"The informal meeting of ministers on environment will discuss issues on funding of the implementation of objectives and actions under the EU biologic diversity strategy up to 2020, as well as issues of climate change and the extraction of shale gas," a statement by the Lithuanian EU presidency said.
On the eve of the meeting, Lithuanian Environment Minister Valentinas Mazuronis has said that the EU has not adopted any specific legislation on the exploration and production of non-traditional hydrocarbon resources, but it is important to ensure that the exploration of shale gas in Lithuania is carried out in strict compliance with environmental requirements.
"Ministers' position on the type of a document on shale gas – advisory or any other – will be revealed during the meeting. Of course, it will also become clearer what ministers' position on shale gas is, what economic benefit and environmental threats they see," Mazuronis told BNS on Monday.
European Commissioners in charge of environment and climate action, Janez Potocnik and Connie Hedegaard, are scheduled to attend the two-day meeting.
According to the European Commission, preparations for the global climate change negotiations with a Chinese representative will be discussed on Wednesday.
The meeting are taking place in Vilnius as Lithuania is holding the rotating EU Council presidency.
