EU: Parliamentary committee seeks to weaken public participation in EU’s environmental decision-making
The European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) has voted in favour of amendments that would limit civil society’s participation in EU environmental policies and processes on how industrial pollution is regulated. The proposals exclude environmental rights CSOs from expert discussions that have helped ensure that environmental, public health, and climate concerns are considered alongside industry interests.
The vote forms part of the EU’s broader deregulation agenda, a significant crackdown on public participation rights, under the pretext of simplifying bureaucracy. The amendments will now be considered by Parliament’s Environmental Committee (ENVI), which is expected to adopt its position in November before a final plenary vote. If finally adopted, the changes would pose a threat to transparency, accountability, and democratic participation in environmental decision-making and restrict environmental, climate, and health groups’ role in shaping and scrutinising EU environmental policy.