By Brian Johnson and Emily Smith - 26th April 2004
Europe has caved into US and industry pressure over controversial chemicals laws, according to a book by a Green MEP.
Swedish MEP Inger Schörling, has accused European leaders of lacking “guts” in standing up to intense lobbying over proposed public health laws known as REACH.
Schörling's new book chronicles the chemical industry’s strong arm tactics and US political interference.
"Europe's leaders didn't have the guts to stand up to US pressure," she told journalists.
The Swede warns that Europe’s chemicals policy is becoming “increasingly focussed on the protection of the chemical industry rather than the protection of human health”.
The commission’s initial white paper, ‘A strategy for a future chemicals policy’, was received with great confidence that an effective new regulation would be delivered, says Schörling.
But now many believe that aggressive industry lobbying thrashed Europe’s proposals, watering it down until “it is not as good as it should be.”
Responding to criticism that environmentalists had been naïve in believing that industry would not lobby hard against change, Schörling said that they had been “surprised by the strength of US and industry lobbying”.
Her comments come as Environment commissioner Margot Wallström tours the USA explaining Europe’s environmental policies.
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