Brussels, 02/02/2005 (Agence Europe) - John Hontelez, Secretary General of the European Environment Bureau (EEB) is concerned about the Barroso Commission's emphasis on the environment in the “Strategic Objectives 2005-09” (EUROPE 27 January p 8 on the presentation of these objectives by president Barroso to the European Parliament). Mr Hontelz said that solidarity with future generations is the only reason cited for environmental policy. Hontelez protests, however, that, “Environmental policies are also essential to protect people's health here and now, and to ensure that the economy can flourish”. Therefore it should be included “on the top in the 'prosperity' dimension of the Commission's strategy (the third priority is “security”: Editor's note). Mr Hontelez deplored the fact that this priority is part of a premise whereby environmental policies represent a cost to the economy. He exclaimed that, “The Commission is making a big mistake to marginalise the environmental agenda in this way. This agenda belongs to the heart of economic debate”. He explained that desertification, water pollution, toxic chemical products and the loss of biodiversity would have a negative impact sooner or later, “on the productivity of Europe's population due to health and resource problems…the 2004 Environmental Policy Review, published by the Commission the same day, estimates that up to 8% of current disease in the EU2 is related to environmental factors”.