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Groups blast veiled decision-making at European Commission as mining industry revels in rejection of crucial Parliamentary resolution
Source: Bankwatch
Environmental organisations have today criticised Commissioner Janez Potocnik for heeding mining industry lobbyists over a democratically elected European Parliament, in failing to open public discussions and rejecting a resolution to ban the use of cyanide in mining processes throughout the European Union.
The resolution, put forward by Parliament in May and one of the strongest resolutions on environmental questions ever passed, calls “on the Commission to propose a complete ban on the use of cyanide mining technologies in the European Union before the end of 2011, since this is the only safe way to protect our water resources and ecosystems against cyanide pollution from mining activities.” [1]
Yet while repeated attempts by civil society groups to be involved in consultations on implementing the ban were stonewalled by the Commission, mining industry sources have boastfully circulated news about their active involvement in having the resolution shot down via the European Association of Mining Industries, an industry lobby committee formed to advise the Commission.
“Is this the same EU that encourages citizens’ participation and active public engagement?” asks Maria Kadoglou from Hellenic Mining Watch in Brussels. “It’s a bad start for the new Environment Commission if Mr. Potocnik is disregarding one of the strongest and most necessary environmental resolutions from the democratically-elected representatives of EU citizens.”
CEE Bankwatch Network campaigner Daniel Popov from Bulgaria added, “While the Commission is convinced that the existing Mining Waste Directive is strong enough to ensure environmental and health safety from cyanide accidents and active participation of citizens in decision-making processes, the experience from Bulgaria doesn’t support these claims. Environmental permits for leaching gold with cyanide are given without adequate public consultations, without proposals to use best available technologies, and without adequate emergency response plans.” [2]
“It is appalling that the Commission took into account only one point of view – that of the mining industry lobby - and that there was no space for the arguments of Europeans whose heath and environment are being destroyed and threatened by cyanide pollution. How can Mr. Potocnik accept mining companies as the best advisers on environment and health issues?” said Katerina Ventusova from Greenpeace in Slovakia.
“We demand that the European Commission opens its ears to the arguments of all interested parties and immediately starts a transparent and inclusive process of consultation on the implementation of this resolution.”
[1] ‘The European Parliament resolution of 5 May 2010 on a general ban on the use of cyanide mining technologies in the European Union’ was passed with 488 votes supporting the ban compared to 48 against. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+TA+P7-TA-2010-0145+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&language=EN <http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+TA+P7-TA-2010-0145+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&language=EN>
[2] One instance in which the Mining Waste Directive has failed is the case of the Chelopech Mining to introduce the use of cyanide, where the Bulgarian court revoked the environmental impact assessment approval and several other proposals are currently being opposed with all legal means by local communities and environmental organisations. Additionally the risks of transboundary pollution have not been well-assessed and Greek communities living downstream on the Arda and Marica/Evros rivers have not been informed nor consulted, as required by the Espoo Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context, http://bankwatch.org/project.shtml?apc=147579-1904290r--1&x=2225712