The Parliament: EU urged to take 'pragmatic' approach to unconventional gas extraction

The shale gas "revolution" should be embraced as an opportunity rather than a threat, an event in parliament has heard.

Polish MEP Boguslaw Sonik, speaking at the event last week, organised by the Parliament Magazine in association with DMT and TÜV Nord, said that a more scientific debate on the issue was crucial in ensuring that Europe did not lose out on the potential economic benefits of unconventional gas exploitation.

Sonik, who hosted the event, which focused on how policymakers could combine energy security and environmental safety within the unconventional gas debate, argued that misconceptions surrounding the health and environmental impact of unconventional gas extraction had primarily driven the European debate on the issue, rather than sound scientific evidence.

The Polish deputy's own initiative report on the potential negative impact of shale gas extraction - which was passed by a large majority of MEPs last November - emphasised that the extraction of unconventional gasses, such as shale gas, tight gas and coal bed methane, was environmentally safe and posed no health risks as long as strong environmental and safety standards were adhered to.

"It's important," he added, "that MEPs lead the debate on issues such as energy and environmental safety. Our citizens have the right and expect that the European parliament will look carefully at this issue and take action to create legislation if required."  MORE