EU Commission Action Plan For Environment and Health ’Missing In Action’

SCALE was the foundation for the European Commission’s Communication for - ’The European Environment & Health Action Plan 2004-2010’ which has just been published.

The Action Plan has not been well received by the NGO community. As all stakeholders of the Budapest conference had high expectations for the EU’s Action Plan as the most powerful tool from the Region’s powerhouse to deliver measurable and permanent improvements in our children’s environment and health. In contrast Industry representatives seem rather happy with the outcome. Please see report from Euroactiv

Please find attached a letter sent to the three Commissioners responsible, from EEN, on behalf of the NGO Community outlining our major concerns, since which the paper has been even more watered down. Main Concerns being:

 No legislative action in action plan
 Precautionary decision-making not at heart of action plan
 No integration of child specific vulnerabilities to adverse health effects (policy response).
 Too much emphasis on further research needs.
 No new financial resources.