Chances are improving for an objective European Parliament debate on the future and consequences of shale gas extraction.

 

In the spring, when the European Parliament has the benefit of two shale gas reports, the debate on this subject can be more objective than to date. When the Environment Committee resolved in October on the need to commission a report on the consequences of the exploitation of shale gas deposits, its decision was echoed by the members of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE).

 

The study to be prepared on a motion by Lena Kolarska-Bobińska is to address the impact of shale [gas] production on the energy future of Europe. “To date the European Parliament has focused primarily on the environmental impact of shale gas [exploration and production], but there is also the immensely important aspect of building Europe’s energy security”, the Polish MEP insists. She points out that, with Europe increasingly dependent on external energy suppliers, shale gas could offer greater self-sufficiency not just to Poland, but to other countries as well. “This is particularly important given the absence of a European Union–Russia agreement on the implementation of the third energy package and Russia’s plans to build the South Stream gas pipeline as a southern counterpart to North Stream”, adds Kolarska-Bobińska.

 

Last month the Environment Committee decided to commission an environmental aspects report, appointing a Polish MEP, Bogusław Sonik, the rapporteur. In a way, the new report will be a response to an exceptionally critical document from a German think-tank, highlighting the harms of shale [gas] extraction. This study has raised much controversy in the European Parliament, with some MEPs accusing its analyses of bias. “The new report is essential for us to obtain full insight into the importance of shale [gas] in Europe”, says Kolarska-Bobińska. The European Popular Party Group to which the Civic Platform [PO] and the Polish Peasants’ Party [PSL] belong is considered the most influential political group in the European Parliament. With 264 MEPs from 26 EU member states, it is also the largest.

 

 

Source: Rzeczpospolita B, 2011-11-18, p. 5, by ała