"A Comprehensive Strategy for Gothenburg: the Presidency View on the Environmental Challenge"

Wretborn, Christer. (2001) "A Comprehensive Strategy for Gothenburg: the Presidency View on the Environmental Challenge". In: UNSPECIFIED, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

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Abstract

Ever since the concept of sustainable development was first discussed, the inherent logic has been as apparent as the need for a concrete definition. One definition of sustainability is provided by the Brundtland report from 1987 stating that; "a sustainable development is a development which meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". In order to achieve this there is a need to strike a balance between economic, social and environmental factors, as stated in the Rio Declaration in 1992. In the Treaty, amended by Amsterdam, the objective of integrating environmental concern into all EU policy is introduced. Together with the definitions of sustainability, this suggests a need to have a broad approach and include all sectors of society in the work. This means that when talking about an economic, social and environmentally sustainable society, sectors cannot be treated separately. If this is done there is a risk of conserving the present structure and resisting change. It is especially important to take this holistic approach into account when discussing sustainable development within the agricultural sector. The paper outlines conclusions stressing the need for a broad political debate and consensus on the integration of environment and sustainable development in the Common Agricultural Policy. In the conclusions, the need for continues monitoring and evaluation of the development is also stressed. The Council has invited the Commission to present a plan for this work and a first overview in 2002-2003. The Agriculture Council has approved the conclusions and the Presidency presented those to the Gothenburg European Council in June 2001.

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