Posted on September, 10 2014

 

Today President- elect Jean-Claude Juncker presented his new team of 27 European Commissioners, including seven vice-presidents. In reaction to the new structure of the Commission that will lead Europe for the next five years, and in particular the decision to merge major environmental portfolios, Tony Long, Director of WWF European Policy Office said:

"WWF finds it regrettable that for the first time in 25 years the environment will not have its own designated Commissioner. This comes precisely at the time when environmental problems are looming larger on the political agenda.

The clear signal in the mandate given to the Maltese Environment and Fisheries Commissioner, Karmenu Vella, that the Birds and Habitats Directives are to be overhauled and “merged” marks a new policy direction. WWF will be extremely vigilant to ensure that this does not lead to a weakening of existing nature conservation legislation in Europe.

On the climate and energy side, both have large and pressing agendas. A single Commissioner will have to show exceptional clarity and leadership to make the progress needed in Europe.

We also regret that the opportunity to create a Commission cluster around the theme of sustainable development has been missed.

We call on the European Parliament to exercise its full power to make sure that a downgrading of the environment in the next Commission is not allowed to happen by default."


Contact:
Stefania Campogianni
Media and Communications Officer
WWF European Policy Office
scampogianni@wwf.eu
+32 499 53 97 36

Tycho Vandermaesen
Public Affairs Officer
WWF European Policy Office
tvandermaesen@wwf.eu
+32 498 72 56 41



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