Item in the discussion series on shale gas on this site. The European Parliament Environmental Committee is of the opinion that member states should be prudent in drilling for shale gas, until better data are available about risks. According to the European Green Left news letter.
According to Bas Eickhout, European MP for the Green Left, European environmental legislation falls far short of reasonable requirements, and hence the environment and water quality could be severely damaged. He mentions that Dutch authorities overlooking water quality have similar reservations. Furthermore, he questions the allowance of chemicals used in drilling under European law. The Commission recently issued a study indicating that these drillings might severely affect ground water and biodiversity. Bas Eickhout calls shale gas recovery a dead-end, and mentions a French moratorium on shale gas recovery. The Green fraction in the European parliament has started a campaign against shale gas recovery.