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EU Environment Council

I will attend the Environment Council that takes place on 28 February in Brussels alongside my Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Climate Change and Industry, Nick Hurd MP.

Following the adoption of the agenda, the list of “A” items will be approved.

Under legislative deliberations, Council will debate a proposal to amend the Directive on cost-effective emission reductions and low-carbon investments (that is, the EU Emissions Trading System) with a view to reaching an agreed Council position or ‘General Approach’.

Under non-legislative activities, Council will exchange views on implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; and the links between Greening the European Semester and the recently-published EU Environment Implementation Review.

The following items will be discussed under ‘Any Other Business’:

a) Emissions Trading System (ETS) – Aviation.

b) EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy.

c) Natura 2000 in the European Solidarity Corps.

d) Scientific Conference on "Sustainable development and climate changes in the light of the encyclical letter of Holy Father Francis, entitled Laudato Sí" (Warsaw, 15 October 2016)

e) Luxembourg Circular Economy Hotspot (Luxembourg, 20–22 June 2017).

f) Paris Agreement: International developments.

g) Environmental concerns regarding a Belarus nuclear power plant.

On 23 June, the EU referendum took place and the people of the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union. Until exit negotiations are concluded, the UK remains a full member of the European Union and all the rights and obligations of EU membership remain in force. During this period the Government will continue to negotiate, implement and apply EU legislation. The outcome of these negotiations will determine what arrangements apply in relation to EU legislation in future once the UK has left the EU.