Brussels – Greenpeace accused EU governments of undermining democracy, bowing to Trump’s deregulation agenda and taking instructions from corporate lobbies, as an informal EU summit got underway on Thursday at Alden Biesen castle in Belgium.
Greenpeace warned in a letter sent to EU presidents and prime ministers that plans backed by the German, Italian and Belgian governments due to be discussed at the summit would dismantle many of the existing checks and balances in the EU democratic process, allowing corporations to get rich at the expense of Europe’s long-term security and resilience.
Greenpeace EU programme director Magda Stoczkiewicz said:
“This cosy castle gettogether is not about competitiveness or the EU market – it’s about turning Europe into a deregulation El Dorado, where big corporations can recklessly plunder our democracies and environment. Dancing to Trump’s tune, our governments want to allow greedy multinationals to get rich from the pollution of our food, rivers and homes. It’s a lethal corporate giveaway that will make us poorer, sicker and more vulnerable in an unstable world. Replacing Putin’s gas for Trump’s gas, while at the same pushing back on commitments to power our homes and factories with cheap, home-grown renewables will never put Europe on a path to energy independence.”
The EU needs to change course and start making tangible changes to people’s lives, like cutting energy bills through renewables and home insulation, improving health by removing toxic chemicals from our water and everyday products, creating green jobs and making polluters pay for the damage they cause. The true path to resilient societies lies in fairer, healthier and greener communities.”
Contact: Greenpeace EU press desk: +32 (0)2 274 1911, [email protected]
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Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning network that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace. We do not accept donations from governments, the EU, businesses or political parties. Greenpeace has over three million supporters, and 26 independent national and regional organisations with offices in more than 55 countries.
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