Sir, - An article in your edition of May 31st refers to the "delight" of a Green Party activist at the way comments by European politicians such as Lionel Jospin, Romano Prodi and Frits Bolkstein are supposedly playing into the hands of the anti-Nice and anti-enlargement campaign.
Can I take it that this delighted activist was referring to the discussion document launched by the Commission on Wednesday, May 23rd, which suggested that provisions contained in the Nice Treaty opened up the possibility of achieving real European action on the problem of global warming?
All shades of opinion in Ireland and elsewhere in Europe have been rightly quick to condemn President Bush's reneging on US commitments under the Kyoto Protocol. We should remember, however, that proposals to harmonise energy taxation levels in Europe in order to reduce energy consumption have been stalled within Council since 1997. Although a clear majority of member-states are in favour, the unanimous agreement of all 15 is required under the present rules to adopt the measure and a minority, including Ireland, is firmly opposed. While Europe is divided, the problem gets worse; according to a recent Environmental Protection Agency report, Ireland has already broken its commitments to keep COs2] emissions below 1990 levels. If we are serious about living up to our commitments under Kyoto, and I presume the Green Party are, then I think these new suggestions from the Commission should be given our full and careful consideration. If so, the Greens should be calling for a Yes to Nice. - Yours, etc.,
Proinsias De Rossa MEP, European Parliament, Brussels.