Brussels, 03/07/2012 (Agence Europe) -Sustainable development may be on everyone's lips but unless it discovers some impetus and ambition in the two years left before the end of its term of office, the second Barroso Commission is unlikely to be picking up any gold medals for its performance on the environment, according to a coalition of 10 environmental NGOs, the Green 10. On Tuesday 3 July, the Green 10 presented its mid-term assessment of how the Commission has done in this area, and the results are not brilliant.
The Commission was awarded an average mark of 4.4/10 following the Green 10 assessment of progress in nine areas and review of the performances of 13 commissioners and President José Manuel Barroso according to two criteria: environmental ambition and the extent of environmental issues that the Commission has addressed. The NGOs are critical of the Commission for its lack of courage in proposing legislation for a new, sustainable economy and has continued to favour short-term fixes over long-term solutions for people's health and the planet. They feel that the Barroso II Commission is, so far, not performing as well as the Barroso I Commission and could, if it does not change tack, end up with the worst environmental track record ever. Needless to say that these findings were not to the Commission's liking. “We disagree with this superficial, and even erroneous, report. There is no mention of major infringement proceedings, such as on waste landfill sites in Italy. Every month, the largest package of infringements relates to the environment, energy and transport. We can still do better, but the support of the member states is needed. We would like to see the NGOs attacking the inertia of some member states”, said the Commission spokesperson asked by the press to comment.
According to Green 10, the lowest mark was awarded to sustainable development strategy (2/10) and the highest to climate action (7/10). Transport and energy were neck and neck with 6/10, followed by health, which received 5/10. All the remaining areas fell below the average: 4/10 for agriculture; biodiversity and ecosystems; budget and cohesion policy, the external dimension and trade; 3/10 for transparency and natural resources. Of the commissioners, it was Connie Hedegaard, Climate Action Commissioner, who was awarded the highest mark, just above the average, of 5.5/10. The report can be consulted online at: http://www.green10.org (AN/transl.rt)