This event is part of the Environmental Resilience lecture series, co-organised by the IIEA and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). On this occasion, Virginijus Sinkevičius, European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, outline how the EU intends to set Europe on a course to environmental recovery. In his address, the Commissioner argues that several policies emanating from the European Green Deal, such as the ‘Fit for 55 Package’, the 2030 Biodiversity Strategy, the Zero Pollution Action Plan and the Farm-to-Fork strategy will be integral to reverse ecosystem degradation, for biodiversity conservation, and to help build societies’ resilience to future threats. The Commissioner also reflects on the EU’s efforts to strengthen its environmental governance and resource assessment frameworks to ensure that comprehensive pan-European environmental policies can be implemented effectively.

About the Speaker:

Virginijus Sinkevičius is Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries at the European Commission. Commissioner Sinkevičius previously served as Minister of Economy in the Government of Lithuania from 2017 to 2019 and prior to this was Chair of the Economic Committee in the Lithuanian Parliament. Before his election to Parliament in 2016, the Commissioner was a Team Lead for Regulatory Affairs at Invest Lithuania and a Project Coordinator for Lithuanian Airports. Commissioner Sinkevičius holds BA in International Relations and Affairs from Aberystwyth University and an MA in European International Affairs from Maastricht University.