Green 10: the Parliament must reject this Commission

Brussels - The Green 10, the alliance of leading environmental NGOs in Europe, reiterates the call to reject the Commission unless rigorous changes of mandates, job titles and re-allocation of posts are made.

Download the Green 10 public appeal as pdf.

Angelo Caserta, Birdlife Europe Director and Chair of the Green 10 stated: ”We have listened carefully to the hearings of designated Commissioners hoping, until the very last word, that President Jean Claude Juncker would send a message of peace to the environmental community. Sadly, that has not happened. We can only reiterate our appeal for a rejection of this Commission. The European Parliament cannot accept it without seriously alienating millions of citizens in Europe who want decision-makers to protect the environment and secure a sustainable future”.

In its public appeal (pdf) to the European Parliament the Green 10 state: ”After following the hearings of the EU Commissioner-Designates in front of the European Parliament, the Green10 Coalition confirms its strong concern over President-Elect Juncker’s attempt to downgrade the environment in Europe and asks the European Parliament to reject the Commission.

As put forward in our open letter to President Schulz the Green10 deplore that the structure of the new European Commission, the mission letters, and the choice of Commissioners reveal a roll-back of existing EU commitments on sustainable development, resource efficiency, health, air quality, biodiversity protection and climate action”.

The Green 10 conclude: ”Against this backdrop, we believe the European Parliament must reject the Commission unless rigorous changes of mandates, job titles and re-allocation of posts are made along the lines indicated by the Green 10 in the letter to the Conference of Presidents and Conference of Chairs on October 3rd.

The EP should make clear that EU citizens and their representatives can only accept a Commission that takes seriously environmental sustainability, people’s health and much needed transformation of Europe’s economy”.