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EU FUNDS ENVIRONMENTALLY DAMAGING PROJECTS |
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20th May 2008
Greens call for EU reform
A report earlier this year by Friends of the Earth Europe and CEE Bankwatch offers
compelling evidence of how EU funds are being used to finance a huge
number of environmentally damaging projects in the new EU member states
in Central and Eastern Europe.
GP SW Lead Euro-candidate, Cllr Ricky Knight, said: "It's vital the EU puts its house in order, otherwise it cannot hope to claw back the confidence of a sceptical UK. The expansion of the EU to include ultimately, one must expect, all 54 nations of Europe, must not mean the watering down of existing environmental legislation and aspirations. The new members must aspire to subscribe to and enhance both our targets and our expectations. It is heartening to know that Green groups in these emerging democracies share this aim and are already challenging dodgy deals and corporate mismanagement in their own countries."
Gloucestershire Green party spokesperson Philip Booth, a Stroud District councillor said: "Already many people in Gloucestershire feel let down by the EU. It seems we urgently need more Green MEPs to ensure such funds are not squandered on environmentally damaging projects - but also to clean up the rest of the EU where we keep seeing evidence of fiddled expenses and wasted taxpayers money. At the last Euro election more Greens signed a pledge to increase accountability of MEPs and end the EU gravy train, than members of all the other UK parties put together."
European Green party Co-Spokesperson Ulrike Lunacek said : “Friends of the Earth Europe and CEE Bankwatch have produced an extremely useful map which gives details of 50 environmentally damaging projects in Central and Eastern Europe which the EU is either already financing or has plans to finance. The projects include 18 waste incinerators which are being built instead of investment being made in recycling, 14 motorways cutting through areas of natural heritage despite the existence of less destructive alternative routes and 8 river or water management projects which will cause the destruction of environmentally sensitive sites. Of course, the EU has a responsibility to financially support projects in the newer member states but it must not support projects which destroy the environment, particularly as much better alternatives exist.”
EGP Co-Spokesperson Philippe Lamberts continued: “The Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament is constantly taking the European Commission and the European Investment Bank to task for its support of damaging developments. The Commission and the EIB must withdraw its funding for the projects highlighted in the FOEE /CEE Bankwatch report and insist that environmentally sustainable alternatives are given proper consideration. The EGP would like to express its appreciation of the work currently being done by its member parties in Central and Eastern Europe who are campaigning against the ill thought out projects in their countries which this report highlights.”
Note for editors: The map produced by CEE Bankwatch and Friends of the Earth Europe can be found at
http://www.bankwatch.org/billions/
Cllr Ricky Knight - Green Party Parliamentary Candidate for North Devon
South West Green Party Lead Candidate for 2009 European Elections
web-site: www.northdevongreens.org.uk
ND GP Tel: 0845 456 2584
Home: 01271 371732
Mob: 07986 941 026
Graham Burgess
Communications Officer
European Green Party
Tel no :+32 2 626 0724
Mobile:+32 477 902 023
email:graham.burgess@europeangreens.net
www.europeangreens.org
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