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Eu ministers cripple sustainability strategy
11 June 2001
A European sustainable development strategy is under threat because of opposition by a number of member states, including the UK, France and Germany. A Commission Communication on the topic, which was expected to be adopted by European ministers meeting in Gothenburg this week, is now in jeopardy. If member states don't sign up to the strategy key proposals for long-term targets on climate, transport and eco-efficient resource use will be lost.
Yesterday, Swedish environment minister Kjell Larsson told a Friends of the Earth conference that the Summit could not adopt all of the Commission proposals, blaming the problem on delays in the Commission. But intelligence obtained by Friends of the Earth indicates that pressure from France, Germany and the UK threatens to postpone agreement of any EU Sustainability Strategy to a future Summit. The UK has concerns over quantified targets, France is opposed to agricultural reform, and Germany is worried about threats to coal subsidies.
Ministers are instead debating draft Summit conclusions based on a 'non-paper' produced by the Swedish presidency. This includes virtually none of the significant proposals in the Commission draft. Commitments lost include: reductions of carbon dioxide emissions beyond Kyoto; an energy products tax by 2002; phasing out of subsidies for fossil fuels,over-fishing and tobacco; legislation on strict environmental liability by 2003; and a new priority for infrastructure investment in public transport.
Duncan McLaren Sustainable Solutions campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe said:
"The hopes of millions of Europeans for a sustainable future depend on this strategy.Now national Governments are trying to cripple it. The Summit's weak efforts for promoting sustainability stand in stark contrast to the EU's strong demands and actions promoting economic and corporate globalisation."
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jun 2008
