EEB

Press Release

Polish Presidency Assessment: Bad on climate and agriculture, good on e-waste and mercury

21st December 2011

Poland’s addiction to dirty energy and desire to claim a larger share of the CAP cake dragged down its performance, according to an assessment of the Polish EU Presidency released today by the EEB. However the group did praise Poland’s efforts to work alongside NGOs and for having taken negotiations ahead in areas such as e-waste, as well as for taking debates on future environmental policy forward.

“It was a mixed performance from Poland. It has at best failed to catalyse progress and at worst been responsible for regressive moves in key areas such as energy and agriculture, where Poland’s heavy fossil fuel dependence and strong farming lobby have no doubt played their part,” said EEB Secretary General Jeremy Wates.

The report was particularly critical of Poland’s role in weakening energy legislation, particularly on the energy efficiency directive and the Kyoto protocol.

While there were some good results regarding e-waste and chemical spills, there were key failures when it came to the budget. The assessment said Europe’s environmental protection fund, LIFE, was left underfunded while there was a complete failure to agree on greening Europe’s common agricultural policy.

The EEB has released an assessment for every Presidency since 1998, based on its Ten Green Tests. EEB views the six-month Presidency as a convenient period over which progress on the EU’s environment-related policy and legislation can be measured.

Read the full Assessment now