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Common Position of Central Eastern European MEPs on the climate negotiations

Common Position of Central Eastern European MEPs on the climate negotiations

2009. 12. 04.

Having regard
– to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and to the Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC;
– to the forthcoming fifteenth Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC to be held in Copenhagen, Denmark between 7 and 18 December 2009;
– to the Conclusions of the European Council of 29-30 October;

Whereas
– acknowledging the importance to tackle the increasing threat of climate change and that of the negotiations towards an ambitious and comprehensive post-Kyoto agreement in Copenhagen in December 2009;
– supporting the idea that a strong and single EU mandate should be represented during those negotiations;

Taking into account, however, that
– our countries have fulfilled their emission reduction commitments under the Kyoto Protocol, contributing to an average decrease of CO2 emission of the EU27 and so helping the EU to lead the way in combating climate change;
– such decline is mostly attributed to the collapse of the heavy industry in the ex-socialist countries, and thus the costs of such significant CO2 reductions were already paid in the form of serious socio-economic crisis during the 1990’s, while supporting the economic growth of those Member States which could not meet their Kyoto goals;
– significant part of reduction achieved was also due to the introduction of stringent environmental legislation leading to modernisation of economic sectors by providing considerable investments within restructuring of member states ´ economies.

Therefore, welcoming the unique and successful action of our governments in the European Council of October 29-30, 2009 and putting forward the common interests of the Central Eastern European Member States in the European Parliament,

We hereby express our greatest support for the position of our countries

-    that the burden-sharing within the EU with respect to the international financing should reflect the economic development and solvency of the less prosperous Member States, as well as their achievement in the emission reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol in accordance with a proper adjustment mechanism;

-    that the right to carry over the excess amount of Assigned Amount Units from the current commitment period to the next one after 2013 should be preserved, accepting the condition that the revenues from the sales of such AAUs are used for accomplishing environmental goals.

Members of the European Parliament:

János Áder (Hungary); Zoltán Balczó (Hungary); Csaba Tabajdi (Hungary); Miroslav Ouzky (Chech Republic); Boguslaw Sonik (Poland); Elena Oana Antonescu (Romania); Miroslav Mikolasik (Slovakia); Justas Vincas Paleckis (Lithuania); Radvile Morkunaite (Lithuania)