pollution. The exchange of notes on the tasks of the council stated:

"A) To work towards a coordination of the environmental policies of both countries,

b) discuss environmental problems of a bilateral nature,

c) To advise the positions of both countries with regard to environmental policy within the European Communities and at international level,

d) To develop joint initiatives with regard to international environmental issues. "

structure

The respective ministries of the environment are chairmen of the council. H. the German Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety and the French Ministries for Environment and Sustainable Development. The council also includes high-ranking representatives from the federal states of the Federal Republic of Germany and high-ranking officials from the foreign ministries of both federal states. Other officials and environmental experts can be invited.

Example of an initiative

For example, the Environment Council was behind the initiative to set up a world environmental organization . In the final communique of the 15th Franco-German Environment Council in Royaumont on September 24th and 25th, 2006, it was said about the establishment of a United Nations Environment Organization (UNEO):

"In the opinion of the two ministers, a strong United Nations organization dedicated specifically to the environment appears more necessary than ever in view of the increasing global environmental problems: They drew a positive balance of the discussions in the United Nations General Assembly so far. Together with the European partners, they will become the use the constructive stance of many UN member states to come closer to realizing this important UN reform project, the upgrading of UNEP to a UN environmental organization (UNEO) .President Chirac held an international conference at the UN General Assembly in support of this idea for Invited to France in early 2007, which is warmly welcomed and supported by Federal Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel. "

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Martin Jänicke : Environmental Policy: Global at the End or Global at the End? Theses on ecological determinants of the world market , in: Ulrich Beck (Hg.): Perspektiven der Weltgesellschaft. Frankfurt am Main 1998, p. 334.
  2. ^ Exchange of notes on the establishment of the Franco-German Environmental Council on November 2, 1989 : (PDF; 126 kB)
  3. ↑ Federal Environment Ministry: Communique of the 15th Franco-German Environment Council on September 24 and 25, 2006 , (PDF; 126 kB)