EU mining lobby blamed for green vote shock
Published by MAC on 2005-09-06
EU mining lobby blamed for green vote shock
6th September 2005
The European Parliament's lead MEP on the management of mining waste has blamed industry lobbyists for weakening environmental aspects of new laws in a key vote on Tuesday.
Radical Swedish Green MEP Jonas Sjöstedt has blamed industry pressure for overturning key parliament amendments tightening new legislation on mining waste.
MEPs had been expected to back tougher legislation than preferred by national governments until a shock Tuesday vote result diluted recommendations from the parliament’s environment committee.
"I think it was very disappointing from an environmental point of view," the GUE/NGL rapporteur told EUpolitix.com after Tuesday's vote.
"The second reading result was weakened by successful lobbying from industry - it now has major loopholes with regard to historical waste, and derogations for member states."
"This vote was far less radical than at first reading and in the environment committee. It shows a worrying new trend of the new parliament towards environmental legislation."
EU rules on mining waste were prompted by serious accidents in Romania in 2000 and Spain in 1998 where mining waste containing heavy metals or cyanide was released into the environment.
The EU estimates that waste from mining industries amounts to 29 per cent of the total waste generated in the EU each year - equivalent to 400 million tonnes.
In Tuesday's second reading MEPs backed the national government position exempting certain categories of waste from the directive and allowing member states to opt out.
MEPs also voted against amendments requiring former mining sites to be cleaned up - which would have had consequences in particular for some new member states such as Poland.
But some amendments - which go further than the council of ministers common position - were adopted by MEPs.
The council's 'common position' had allowed mining waste to be dumped in coastal or inland waters if certain conditions were met, but MEPs voted to veto this across the board.
The deputies also voted to force companies to provide financial guarantees to cover their obligations under the directive - like cleaning up the site after extraction - before a new site can be opened.
This however was not enough to appease green groups - who were also disappointed by the result of the vote.
"We are very sad that the parliament has not been able to support the environment committee and instead has favoured the council's common position," said a WWF spokeswoman.
The amended rules will now go back to national governments for final approval.
If no consensus can be found, the final text will have to be thrashed out in European Commission, council and parliament negotiations.