In a press statement, the chair of the Environment
Committee Karl-Heinz Florenz MEP (EPP-ED)
said that European environment policy needed "a strong
Commissioner" but also "more than just declarations of intention".
"If Commission President designate Barroso puts the Lisbon strategy
on top of the agenda, this must not mean that the primacy of
economic over environment policy gets cemented," Florenz said.
Although he believes that "environment policy is not an end in
itself", he added that Europe had "a responsibility" for future
generations. Commenting on Mr Dimas's lack of experience on
environmental issues, Florenz pointed out that current environment
commissioner Margot Wallström had also been "underestimated when
she first took office". "We have to grant Mr Dimas the time to grow
into such a complex portfolio," Florenz concluded.
Socialist MEPs in charge of environmental
issues said they would give Dimas only a "qualified approval".
Guido Sacconi, Socialist Coordinator and Parliament rapporteur on
REACH, said "many of the plans outlined by Mr Dimas were too vague.
We can all agree with the goals he outlined but these goals will
not be met without a firm concrete method". On REACH specifically,
Sacconi warned that Dimas's approach would "need changing if he is
to get co-operation from Parliament." "Dimas has been put on
notice. He knows our concerns and we look forward to seeing these
being addressed," said Socialist spokesman Jan Marinus Wiersma.
The Green group in Parliament have stated
their doubts about Dimas's environmental commitment. Satu Hassi,
Finnish Green MEP and Vice-President of the Environment Committee,
said the hearing "confirmed [his] fears that the new Commission
intends to downgrade environmental protection". According to Hassi,
Dimas "demonstrated a worrying lack of environmental commitment and
vision". "We need a strong Environmental Commissioner who will act
as a determined lobbyist for the environment and can stand up to
strong pressure from industry," Hassi stated. "We find it hard to
take on trust that Dimas will acquire the necessary qualifications
by learning on the job," he added. "Commission President Barroso
should think again about whether he has chosen the right portfolio
for Mr Dimas. We do not believe that he has," the Green MEP
concluded.
The Left Group in Parliament (GUE/NGL) said
they would not be supporting Mr Dimas's appointment. In a
statement, Group Co-ordinator Jonas Sjöstedt said he was
"dissapointed" with Mr Dimas's performance. "Many of his responses
to important questions from colleagues were vague. He did not
appear to have adequate knowledge on the environment and did not
convince us he was committed to his prospective tasks as
Environment Commissioner," Sjöstedt commented.
Christoph Leitl, President
of Eurochambres, the Association of European
Chambers of Commerce and Industry, described Mr Dimas's hearing as
"good news for industry". "Environmental protection is important,
but it has to go along with a healthy and prosperous economy,"
Leitl said. "Dimas has rightly made clear that the economic pillar
of the Lisbon process must not be subordinated to the environmental
pillar and that environmental protection is every citizen’s, not
just the industry’s, responsibility".
Speaking to EURACTIV, European Environmental Bureau (EEB)
Secretary General John Hontelez said Dimas's performance before
Parliament was "not very strong" and left him with "some question
marks". "I understand that he is taking the competitiveness issue
as very important," Hontelez said, although he pointed out that
this could be interpreted in several ways and remained careful not
to prejudge Dimas's future role. "There has never been an
Environment Commissioner who has had a previous environmental
background," Hontelez pointed out, citing the outgoing Wallström as
an example. "He has a lot to learn".
