EurActiv: NGO accuses MEP of using anti-Russian bias to tout shale gas

The environmental group Food & Water Europe has accused the Polish author of a European Parliament report on shale gas extraction of resorting to "Cold War" rhetoric against Russia to support the industry's development.

In a statement released on Monday, Food & Water Europe blasted the draft report by MEP Bogusław Sonik (European People's Party) on the environmental impacts of shale gas and shale oil extraction activities.

The group sees Sonik's report as heavily stilted in favour of shale gas extraction, noting that the author failed to correctly quote the European Commission. The parliamentary report was released on 11 April. 

Sonik considers that risks related to shale gas extraction can be contained through preventive measures. He strongly insists that shale gas development in EU countries should depend only on national authorities with the European Commission acting as a monitor.

"Mr Sonik’s report begins under the assumption that shale gas is a 'very important new source of supply', conveniently dropping the key word 'potential' from this direct quote out of the Commission’s 2050 Energy Roadmap," Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food & Water Europe, said in a statement.  MORE