French Socialists ‘non’ on EU REACH deal

French Socialist MEPs have decided not to support a controversial compromise deal on REACH chemicals proposals.

Ahead of today’s landmark first reading vote on REACH in Strasbourg, the French Socialists said that they could not accept the compromise agreement brokered last week between the parliament’s centre left and right groups.

That deal weakened the ‘Registration’ aspects of REACH, diluting the quantity of safety data that chemicals manufacturers have to supply.

The parliament’s Socialist rapporteur, Italian Guido Sacconi, admitted that the deal had meant concessions to industry, but had been the only way to obtain an agreement.

French socialist MEP Beatrice Patrie announced this morning that her group could not accept that deal.

“[The agreement] has not achieved the right balance, French socialists will not be voting for the compromise deal.”

Patrie said she hoped their decision would send a political signal to the commission, council and the chemicals industry.

“We don’t want a cut price REACH.”

The French socialist 'non' should not affect the outcome of the vote on the compromise deal, which MEPs are expected to agree.

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