Brussels, 23/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - Any decision by the EU 27 on the proposal to penalise the EU market in tar sands - for the sake of climate health - will have to wait. On Thursday 23 February, experts from member states failed to give their opinion on the European Commission proposal, which intends (in its implementation of the 2009 directive on the quality of fuels) to take into consideration greenhouse gas emissions linked to bituminous sand production (EUROPE 10467).
Meeting up at the fuel quality committee, experts were unable to obtain the qualified majority vote needed to approve or reject this very controversial proposal of October 2011. The dossier will therefore be sent to the Environment Council, much to the delight of environmental activists, who sharply denounced the lobbying by Canada, one of the main oil producers from bituminous sands and opposed to the project. Questioned about the subject, Isaac Valero-Ladro, the spokesman for Connie Hedegaard, Commissioner for Climate Action, refused to confirm the existence of pressure being exerted by the Canadian lobby. He simply declared that, “we are engaged in a constructive process with the Canadian authorities and we have proceeded to an exchange of letters”. He said the European Commission is convinced of the legal security of its project because, “we have worked in respect of the WTO rules so as to avoid legislation contradicting the rules on non-fossil fuels”. The Environment Council will attempt to conclude this dossier in June (also by qualified majority).
The Transport & Environment NGO was also delighted. Speaking on behalf of this organisation, Nusa Urbanci stated that it was a good thing this decision had been taken transparently. The spokesperson added that the process behind closed doors for implementing legislation had enabled venal interests, particularly those from countries and oil companies that have a lot of investments in bituminous sands - to hold up progress. The spokesman for this NGO added that it was now time that each country put its cards on the table. Darek Urbaniak of the Friends of the Earth Europe pointed out that oil from bituminous sands was the worst pollutant of all, given that it emits 23% of greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional oil. The organisation also said that European governments had to defy pressure from Canada. On 16 February last, eight Nobel Peace Prize winners wrote to heads of state and government, as well as the environment ministers in the EU 27 calling on them to support the Commission's efforts to tackle the question of public transport fuel sources, which had the most adverse effect on the climate. It should be pointed out that the Commission proposal will for the first time compel transport fuel providers in Europe to reduce by 6% their greenhouse gas emissions (associated with the extraction and production of these fuels) by 2020. (AN/transl.fl)