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.