Brussels, 18/07/2003 (Agence Europe) - The "Green 8" group, which comprises the eight main NGOs for protection of the environment, presented a review on Thursday on the Commission's environmental action for 2002-2003. The result is negative compared to one year earlier as, the group states, the Commission's only merit is to have encouraged the other countries to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, even if a considerable effort has still to be made to get Russia to sign. Green 8 mainly criticises the action of Loyola de Palacio, European Transport and Energy Minister, who, they say, has had a negative effect on environmental policy, and also Romano Prodi whom they criticise for not correctly monitoring the policy. The group gives the details of the Commission's action and the measures that it must still take in several areas:
Agriculture: Commissioner Fischler has undertaken bold reform of Common Agricultural Policy for which he has negotiated "tirelessly", the group states, but this has been weakened by Member States. Green 8 now expects that the environmental aspects will be integrated into the future Commission proposals on sugar, cotton and olive oil.
GMOs: Green 8 congratulates the Commission on its response to the accusations of the Bush Administration about EU aid to Africa, and especially congratulates Commissioners Lamy and Nielson. However, protection against GMOs in Europe has been "extremely poor". "Commissioner Fischler has dodged his responsibility by shifting to Member States the burden of defining anti-contamination measures" while at the same time "considering such measures as obstacles to the free circulation of GMOS". Green 8 now calls upon the Commission to adopt provisions allowing for GMO and non-GMO crops to co-exist.
Maritime safety: The Commission has taken good initiatives since the sinking of the Prestige, allowing polluters to be penalised and encouraging Member Stated to set up a fund to compensate victims within the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). The Commission, however, must adopt a more preventive approach. According to Green 8, the Commission must encourage the Member State to reform the liability and compensation systems within the context of the IMO.
Environmental liability: Green 8 calls on the Commission to force through a compromise between the Council and the Parliament allowing the polluter pays principle to be more effective.
Chemicals: The Commission has lost a great deal of time in adopting the REACH registration system, and must give it priority in order to present a proposal in autumn 2003.
Energy: The nuclear package proposed by Ms de Palacio has engendered huge problems, mainly the management of nuclear waste. Measures proposed "appear to be designed mainly to ensure the survival of the nuclear industry, rather than to protect the public or the environment", Green 8 states.
Public participation: The group regrets that the Aarhus Convention on access to information, public participation in the decision-making process and access to justice for environmental matters, has only been ratified by five States and is still not fully in force, although it was signed by the Member States and the European Communities in 1998. According to Green 8, "the Commission appears very hesitant to propose similar legislation for the EU institutions themselves".
Sustainable development: Green 8 awaits the Commission report expected for the spring summit 2004, which is to give priority to susdtainable development, a subject which, for now, has only received very modest attention, the group says.
Transport: "Commissioner de Palacio's policy making lacked transparency and was environmentally regressive", Green 8 declares. The group calls on the Commission to adopt a work programme for the directive on the cost of infrastructure and to revise the Eurovignette directive on the transport of goods by making transport prices reflect their real cost to the environment.