Press

Supposed tough EU measures to tackle climate change have been dramatically weakened following a broad lobbying campaign by different sectors of industry, a new report from Corporate Europe Observatory released today (Monday 1st December) reveals [1]. The report is launched as international climate talks start in Poznań, Poland.

Brussels, 9 December – The winners of the 2008 Worst EU Lobbying Awards have been revealed at a ceremony in Brussels, despite a last minute attempt to gag the organisers with legal action from one of the candidates.  More than 8500 people took part in the online public vote [1].

The European Commission's draft EU Renewable Energy Directive, published today, ignores numerous recent warnings on the environmental and social damage of its proposed 10 per cent target for agrofuel use in the transport sector by 2020.

EU member states had demanded that the 10 per cent target be met 'sustainably', but the EU Joint Research Centre and the UK Parliament Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) have expressed strong doubts that this can be achieved. The EAC has also argued for a moratorium on agrofuel targets.

A new pan-European coalition of water campaign groups will be launched during the European Social Forum in the Swedish city Malmö to argue the case against privatisation. Including groups from Italy, Germany,France, Spain and Turkey, the European Network for Public Water will push for major changes in EU policies towards water management.

Jan Willem Goudriaan of the European Public Services Union (EPSU), one of the groups involved in initiating the coalition, said:

Corporate Europe Observatory will join the Agrofools Action Group at a petrol station in Malmo to highlight the issue of agrofuels - curretnyl being discussed at the European Social Forum.

The European push for agrofuels will have many social and environmental implications, including rising food prices, jeopardising people's food sovereignty and access to food.

Swedish car drivers will be invited to choose from a menu: fueling their car with agrofuel, or having access to food for themselves and other people. About 100 people will participate in the action.

Buenos Aires/Asunción/Amsterdam The Round Table on Responsible Soy is seeking to legitimise irresponsible, socially and environmentally damaging soy production, according to a new report published today (Tuesday 22 April) ahead of the Round Table on Responsible Soy’s third conference in Buenos Aires [1].

The Worst EU Lobbying Awards are an important feature on the Brussels’ calendar, putting the spotlight on the activities of lobbyists behind closed doors which ultimately undermine democratic decision-making.