Row over waste policy job

Date: 21/12/00

By Gareth Harding

Civil war has broken out in the environment directorate-general over plans to remove the head of its powerful waste policy unit.

Twenty civil servants have written to Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström expressing "surprise and deep concern" at the proposed replacement of Ludwig Krämer by Marianne Klingbeil.

Although Krämer is one of the longest-serving environment officials, he caused controversy by taking the Commission to the European Court of Justice after he was moved from his last post as head of the legal unit. He has also provoked the wrath of industry with his hard-line approach to waste issues.

But Klingbeil is viewed by some as too close to industry to deal with highly sensitive issues such as scrap cars and electronic goods. She is also married to enterprise directorate head Fabio Colasanti, prompting claims of a "clear conflict of interest". In addition, Klingbeil is said to favour voluntary agreements with industry rather than binding legislation.

Civil war has broken out in the environment directorate-general over plans to remove the head of its powerful waste policy unit.