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NEWS: Harper’s gambit against European Fuel Quality Directive could play out in October 2013

Brent Patterson speaks with Members of the European Parliament about the EFQD at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, January 2011.

Brent Patterson speaks with Members of the European Parliament about the EFQD at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, January 2011.

EurActiv reports, “A Canadian bid to persuade European Union policymakers to soften proposed fuel quality laws has come unstuck (with) MEP’s complaining about ‘undiplomatic power plays’ (by the Harper government). Ottawa has intensely lobbied EU states for years over plans to peg oil from its highly-polluting tar sands as more polluting than crude, under a stalled review of the directive, which sets a 6% emissions reduction target for transport fuels. An EU impact assessment intended to break the logjam is due out this spring, and two ministers from the Canadian province of Alberta are visiting 11 EU countries this month to make the case that tar sands use can help tackle climate change.”

The news article highlights these two upcoming dates:

  • Spring 2013: EU Impact Assessment into the Fuel Quality Directive expected
  • October 2013: Environment Council may vote on the Fuel Quality Directive

The Council of Canadians has worked to counter the Harper government’s lobbying against the European Fuel Quality Directive. Most recently, in March 2012, Council of Canadians trade campaigner participated in a delegation to counter Harper’s lobbying in Paris, The Hague, London and Berlin, http://canadians.org/blog/?p=14176. In September 2011, Canada’s chief negotiator for the Canada-EU free trade agreement suggested Canada would challenge the EU at the World Trade Organization if the European Fuel Quality Directive weren’t changed, http://canadians.org/blog/?p=10590.

For campaign blogs – dating back to November 2010 – highlighting our various interventions and key developments on this issue, please see http://canadians.org/blog/?s=%22european+fuel+quality+directive%22. The EurActiv news article can be found at http://www.euractiv.com/climate-environment/canada-tar-sands-charm-offensive-news-517338.