Greenpeace slings dirt at de Palacio

Date: 21/03/02

By Peter Chapman

GREENPEACE has labelled EU energy chief Loyola de Palacio the 'dirty Commissioner' alleging she has been on a pro-nuclear and coal 'crusade' since she took up office in 1999.In a briefing to journalists at the Barcelona summit - where energy policy was the key issue - the environmentalist campaign group said she had made a host of pro-nuclear statements this year which 'contradict her official neutral position'.

De Palacio's latest statement in favour of 'dirty energy sources', claims Greenpeace, was made at the Italian Parliament, where she outlined plans to re-launch nuclear energy polices and allegedly told MPs EU nuclear plants 'are not risky'.

Greenpeace - which says nuclear power is a 'ticking time bomb' and favours renewable and energy efficient technologies - also refers to media statements attributed to the Spanish Commissioner in which she describes nuclear as a 'clean choice which avoids greenhouse gasses'.

De Palacio's spokesman Gilles Gantalet said the Greenpeace attack did not 'qualify for a reaction'.

'It is sad that they do not care more for the situation of European citizens,' he added.