“Competitiveness” cannot come at the cost of health and nature

Meeting with business lobbies under the banner of “competitiveness,” EU leaders are using the term to shield polluters at the expense of people’s rights, safety and daily realities, Europe’s largest environmental NGOs warn. After a year of ten omnibus packages and rollbacks, EU institutions are weakening hard-won environmental laws, rewarding sustainability laggards and undermining Europe’s role as a green leader.

“The meeting’s focus is far from what average citizens are concerned about: cost of living, safety and climate-induced natural disasters.” says the Hands Off Nature coalition which consists of BirdLife Europe, ClientEarth, the European Environmental Bureau and WWF EU.

Public opposition is surging. Over 170,000 people have signed the Hands Off Nature petition in days, calling on EU leaders to stop weakening environmental laws. A record-breaking 200,000 citizens answered the EU Commission’s consultation, calling on public institutions to do what only governments can do: defend shared goods, protect health and nature, and actively improve quality of life. 

“While people are asking for clean air, safe water and a future they can trust, EU leaders are backpedalling ambition and leadership, bowing instead to polluters’ requests that would do the exact opposite”, the coalition adds. 

For more background information, see this media advisory.