EU – Candidate Countries and Potential Candidates meeting on preparations for Paris COP 21
Date: 19.11.2015
Place: Brussels, Belgium
Organizer: ECRAN Secretariat in cooperation with the EC TAIEX Unit
The EU has submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) to the new
agreement, committing to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of at least 40% by 2030,
compared to 1990 levels. INDCs have now been submitted by altogether more than 150 countries
responsible for more than 90% of global emissions, and this includes the US, China, India and Brazil
amongst others.It is a real shift from action by few to action by many and a signal of commitment to
multilateral climate regime that today necessitates ambitious action by all states.
Paris must deliver an Agreement that is inclusive, fair and effective at ensuring the world will be on
track for the agreed objective of limiting global temperature increase to below 2 degrees and will
have to address the climate challenge in a comprehensive way, by addressing mitigation, climate
finance and adaptation to climate change impacts, so that concerns of all countries, developed and
developing, are taken on board.
Negotiators are meeting in Bonn, Germany 19-23 October for the next – and probably final – formal
negotiating session at official level, to provide a crucial opportunity to work on text before the Paris
COP 21.
It is in this context that the EU expected that the Candidate Countries and Potential Candidates have
put forward their INDCs well advance of Paris so that they could be included in the assessment
report carried out by the UNFCCC Secretariat and presented before the Paris COP. Implementation
of INDCs will require significant efforts from the Candidate Countries and Potential Candidates, and
the EU will continue to provide assistance and support in introducing and implementing policies,
new legislation and building institutional capacity.
The purpose of this meeting is for Senior Officials to exchange views on preparations for the Paris
Climate Conference, as well as identify opportunities for joint messaging during the Paris
Conference. It will be used to examine the EU position on the global climate agreement and the
specific elements of the future agreement as well as provide an analysis of the UNFCCC INDC
assessment report. It will also give opportunity to the countries to present their INDCs and talk
about their own expectations and priorities from the new climate agreement. The meeting will also
be used to discuss shared priorities and explore opportunities for common action.
General Objective of the Meeting
To strengthen regional cooperation between the EU Candidate Countries and Potential Candidates
in the field of climate action and to assist in the transposition and implementation of the EU climate
legislation and policies as a key precondition for EU accession.
Specific Objective of the Meeting
To provide information on preparations for the Paris Climate Conference, identify opportunities for
joint messaging during the Paris Conference as well as to prepare for the implementation of the
expected new agreement.
Expected Results of the meeting
The expected results are:
- Participants are provided with the stocktake of the preparations for Paris, as well as on submitted INDCs;
- Participants receive analytical support to prepare for the Paris COP.
