Cox leaps to defence of book as chemical industry boils over

Date: 23/01/03

By Martin Banks

A BOOK called Troubled Waters has been making waves for the European Parliament and its President, Pat Cox.

The book, published by the Parliament, tells the story of a fictional MEP who is appointed rapporteur for water quality on the environment committee and relates the occasionally less-than-harmonious relationship between the assembly and the chemical industry.

The European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) sent a protest letter to Cox complaining that the comic-strip book portrayed the industry in a bad light.

Alain Perroy, CEFIC director-general, even asked Cox to halt publication, arguing that some people might mistake the storyline for fact rather than fiction.

But Cox responded, calling the book an "attractive and original" way of explaining the Parliament's role in the EU. "It is obvious that the adventures portrayed in the story are entirely fictional. The book does not set out to harm the image of any organisation whatsoever," he wrote, adding that the book has been so popular that a reprint has been ordered.

He has, however, agreed to include a 'disclaimer' in future editions which reads: "Although the adventures portrayed in this story are entirely fictional, the procedures described accurately reflect reality."

CEFIC spokesman Marc Devisscher said: "This is an acceptable compromise."

A fictional comic-strip book called 'Troubled Waters', published in 2002 by the European Parliament, has been criticised by the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) for portraying the industry in a bad light.