Environment  at risk if UK joins the EEA – paper

The UK could see a major weakening of environmental protections if it leaves  the EU to join the European Economic Area (EEA), according to a paper  commissioned by NGO Friends of the Earth.

The member state would no longer have to comply with some “of the most  environmentally significant policies”, specifically directives on birds and  habitats, bathing waters and shellfish and some parts of the water framework  directive, says the paper written by Charlotte Burns of the University of  York.

The UK’s Conservative Party, which is sharing government responsibilities  with the Liberal Democrats, has made its opposition to habitats rules well  known, saying some inhibit development even though there is little evidence of  this.

The country would also lose influence over other environmental policies, such  as those on air quality and waste. But it would still have to comply with them  to be part of the single market – unless it can negotiate specific opt-outs.

“Those advocating EEA membership therefore seem to be asking the British  public to trade their current influence in Europe for less whilst having to  implement many of the same rules,” says Dr Burns. “[This] seems a poor  choice.”

David Cameron said in January  that he would seek to renegotiate the EU’s environmental powers if the  Conservatives win the next election. The party would then hold a referendum on  membership in 2017.

FoE’s paper is the first to look at the potential environmental implications  of the UK leaving the EU to become an EEA member.

Iceland,  Norway and Liechtenstein are part of the EEA, and this gives them preferential  access to the EU market. In addition to the birds and habitats directives and a  few other environmental laws, they also do not have to comply with the Common  Agricultural Policy or the Common Fisheries Policy.

But the paper does caution that “no state has ever left the EU… so there  are many unanswered questions about exactly what consequences will follow if we  do so.”

The government is currently undertaking a review of the EU’s competences and  how they are shared with and affect the UK. A consultation on its environmental  and climate competences is due to be launched this week. Similar consultations  on energy, agriculture and fishery competences should launch in October.

Note: a slightly amended version of this article also appears in the ENDS  Report, ENDS Europe’s British sister publication

Follow Up:

Paper  published by Friends of the Earth

http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefings/eu_referendum_environment.pdf