In December, the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) reflected on the legacy of Portugal’s EU presidency from an environmental perspective, praising the Iberian country’s awareness-raising efforts about water scarcity, its proposal for a worldwide ban on mercury, and leadership in Bali to address climate change. But Portugal did fall short in other areas according to the EEB.

“Portugal’s presidency will be remembered for leading the EU in a united front against climate change in Bali, so that in the end theUSA had to bow,” said EEB Secretary General John Hontelez in a published statement. “However, we do not positively view Portugal’s concrete work on pesticides and sustainable development.”

Specifically, the EEB pressed the European Council to take action in all areas where sustainable development was poor, but was disappointed when the EC focused only on the transport sector. Regarding pesticides, the EEB criticised the Agriculture Council for not setting specific reduction targets. Slovenia’s current EU presidency will likewise be subjected to the EEB’s ‘Ten Green Tests’ criteria for the duration of its six-month term.