"To find a way out of the economic crisis, all European countries have had to admit that long-term living beyond our means and excessive consumption will inevitably end with a big bang. In national finance, sustainability has become a natural principle. Sustainable use of natural resources should become as natural. For the European Union this is a matter of competitiveness, actually one of the key issues of the future of the EU," explained the Minister of the Environment Keit Pentus. "In long-term, not the countries and companies who contaminate and consume the resources in the highest amount, but those who can be the smartest and most sustainable in the conditions of constantly tightening competition, will be successful." European Resource Efficiency Transition Platform was assembled for two years with the objective to counsel the European Commission, the Member States and other relevant parties in transfer to resource-efficient economy. Chairman of the Platform is the European Commissioner for the Environment Janez Potocnik, and it also includes three more EC commissioners, representatives of international and EU institutions, third sector, companies and academic circles. From the governments of the Member States, ministers of the environment of Germany, Denmark, Estonia and Italy have been invited. "Inclusion of Estonia in this high-level platform confirms that our efforts in the field of nature conservation and more reasonable use of natural resources are appreciated. Our system of environmental charges and the principle that taxes should be less imposed on work and more on pollution, have aroused interest," Keit Pentus said. "We are also known by our IT applications – the potential of this sector for turning the economy greener is very high." Resource efficiency is one of the priority fields of the European Union, the objectives of which are summarised in the policy for resource-efficient Europe. |
