Brussels, 10/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - 4.4 out of 10 is the score the Barroso Commission obtained from a coalition of major European environmental NGOs (the “Green 10”) for its environmental performance. This subject figured in a report published on Wednesday 10 June, in the wake of the European elections, which saw an increase in the Green vote. The report was based on the assessment of polices carried out in twelve areas. The Energy/Climate package adopted in 2008 is unquestionably the greatest accomplishment by the Commission in this domain but the NGOs blame the Commission's inability to reform fisheries and agricultural policies or come up with sustainable economic policies.
At a time of economic and environmental crisis in Europe, NGOs are subsequently launching an appeal to the next Commission to double its efforts over the next five years and implement environmentally friendly policies that also promote citizens' health and create economic growth and sustainable jobs.
In the assessment, the worst performances involved the sustainable development strategy (2/10), whilst climate succeeded in obtaining a 7/10, top of the class; energy and transport got 6/10. Implementation of Community law and health got average scores (the general ban on mercury and positive proposals for reducing air pollution is in contrast with internal disagreements on legislation to ban dangerous substances). Not all the other sectors were in this average score band: agriculture, biodiversity and ecosystems (lack of adequate funding for Natura 2000 sites, a draft directive that is sufficiently ambitious for marine strategy and constant support for GMOs), the cohesion policy budget got 4/10 and natural resources and transparency got 3/10.
Although the Barroso Commission started badly and judged environmental objectives to be inconsistent with its priority agenda of employment and jobs, it has managed to improve, due to increasing public and media interest in environmental questions, during the second part of its mandate by enhancing legislation on climate, energy and transport, explains the report. The NGOs point out that these policies have not achieved the hoped for results because the Commission's initial proposals were watered down by EU governments. The NGOs believe that the new Commission will still have a lot to do. (A.N./trans/rh)