EU faces complaints over plans to simplify environmental laws
Environmental campaign groups filed a complaint on Tuesday against the European Commission, accusing it of rushing to overhaul water management and protection laws without sufficient evidence.
The complaint is the latest by environmental groups about the European Union's attempts to simplify and scale down policies. This strategy, known as "the EU omnibus," was developed in response to complaints made by industries that burdensome laws hinder their competitiveness against global rivals such as the U.S.
The complaint is about a plan by the Commission to review the EU's water legislation in this year. This was in part in response to concerns raised by mining and metals firms who claim that the environmental safeguards of the law are delaying the approvals for new raw materials mines, and other industrial projects.
In a complaint to the European Ombudsman, the EU's independent watchdog, the World Wildlife Fund, the European Environmental Bureau, and three other groups claimed that the Commission failed to gather enough evidence and consult with stakeholders before announcing its planned revision. This failure was deemed to be maladministration.
The NGOs said that "their cumulative effect amounts a flagrant departure from established due processes, one which materially affects the citizens' rights." The NGOs argued that EU water laws were not the cause of new mines' struggles to obtain permits and did not need revising.
A spokesperson for the Commission did not respond immediately to a request?for comment.
Ombudsman will decide if he wants to investigate the complaint. A spokesperson for the watchdog said that this process could take several weeks.
The EU 'watchdog' does not have enforcement power, but instead makes recommendations which can influence future EU legislation and increase?scrutiny? of the Commission.
Last year, the Ombudsman forced the Commission to explain publicly why it had accelerated other proposals that would curb sustainability laws and not assessed if the changes were in line with Europe's commitments on climate change.
(source: Reuters)
