MEPs predict ‘trench warfare’ on green issues

Date: 30/09/1999

By Gareth Harding

MEPS are predicting a period of "trench warfare" between the European Parliament and EU governments after members of the assembly's powerful environment committee attacked the Finnish presidency for lacking ambition in environmental matters.

Committee chairwoman Caroline Jackson accused Finnish Environment Minister Satu Hassi of giving "distressingly unsatisfactory" replies to members' questions during the Green minister's first visit to the Parliament and called for a "more fiery approach" from the Council of Ministers towards ecological concerns.

In particular, the committee wants the Finnish presidency to hold a joint meeting of trade and environment ministers ahead of the next round of World Trade Organisation talks in Seattle, to open the final decision-making stage of conciliation talks between the Parliament and EU governments to the public, and to "name and shame" member states which fail to implement environment laws.

Jackson's comments were echoed by UK Socialist MEP David Bowe, who attacked a "pedestrian and boring" Finnish presidency for lacking leadership and vision in environmental matters.

The committee's harsh criticism of Hassi marks the end of the honeymoon period between the Parliament and Council which began when a series of more environmentally progressive governments were elected in the UK, France and Germany. "After the Amsterdam Treaty, the Council has dug itself into a hole and this could lead to trench warfare between the institutions," warned Jackson.

Responding to the MEPs', Sassi said it would be impossible to organise a joint meeting of trade and environment ministers in such a short time.

Finnish officials claim some of the Parliament's frustration is self-induced as MEPs have not carried out any substantive legislative activity since May.

MEPs are predicting a period of 'trench warfare' between the European Parliament and EU governments after members of the assembly's powerful environment committee attacked the Finnish Presidency for lacking ambition in environmental matters.