Liberté, égalité, diversité: France joins Countdown 2010
8 October 2008, Barcelona (Spain). Half way through the French Presidency of the EU Council, the French government has now formalized its commitment to save biodiversity by 2010. Signing the Countdown 2010 Declaration at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Barcelona, the French Ambassador for the Environment, Mr Stefanini, picked up the baton from the previous Slovenian presidency.
France specifically committed to:
* implement a strategy for biodiversity based on existing frameworks and restoration plans for threatened species;
* reinforce European policies on invasive alien species and biodiversity conservation in high seas, coastal Mediterranean areas and European overseas entities;
* establish a cooperation platform with the private sector on how to reach the 2010 biodiversity target.
Since the establishment of Countdown 2010 in 2004, each government holding the EU Presidency is asked to make explicit commitments in order to advance on the 2010 biodiversity agenda.
The French presidency started its term with the conference “The European Union and its Overseas Entities: Strategies to counter Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss” in July 2008 in Reunion Island.
