Diana Wallis MEP backs 'polluter pays' principle

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 15th May 2003

EU-wide laws aimed at upholding the principle that the 'polluter pays' for environmental damage were advanced today when Euro-MPs gave them support in a series of knife-edge votes. The 'polluter pays' principle would be put into practice through common EU rules making businesses financially liable for any damage they cause.

Diana Wallis, Liberal Democrat MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber, commented:

"The 'polluter pays' principle is dear to environmentalists, and makes good sense. This is a positive step forward. We need to have a law that will not prove too costly to implement, and that is practical and enforceable."

"But if the basic liability does not rest with the (insured) farm or firm, then clearly the clean-up cost has to be borne by taxpayers."

"Conservative MEPs who voted against this new law should explain whether they are in favour of higher Council Tax bills otherwise they risk looking hypocritical considering their line in the recent local elections!"

While disasters such as the sinking of the Prestige oil tanker seize the headlines, environmentalists are concerned also about thousands of small scale incidents such as the escape of slurry from farms into rivers. The hope is that the new law will force businesses to take more steps to curb the risk of causing damage, as well as meeting the costs of restoring the environment if it occurs.

But the concerns of industry and agricultural representatives about the possible costs of the measures were reflected in bitter divisions which split the European Parliament. By wafer thin margins, MEPs today gave their support to amendments designed to strengthen the proposals by safeguarding all protected species and sites, requiring businesses to take out insurance against the costs of possible damage, and giving individuals the right to go to court to secure action if there is an imminent threat to the environment.

However, businesses working with state-of-the-art equipment or in accordance with permits will be able to claim exemptions, and farmers will be able to use the excuse of 'good agricultural practice' as a defence.

But the margins of victory for all the proposed changes were so small that compromises are inevitable if they are to stand any chance of success when the new EU law is debated for a second time early next year.

The newly amended draft of the so-called "Environmental Liability Directive" must now be considered by EU environment ministers and will only become law when the Council of Ministers and the Parliament have agreed on a final text.