PROVISIONAL VERSION 30.X.2007 Main results of the Council The Council adopted a Regulation on advanced therapy medicinal products. The Council adopted conclusions which reflect the EU's position in preparation for the 13th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to be held in Bali with the aim of launching the negotiation process for a global and comprehensive post-Kyoto agreement. The Council adopted conclusions which, taking account of the seriousness and the international dimension of water scarcity and droughts, point to the need for a review of the EU's strategy in this area. 14178/07 (Presse 247) 2 EN

PROVISIONAL VERSION 30.X.2007 CONTENTS1 PARTICIPANTS........................................................................................................................... ITEMS DEBATED WATER SCARCITY AND DROUGHTS Council Conclusions ................................................... GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS (GMOs) ................................................................... CLIMATE CHANGE Council conclusions................................................................................. FUELS.......................................................................................................................................... SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY......................................................................... OTHER BUSINESS ..................................................................................................................... OTHER ITEMS APPROVED EXTERNAL RELATIONS - Temporary reception of certain Palestinians ..................................................................................................... EUROPEAN SECURITY AND DEFENCE POLICY - EU Exercise Programme for the period 2008 2012...........................................................................................20 TRADE POLICY - Anti dumping Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film from India* ..................................................................20 - Repeal of anti dumping measures Recordable compact disks Taiwan and India............................................20 - Anti dumping Certain iron or steel ropes and cables Russia, Thailand and Turkey*......................................21 1 Where declarations, conclusions or resolutions have been formally adopted by the Council, this is indicated in the heading for the item concerned and the text is placed between quotation marks.

Documents for which references are given in the text are available on the Council's Internet site (http://www.consilium.europa.eu).

Acts adopted with statements for the Council minutes which may be released to the public are indicated by an asterisk; these statements are available on the Council's Internet site or may be obtained from the Press Office. 14178/07 (Presse 247) 3 EN

PROVISIONAL VERSION 30.X.2007 DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION - European Development Fund Contributions for 2007.....................................................................................21 - Centre for the Development of Enterprise 2008 Budget..................................................................................21 - ACP Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation 2008 Budget ................................................21 - ACP Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation Revision of the 2007 Budget* ......................21 AGRICULTURE - Fifth Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe .................................................................22 TRANSPORT - Agreement on air services with the United Arab Emirates ................................................................................22 HEALTH - Advanced therapy medicinal products..............................................................................................................22 APPOINTMENTS - European Economic and Social Committee......................................................................................................23 - Committee of the Regions ...............................................................................................................................23 TRANSPARENCY - Public access to documents..............................................................................................................................23 14178/07 (Presse 247) 4 EN

PROVISIONAL VERSION 30.X.2007 PARTICIPANTS The governments of the Member States and the European Commission were represented as follows: Belgium: Ms Evelyne HUYTEBROECK Minister of the Brussels Capital Regional Government, with responsibility for the Environment, Energy and Water Policy Bulgaria: Mr Atanas KOSTADINOV Deputy Minister for the Environment and Water Czech Republic: Mr Jan DUSIK Deputy Minister for the Environment, Legislation and International Relations Section Denmark: Ms Connie HEDEGAARD Minister for the Environment and for Nordic Cooperation Germany: Mr Sigmar GABRIEL Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Reactor Safety Estonia: Mr Jaanus TAMKIVI Minister for the Environment Ireland: Mr John GORMLEY Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government Greece: Mr Stavros KALOGIANNIS State Secretary for the Environment, Regional Planning and Public Works Spain: Ms Cristina NARBONA RUIZ Minister for the Environment Mr Manuel VAZQUEZ Minister for the Environment of the Autonomous Community of Galicia France: Ms Nathalie KOSCIUSKO MORIZET Minister of State with responsibility for Ecology Italy: Ms Laura MARCHETTI State Secretary for the Environment and Protection of Natural Resources Cyprus: Mr George CHACALLI Deputy Permanent Representative Latvia: Ms Lelde LICE LICITE Deputy Permanent Representative Lithuania: Mr Arnas KUNDROTAS Minister for the Environment Luxembourg: Mr Lucien LUX Minister for the Environment, Minister for Transport Hungary: Mr Gábor FODOR Minister for the Environment and Water Management Malta: Mr George PULLICINO Minister for Rural Affairs and the Environment Netherlands: Ms Jacqueline CRAMER Minister for Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment 14178/07 (Presse 247) 5 EN

PROVISIONAL VERSION 30.X.2007 Austria: Mr Josef PRÖLL Federal Minister for Agriculture, Forestry, the Environment and Water Management Poland: Ms Agnieszka BOLESTA Deputy State Secretary, Ministry of the Environment Portugal: Mr Francisco NUNES CORREIA Minister for the Environment, Regional Planning and Regional Development Mr Humberto ROSA State Secretary for the Environment Romania: Mr Silviu STOICA State Secretary, Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development Slovenia: Mr Janez PODOBNIK Minister for the Environment and Town and Country Planning Slovakia: Mr Jaroslav JADUS State Secretary at the Ministry of the Environment Finland: Mr Kimmo TIILIKANEN Minister for the Environment Sweden: Mr Andreas CARLGREN Minister for the Environment United Kingdom: Mr Hilary BENN Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Commission: Mr Stavros DIMAS Member 14178/07 (Presse 247) 6 EN

PROVISIONAL VERSION 30.X.2007 ITEMS DEBATED WATER SCARCITY AND DROUGHTS - Council Conclusions The Council adopted the conclusions given in 13888/07. 14178/07 (Presse 247) 7 EN

PROVISIONAL VERSION 30.X.2007 GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS (GMOs) The Council was invited to act on two proposals for Decisions1 partly repealing the provisional safeguard measures applied by Austria in respect of the use and sale of genetically modified maize lines MON 810 and T 25.

After views had been canvassed, it was found that the qualified majority required for adoption or rejection of the proposals could not be obtained. It is therefore up to the Commission to act on the proposed Decisions. - Maize lines MON 810 and T 25 By Decision of 22 April 1998, the Commission consented to the placing on the market of maize lines MON 810 and T 25 for all product uses (import, processing into food and feed products and cultivation). On 2 June 1999, Austria informed the Commission of its decision provisionally to prohibit the placing on the market of maize lines MON 810 and T 25 for all uses covered by the consent.

Following the entry into force of a new Directive on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms2, the Commission requested Austria to reconsider its safeguard clause. Austria provided the Commission with additional information in support of its position. The Commission consulted the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)3, which concluded in July 2004 that the information provided by Austria did not constitute new scientific evidence sufficient to justify prohibition of the use and sale in Austria of maize lines MON 810 and T 25.

On the basis of that opinion, the Commission submitted proposals for Decisions requesting Austria to repeal its provisional safeguard measures. On 24 June 2005, the Council rejected these proposals by qualified majority on the grounds that it needed additional evidence. 1 13701/07 and 13702/07. 2 Directive 2001/18/EC (OJ L 106, 17.4.2001, p. 1). 3 Authority which replaced the scientific committees concerned, see: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en.html. 14178/07 (Presse 247) 8 EN

PROVISIONAL VERSION 30.X.2007 In November 2005, the EFSA was again consulted by the Commission and asked in particular to take account of any scientific information obtained since the previous scientific opinion. In the opinion given on 29 March 2006, the EFSA concluded that there was nothing to suggest that continuing to place on the market maize lines MON 810 and T 25 could have adverse effects on human and animal health or the environment under the conditions on which consent was given1. Consequently, the Commission submitted new proposals to the Council requesting Austria to repeal the safeguard measures concerning maize lines MON 810 and T 25. On 18 December 2006, the Council rejected these proposals through decisions which refer solely to the environmental aspects of the safeguard clause, i.e. cultivation.

The food and feed safety aspects of maize lines MON 810 and T 25 have been assessed by the EFSA, which concluded that these products were unlikely to have any adverse effects on human and animal health. Accordingly, the Commission thought that its proposals should be amended to cover solely the food and feed aspects of the Austrian prohibition\. The Commission has therefore submitted amended proposals to the Council. 1 http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/science/gmo/gmo_opinions/1439.html. 14178/07 (Presse 247) 9 EN

PROVISIONAL VERSION 30.X.2007 CLIMATE CHANGE - Council conclusions The Council adopted the following conclusions: "The Council of the European Union, 1.

RECALLS the (Environment) Council conclusions of 20 February 2007 as well as the 2007 Heads of State and Government Spring European Council conclusions which contain an outline of the essential elements of an effective and ambitious framework beyond 2012 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), by enhancing its implementation and building upon and broadening the Kyoto Protocol architecture and providing a fair and flexible framework for the widest possible participation, in order to limit global warming to no more than 2°C above pre industrial levels; UNDERLINES the EU's determination to play a leading role in international climate protection; 2.

IS DEEPLY CONCERNED by the new evidence on the negative impacts of climate change that are unequivocally confirmed by the latest scientific findings reported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in the contributions of the Working Groups to its Fourth Assessment Report (AR4); EMPHASISES that the IPCC reports demonstrate even more clearly that the negative impacts of climate change are increasingly posing a serious risk to ecosystems, food production, the attainment of sustainable development and of the Millennium Development Goals as well as to human health and security, thereby strengthening the scientific underpinning of the 2°C objective; UNDERLINES the IPCC conclusion that it is economically and technically feasible to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at the level consistent with that objective; EMPHASISES that these reports also show that the window of opportunity to act is rapidly closing and that delaying action will increase the risks of dangerous climate change and that the benefits of strong global early action on climate change far outweigh the economic costs of action; 3.

WELCOMES the award of the Nobel peace prize for 2007 jointly to the IPCC and to former Vice President of the United States Al Gore for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change and so prevent possible conflicts in future; 4.

EMPHASISES the contribution of IPCC Working Group III to the AR4, which demonstrates that keeping the 2°C objective within reach, and hence limiting the negative impacts of climate change, requires stabilisation of the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere in line with the lowest stabilisation level assessed, i.e. about 450 ppmv CO2 eq; 5.

UNDERLINES that this will require global greenhouse gas emissions to peak within the next 10 to 15 years, followed by substantial global emission reductions to at least 50% below 1990 levels by 2050; 14178/07 (Presse 247) 10 EN

PROVISIONAL VERSION 30.X.2007 6.

STRESSES that the UNFCCC is the appropriate multilateral forum for reaching a global and comprehensive climate agreement; WELCOMES supporting initiatives to the UNFCCC process; in this context, IS ENCOURAGED by the strong political signal at the highest level from the UNSG High Level Event, that governments are ready to take decisive action under the UNFCCC leading to a breakthrough in Bali; WELCOMES the Heiligendamm Summit which reconfirmed commitment of all G8 countries to the UN climate process and identified 2009 as the date to conclude negotiations on a global agreement under the UNFCCC; RECOGNISES the valuable contribution of the Riksgränsen meeting in developing useful ideas for the Bali outcome; WELCOMES the outcome of the third ministerial meeting of the Gleneagles Dialogue with its input on mobilizing technology and investment; TAKES NOTE of the Major Economies' meeting, in particular the commitment to a successful outcome in Bali, and that any further meeting should be informed by that outcome; 7.

IS ENCOURAGED by the recent decision on the accelerated phase out of HCFCs under the Montreal Protocol which greatly contributes to the efforts of mitigating climate change; 8.

WELCOMES the report by the co facilitators of the "Dialogue on long term cooperative action to address climate change by enhancing implementation of the Convention"; BELIEVES that it offers a good basis to move forward; WELCOMES the positive and productive discussions at the preparatory meeting of ministers in Bogor on the main building blocks and the negotiation process for a global and comprehensive post 2012 agreement; STRESSES that, in order to provide for an appropriate and effective response to climate change, the Bali climate conference needs to lead to the engagement of all Parties in an inclusive negotiation process including both the Convention and Kyoto Protocol tracks; 9.

RECALLS the building blocks of an effective and appropriate global and comprehensive framework beyond 2012 identified by the 20 February 2007 (Environment) Council, and endorsed by the Spring European Council conclusions, which include: further developing a shared vision to reach the ultimate objective of the Convention; agreeing on deeper absolute emission reduction commitments by developed countries; facilitating further fair and effective contributions by other countries; extending the carbon market, including innovative and enhanced flexible mechanisms; increasing cooperation on technology, research, development, diffusion, deployment and transfer; enhancing efforts to address adaptation; 14178/07 (Presse 247) 11 EN

PROVISIONAL VERSION 30.X.2007 addressing emissions from international aviation and maritime transportation, making further use of the expertise, experience and work of relevant international organisations; reducing emissions from deforestation and enhancing sinks by sustainable forest management and land use practices; 10.

EMPHASISES that, as part of an overall agreement among all Parties, developed countries should commit to deeper mandatory absolute emission reductions; STRESSES that the lowest stabilisation level assessed by the IPCC in its AR4 would require the group of developed countries collectively to reduce their emissions in a range of 25 40% below 1990 levels by 2020 through a combination of domestic and international efforts; UNDERLINES that the EU's proposal for emission reduction commitments of the group of developed countries is consistent with this level of effort; URGES developed countries as a group to take the lead by committing to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases in the order of 30% by 2020 compared to 1990 and that the further work of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG) should be guided by this level of effort; 11.

RECALLS that the EU agreed an objective of a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 compared to 1990 as its contribution to a global and comprehensive agreement for the period beyond 2012, provided that other developed countries commit themselves to comparable emission reductions and economically more advanced developing countries to contributing adequately according to their responsibilities and respective capabilities; also RECALLS that, until a global and comprehensive post 2012 agreement is concluded, and without prejudice to its position in international negotiations, the EU made a firm independent commitment to achieve at least a 20% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 compared to 1990; 12.

IS ENCOURAGED by recent projections of greenhouse gas emissions that indicate that, on the assumption that Member States accelerate the full implementation of planned additional policies and measures and with the use of the Kyoto Mechanisms, the Community and the Member States listed in Annex B to the Kyoto Protocol will reach their Kyoto targets; TAKES NOTE of the latest available inventory data of 2005, showing that total greenhouse gas emissions in the EU 27 were 11% below the respective base years emissions and 1.5% below the 1990 base year emissions in the EU 15; 14178/07 (Presse 247) 12 EN

PROVISIONAL VERSION 30.X.2007 13.

CONSIDERS that commitments by all Parties should take into account the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities and their specific national and regional development priorities, objectives and circumstances, including changes in these; EMPHASISES that contributions by developing countries to the global effort of stabilising greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level consistent with the 2°C objective should be enhanced and that there are many policy options to substantially reduce the emission intensity of their economies where benefits outweigh costs and that support continued economic growth, strengthen energy security and benefit health; EMPHASISES that such contributions could be facilitated and enhanced by positive incentives, including through participation in a strengthened and broadened global carbon market, enhanced and additional crediting mechanisms, no lose targets and sectoral approaches, sustainable policies and measures and enhanced technological cooperation; TAKES the view that options for measuring and reporting such contributions should be explored; 14.

WELCOMES the UNFCCC Report on analysis of existing and potential investment and financial flows relevant to the development of an effective and appropriate international response to climate change, which shows that the additional investment and financial flows needed in 2030 to address climate change are large compared with the funding currently available under the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol, but small in relation to estimated global GDP and global investment in 2030; UNDERLINES that scaling up and re directing investment and finance flows will require vigorous action from all Parties; STRESSES the role of national governments in creating enabling national, regional and international environments, including regulation and market based incentives, to attract public and private finance for the deployment of low greenhouse gas emitting technologies and investment in infrastructure for clean development; in this context, FURTHER WELCOMES developing countries' efforts to create national strategies and action plans in order to attract finance for clean energy deployment, including, in particular, energy efficiency; ALSO WELCOMES the continuing efforts made by the World Bank and regional Development Banks in creating Clean Energy Investment Frameworks to assist countries in attracting finance for investment in clean energy and climate resilient development; 15.

STRESSES that a global carbon market is fundamental to assist in driving low carbon investment and to mobilising a significant part of the increased financial effort required for the global response to climate change; UNDERLINES the importance of further development of the Kyoto Protocol flexible mechanisms and additional crediting mechanisms in the future framework and the linking of emission trading schemes; UNDERLINES that the revision of the current CDM modalities should facilitate scaling up of investment; 16.

WELCOMES the International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP) declaration (Lisbon, 29 October 2007) aiming at creating an international forum of governments and public authorities, in order to establish an expert forum to discuss relevant questions on the design, compatibility and potential linkage of regional carbon markets; 14178/07 (Presse 247) 13 EN

PROVISIONAL VERSION 30.X.2007 17.

STRESSES that the international carbon market will need to be supplemented with additional public support to help leverage and redirect further private investment in the development, demonstration, deployment and transfer of low greenhouse gas emitting technologies, and that additional suitable financing instruments and mechanisms providing the right incentives will be necessary to deliver on these technologies; UNDERLINES the need for greater international cooperation on the research, development, demonstration, deployment and transfer of new technology as well as efforts for deployment and transfer of existing technology; RECOGNISES the urgency for redirecting and scaling up investment in low carbon energy technology globally, and the particular need for assisting developing countries in their efforts to decarbonising their economic growth through support for existing or new financing mechanisms and instruments, such as the Global Environment Facility, the Global Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fund (GEEREF) and funding to implement the Clean Energy Investment Frameworks; CONFIRMS the EU Member States' commitment to their respective financial obligations under the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol and AGREES to do more to mobilise the necessary finance in the most efficient and effective way as part of a global and comprehensive post 2012 framework; 18.

UNDERLINES the importance of integrating climate change into development cooperation; WELCOMES the Communication from the Commission "Building a Global Climate Change Alliance" between the European Union and poor developing countries most vulnerable to climate change, particularly the Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States; NOTES that this Alliance will provide for a platform for dialogue and exchange as well as targeted cooperation in the following areas: adaptation to climate change, reducing emissions from deforestation, enhancing participation in the Clean Development Mechanism, promoting disaster risk reduction and integrating climate change into poverty reduction efforts; WELCOMES the initial allocation of additional funding of 50m by the Commission for the start up of the initiative; STRESSES the need to continue to carefully consider the effects of EU and global climate and energy policies, especially on developing countries; 19.

REAFFIRMS that adaptation should be integrated into all relevant decision making processes; STRESSES that in addition to such mainstreaming there is a need for additional finance and targeted initiatives designed specifically to respond to climate change; TAKES THE VIEW that whilst adaptation on the ground is mainly in the realm of the private sector, governments and development cooperation actors, there is potential for the UNFCCC regime to enhance its role as a catalyst, stemming from the need to address the inequalities exacerbated by climate change, from the importance of sharing experiences and knowledge, and also from the potentially cross border implications of climate change and of adaptation; EMPHASISES that a post 2012 agreement should include a coherent framework for action on adaptation, which builds upon the lessons learned from the present ongoing processes and outputs; based on the principles of the UNFCCC, ACKNOWLEDGES the need to enhance the adequacy and predictability of future funding for adaptation, as part of an overall post 2012 agreement; furthermore, EMPHASISES the EU's determination to make the Adaptation Fund operational in Bali with a view to supporting concrete adaptation projects and programmes and to enhancing the predictability of funding; 14178/07 (Presse 247) 14 EN

PROVISIONAL VERSION 30.X.2007 20.

WELCOMES the Commission's green paper, "Adapting to climate change in Europe options for EU action" and the ongoing consultative process, which identifies priority actions for a flexible four pronged approach at the Community level, supplementing national, regional and local action: early action in the EU, integrating adaptation into EU external actions, reducing uncertainty by expanding the knowledge base through integrated climate research and involving European society, business and public sector in the preparation of coordinated and comprehensive adaptation strategies; 21.

EMPHASISES that emissions from deforestation in developing countries amount to about 20% of global carbon dioxide emissions and that concrete policies and actions as part of a global and comprehensive post 2012 agreement are needed to halt these emissions and reverse them within the next two to three decades; LOOKS FORWARD to a decision in Bali including a framework for the immediate initiation of pilot activities, indicative modalities, the identification of further methodological work and the agreement on a process to explore possibilities to take into account emissions reductions from deforestation within the framework of an overall post 2012 agreement; in this context, WELCOMES the approval of a Forest Carbon Partnership Facility by the World Bank to explore a framework for piloting activities to reduce emissions from deforestation in developing countries; also EMPHASISES the importance of enhancing sinks by sustainable forest management and land use practices as part of a post 2012 agreement; 22.

IS CONCERNED that emissions from international aviation and maritime transport represent one of the fastest growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions; NOTES with concern the lost opportunity to show ambition and concrete actions in the resolutions tackling greenhouse gas emissions adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) at its 36th Assembly, ten years after having been requested by the UNFCCC to take action to limit or reduce emissions; CALLS UPON all Parties to agree clear, meaningful targets also for these sectors within the framework of a future global climate agreement for the post 2012 period; URGES Parties to work towards stronger leadership by the UNFCCC in this matter, and in particular for enhancing its cooperation with ICAO to develop a more effective approach to address emissions from this sector; TAKES the view that cooperation and discussions in the framework of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) should be accelerated with a view to achieving a comprehensive solution for tackling the emissions from international maritime transport; 23.

CALLS UPON all Parties to agree a comprehensive and inclusive negotiation process at the Bali climate conference based on a shared vision, elaborating on the building blocks, including cross cutting issues such as investment and finance, and establish and follow an ambitious timetable which should result in a global and comprehensive post 2012 agreement by 2009." 14178/07 (Presse 247) 15 EN

PROVISIONAL VERSION 30.X.2007 FUELS Following the presentation by the Commission of its proposal for a Directive (6145/07) aimed at reducing air pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions from fuel use in transport and increasing the use of biofuels, the Council held a major policy debate on the way its work should be continued.

The proposed Directive should contribute to the implementation of Community strategies on air quality, climate change and sustainable development.

The aim of the debate was essentially to enable the Ministers to express their views on the key element of the proposal. It focused on: reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions from fuels and the setting of a target figure1 for reducing such emissions, and the conditions for inserting such a target in the fuel quality Directive.

The delegations largely agreed in supporting the setting of a target for reducing the greenhouse gas emissions from fuels, subject to certain conditions. Among such conditions, the delegations gave particular mention to the need to establish sustainability criteria for biofuels, while stressing that it was necessary to set an objective that was realistic and viable.

Legal basis proposed for the Directive: Articles 95 and 175 of the Treaty; qualified majority required for a Council Decision; co decision procedure with the European Parliament applicable. 1 5 % by 2015; 10 % by 2020. 14178/07 (Presse 247) 16 EN

PROVISIONAL VERSION 30.X.2007 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY The Council regarded as extremely useful and desirable the holding of a policy debate on the Renewed EU Sustainable Development Strategy, following adoption by the Commission of the 2007 situation report (14238/07).

In June 2006, the European Council adopted a very full Renewed EU Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS)1, which confirmed the policy guiding principles of sustainable development adopted in 2005, and the four key objectives to be pursued, namely: environmental protection; social equity and cohesion; economic prosperity; and meeting our international responsibilities2. The Renewed Sustainable Development Strategy comprises provisions for implementation, control and monitoring.

The debate focused in particular on questions concerning the progress made in implementing the Renewed EU Sustainable Development Strategy and the obstacles to implementation; future priorities in the development of EU policy. 1 10917/06. 2 10255/1/05 REV 1. 14178/07 (Presse 247) 17 EN

PROVISIONAL VERSION 30.X.2007 OTHER BUSINESS Information from the Presidency: - Business and biodiversity (14383/07) - 6th Ministerial Conference "Environment for Europe" (Belgrade, 10 to 12 October 2007) (14211/07) - 36th Session of the Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (Montreal, 18 to 28 September 2007) (14234/07) - Pesticides: Proposal for a Directive establishing a framework for Community action to achieve a sustainable use of pesticides and proposal for a Regulation concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market Information from the Presidency and the Commission: - 19th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer (Montreal, 17 to 21 September 2007) (14348/07) Information from the Commission: - SMEs and sustainable consumption and production (14325/07) Request by the Netherlands delegation: - Review of the Directive relating to tyres for motor vehicles and their trailers and to their fitting: noise from tyres (14040/07) Many delegations came out in favour of the Netherlands delegation's request when the Commission referred to the proposal it intended to submit in 2008. 14178/07 (Presse 247) 18 EN

PROVISIONAL VERSION 30.X.2007 Request by the Italian and Austrian delegations: - European policy on GMOs and the role of the EFSA (13919/07) Following interventions by the Italian and Austrian delegations, many delegations also stressed the need to continue this examination of the EFSA's role and the procedures for assessing any risks arising from GMOs.

Request by the Spanish delegation: - Problem of necrophagous birds in Spain because of shortage of natural food: a serious threat to biodiversity (14301/07) - 8th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (Madrid, 3 to 14 September 2007) (14210/07) Request by the Austrian, German, Irish, Italian, Latvian and Luxembourg delegations: - Information about the Informal Vienna Ministerial Meeting on the role of nuclear power in the climate change and energy efficiency debate (Dublin Follow Up) (14221/07) 14178/07 (Presse 247) 19 EN

PROVISIONAL VERSION 30.X.2007 OTHER ITEMS APPROVED EXTERNAL RELATIONS Temporary reception of certain Palestinians The Council adopted a common position extending for one year the validity of national permits allowing Palestinians who were evacuated from Bethlehem following the siege of the Church of the Nativity by Israeli forces in 2002 to stay in the EU (13617/07).

For more details see press release 9017/02.

EUROPEAN SECURITY AND DEFENCE POLICY EU Exercise Programme for the period 2008-2012 The Council approved draft exercise specifications for the EU crisis management exercise 2008 (CME 08), which will be conducted in the framework of the EU programme of exercises and exercise related activities for the period 2008 2012 in the field of European Security and Defence Policy.

TRADE POLICY Anti-dumping - Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film from India* The Council adopted a Regulation (13355/07) imposing a definitive anti dumping duty on imports of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film originating in India following an expiry review pursuant to Article 11(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 384/96 and terminating a partial interim review of such imports pursuant to Article 11(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 384/96.

Repeal of anti-dumping measures - Recordable compact disks - Taiwan and India The Council adopted a Regulation (13521/07) repealing the antidumping duties imposed by Council Regulation (EC) No 1050/2002 of 13 June 2002 on imports of recordable compact disks originating in Taiwan and allowing for their repayment or remission and repealing the countervailing duties imposed by Council Regulation (EC) No 960/2003 of 2 June 2003 on imports of recordable compact disks originating in India, allowing for their repayment or remission and terminating the proceeding in their respect. 14178/07 (Presse 247) 20 EN

PROVISIONAL VERSION 30.X.2007 Anti-dumping - Certain iron or steel ropes and cables - Russia, Thailand and Turkey* The Council adopted a Regulation (13349/07) imposing a definitive anti dumping duty on certain iron or steel ropes and cables originating in Russia and repealing the anti dumping measures on imports of certain iron or steel ropes and cables originating in Thailand and Turkey.

DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION European Development Fund - Contributions for 2007 The Council adopted a Decision fixing the financial contributions to be paid by EU Member States to the 9th European Development Fund as the third instalment for 2007 (14019/07).

Centre for the Development of Enterprise - 2008 Budget The Council approved the draft Decision, to be forwarded to the ACP EU Committee of Ambassadors for adoption, with a view to adopting the 2008 budget of the Centre for the Development of Enterprise (CDE) (2126/07).

The draft overall budget for 2008 amounts to EUR 18,5 million.

ACP - Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation - 2008 Budget The Council approved a draft Decision on the 2008 budget for the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation and decided to forward the draft Decision to the ACP party for adoption by the ACP EU Committee of Ambassadors through the written procedure.

ACP - Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation - Revision of the 2007 Budget* The Council approved a draft Decision recording its agreement to a request by the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation for an additional allocation of EUR 1 million for the 2007 budget and decided to forward the draft Decision to the ACP party for adoption by the ACP EU Committee of Ambassadors through the written procedure. 14178/07 (Presse 247) 21 EN

PROVISIONAL VERSION 30.X.2007 AGRICULTURE Fifth Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe The Council authorised the Commission to take part, on behalf of the European Community and alongside the Member States, in the Fifth Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe, to be held in Warsaw from 5 to 7 November 2007.

TRANSPORT Agreement on air services with the United Arab Emirates The Council adopted a Decision approving the signing and provisional application of an agreement between the EU and the United Arab Emirates on certain aspects of air services.

The agreement is the result of negotiations under a mandate enabling the Commission to negotiate with any third country with a view to bringing Member States' existing bilateral aviation agreements with that country into line with Community law.

HEALTH Advanced therapy medicinal products The Council adopted a Regulation on advanced therapy medicinal products (PE CONS 3627/07), having accepted all the amendments suggested by the European Parliament at first reading.

The Regulation lays down specific rules for the authorisation, control and pharmacovigilance of advanced therapy medicinal products.

For more details see 14504/07. 14178/07 (Presse 247) 22 EN

PROVISIONAL VERSION 30.X.2007 APPOINTMENTS European Economic and Social Committee The Council adopted a Decision appointing as a member: - Mr Gerd BILLEN, Vorstand des Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverbands, in place of Mr Heiko STEFFENS for the remainder of the latter's term of office, which ends on 20 September 2010.

Committee of the Regions On a proposal from the Italian Government, the Council adopted a Decision appointing a) as a member: Ms Marta VINCENZI, Mayor of the Commune of Genoa, and b) as an alternate member: Mr Paolo CARRAZZA, Communal Councillor of the Commune of Rome for the remainder of the current term of office which ends on 25 January 2010.

TRANSPARENCY Public access to documents The Council adopted the reply to confirmatory application 12/c/01/07, the Finnish and Swedish delegations voting against (12973/07).

14178/07 (Presse 247) 23 EN

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