Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Yiannis Maniatis will chair the Councils of Environment (ENVI) and Energy Ministers (TTE-Energy), that will be held on Monday and Tuesday, 3 and 4 March, while he will also participate in the Conference organized by the European Commission on "Healthy Oceans - Productive Ecosystems: a European conference for the marine environment”.

The ENVI Council, starting at 11.30, will hold a public policy debate on a Commission communication on "A policy framework for climate and energy in the period from 2020 to 2030". Ministers will exchange views on a draft regulation amending directive 2001/18/EC as regards the possibility for member states to restrict or prohibit the cultivation of GMOs in their territory. In addition, ministers will exchange views on greening the European Semester, based on this year's annual growth survey. Over lunch, ministers will discuss the way forward for soil policy.

The Energy Council, starting at 9.30, will hold a public policy debate on the Commission communication on energy prices and costs in Europe. Ministers will also hold a public policy debate on the recently proposed Commission communication "A policy framework for climate and energy in the period from 2020 to 2030".

Minister Maniatis on Monday, 3 March, will deliver a speech at the conference “Healthy Oceans - Productive Ecosystems: a European conference for the marine environment”, joining the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, the European Commissioner responsible for the Environment, Janez Potočnik, and the Director of the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies, Klaus Topfer.

The “Healthy Oceans – Productive Ecosystems (HOPE) Conference” will bring together all those working with or in relation to the European marine environment providing the opportunity to discuss the progress made over the past 5 years, the problems that still remain and the solutions for improved coherence and better marine governance. It will draw on lessons learnt through the development and implementation of the MSFD and other relevant national, regional and international policies and conventions, in order to achieve the good environmental status of the European seas and ocean and their sustainable use. It will also provide a forum for a first discussion on the findings of the Commission’s assessment of the first round of implementation of the MSFD.

Live broadcasting of the Councils will be available here.

More information and web streaming for Healthy Oceans – Productive Ecosystems: a European conference for the marine environment:

 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/marine/hope-conference/index.htm