EC to press ahead with environmental strategies

THE European Commission is to press ahead with a range of environmental strategies including a €12 billion clear air programme that is estimated to save up to 30,000 premature deaths a year.

The agreement by the commissioners was seen as a defeat for the so-called gang of four including the President and the Irish Commissioner, Charlie McCreevy, who argued that it would be too expensive for business and industry.

A few weeks ago EU Commission President Jose Barroso pulled the planned initiative on air pollution hours before Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas was due to launch it.

This major strategy on the environment is in preparation for the past three years under seven headings including air, pesticides, the marine, waste prevention, soil quality, sustainable use of resources and urban environmental management. But many in the Barroso commission, with its mandate to concentrate on economic issues, have argued that money can only be spent on the areas like the environment once Europe's economy is thriving.

The Greek commissioner emphasised that the benefits far outweigh the costs to both the ordinary citizen, to industry and to the present and future economy.

Mr Simas quoted studies showing that the 300,000 plus Europeans who die prematurely every year from ailments like asthma related to polluted air could be saved and that the costs would be spread over 15 years.

Given the green light, however, Mr Dimas was warned that when each of the seven strategies is launched in autumn they must be accompanied by full cost benefit studies and impact assessments.

"We have always carried out these studies and we are confident that the results will amply prove the desirability of our strategies", said Barbara Helfferich, spokeswoman for Mr Dimas.