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Press release
Brussels, Belgium - The EU declaration on guiding principles for sustainable development, published today by the European Commission and due to be endorsed by the EU Council of 16-17 June, will only be of value if it leads to the EU taking smart economic actions inside and outside Europe, says the 'Green 9' group of environmental NGOs. "Sustainable development is not going to work with a declaration alone. We have already seen a lack of progress after the environmental dimension was added to the Lisbon strategy in 2001", said Tony Long, Director of WWF European Policy Office. "A real commitment absolutely requires that the economic and ecological worlds are brought together and that we are able to measure the demand we place on the planet's resources". "The declaration should be followed by concrete actions to achieve a more sustainable pattern of development. Its adoption has to bring new commitments for EU leaders and create some clear balance with ideas for a new economic agenda enshrined in the revised Lisbon agenda", added John Hontelez, Secretary General of the European Environmental Bureau. "Ambitious steps forward in making Europe the most energy and resource efficient economy in the world will push innovation, increase competitiveness, create jobs and improve the environment. We ask to ensure that the guiding principles for sustainable development capture this level of ambition and really contribute to this aim", said Martin Rocholl, Director of Friends of the Earth Europe. For further information: Claudia Delpero, Communications Manager, WWF European Policy Office, tel 02-7400925, cdelpero@wwfepo.org
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