EU pesticides laws agreed
September 28, 2009
The EU Council of Ministers last week formally adopted the final text of the package of new EU laws on pesticides. These are:
Directive on sustainable use of pesticides
Regulation on placing of plant protection products on the market (repealing Directives 79/117/EEC and 91/414/EEC)
Directive on improving construction and maintenance of machinery for pesticide application
A key issue of [...]
Biodiversity alarm
June 26, 2009
Europe is failing to meet its 2001 target of halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010.
Yesterday EU Environment Ministers expressed deep concern at this failure and at the increasing threats to biodiversity from invasive alien species.
Golf Europa reported in April on the high level conference in Athens on biodiversity.
Yesterday’s clear message from EU national governments [...]
No progress on soil
June 26, 2009
Golf Europa has reported in the past on proposals from the European Commission for the first ever EU legislation on soil policy.
At their meeting yesterday of the EU Environment Council, Ministers failed to reach agreement on the draft EU Directive on soil protection. Some governments do not agree that legislation on soil policy is appropriate [...]
EU biodiversity policy shake-up?
April 30, 2009
A European Commission conference in Athens this week called for a shake-up in EU biodiversity policy.
EU biodiversity legislation already impacts on the golf industry but the current influence is focused on golf clubs in priority areas designated by the EU Natura 2000 network and the EU Habitats and Birds Directives. Golf Europa has reported on [...]
EU grants still support golf
March 27, 2009
Golf Europa has reported previously on the positive impact of EU funds stimulating golf, tourism and growth in less-developed regions, particularly in Ireland and Portugal in the 1990s.
Lots of EU funding has now moved east but golf continues to be used as a successful tool of regional economic development.
A quick trawl of the web shows [...]
UN & IOC examine golf
March 26, 2009
Golf’s green credentials, and especially those of The 2010 Ryder Cup, will be a focal point for discussion at the 8th World Conference on Sport and the Environment (WCSE) in Vancouver, Canada next week.
The WCSE is organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The Golf Environment Organisation [...]
EU soil policy change?
March 25, 2009
The German government has suggested a new approach by the EU on soil policy.
In 2006, the European Commission issued a proposed Soil Framework Directive. Since then, national governments have failed to agree that an EU Directive was appropriate on soil.
At this week’s meeting of EU Agriculture Ministers, the German government suggested the EU consider a [...]
New EU water report examines golf
March 19, 2009
A major, new report by the European Environment Agency (EEA) confirms that, in many parts of Europe, water use is unsustainable. The report also provides recommendations for a new approach to managing water resources.
The report contains numerous references to golf, which are highlighted below. The EEA Press Release accompanying the report starts “From golf courses [...]
Can the private sector benefit from ERDF?
April 28, 2008
A surprising number of golf clubs in the EU have received European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) grants in the past – some very high profile – eg Carnoustie, Scotland (host of the 2007 Open) and The K Club, Ireland (host of the 2006 Ryder Club). Ireland allocated grants of €20 million in the 1990s [...]
Golf and the European Regional Development Fund
April 27, 2008
Grant aid from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is financing the development of new golf courses across Europe.
The ERDF is the second largest EU financial mechanism, after the Common Agricultural Policy. It provides grant aid to the poorest regions in the EU ranked according to GDP per capita to part-finance investment projects which [...]