Focus more on the environment, EU told

Date: 03/03/05

Europe's environmentalists are worried that they will lose out in the current battle over how much money is spent over the next seven-year budget period.

As the first pillar of agricultural spending, dedicated to direct support to farmers, is frozen, environmental groups like WWF, Friends of the Earth and BirdLife International fear that any budget cuts are likely to come from the second pillar, which finances rural development.

The environment could also lose out from other budget lines, such as funds for poorer regions, fisheries, health and external policies, they warn.

This fear is compounded by the recent shift in the Commission's Lisbon Agenda away from environmental and social targets in favour of economic growth.

In a policy brief delivered to Parliament's temporary committee for the financial perspectives and the environment committee last month, nine non-governmental organisations called on the EU to focus on environmental objectives in the budget.

Article reports that Europe's environmentalists are worried that they will lose out in the current negotiations over the Financial Perspectives 2007-2013, the next seven-year budget period. As the first pillar of agricultural spending, dedicated to direct support to farmers, is frozen, environmental groups like WWF, Friends of the Earth and BirdLife International fear that any budget cuts are likely to come from the second pillar, which finances rural development, including environmental aspects.

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