NEWS RELEASE From the office of the Green MEPs

November 18, 2004

NO GREEN COULD VOTE FOR THIS COMMISSION SAYS LONDON'S GREEN MEP

London's Green MEP, Jean Lambert has refused, along with the rest of her party, to vote for Barosso's new commission. Citing Barosso's lack of commitment to the inclusion of any sustainable development, Mrs Lambert said today;

"No Green MEP could possibly vote for what he is proposing. Barosso, in his final pitch to MEPs, has ignored the issue of sustainable development central to the Lisbon Agenda which he claims to support. His choice of Commissioners and his speech clearly show that business and industry are being allowed dominate over ecological and social concerns.

There is no place in his commission for Green thinking. This is a man who is effectively consigning sustainable development to the dustbin. And that is simply not an approach I can support.

We are more than happy to wave goodbye to Mr Buttiglione, but the Commission remains weakened and vulnerable."

ENDS

For more information please contact Alex Rowe on 020 7407 6280 or at alexrowe@greenmeps.org.uk