NGOs concerned with 'future of environmental health' under Jean-Claude Juncke

25-Sep-2014 - Last updated on 26-Sep-2014 at 10:31 GMT

HEAL, the Green10 and other Brussels-based NGOs have contacted the European Parliament with ‘grave concerns on the future of environmental health' under the newly appointed Commission of Jean-Claude Juncker.

According to the non-governmental organisations, the new structure of the EU Commission reveals a “serious downgrading of the environment and a roll back of existing EU commitments to sustainable development, resource efficiency, air quality, biodiversity protection and climate action.”

In the appeal, the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), Green10, the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth say the European Parliament should block Juncker’s attempt to "undermine the EU’s environmental policies".

One request refers to the return of the biocides and pesticides legislation under the supervision of the directorate general of Environment.

"The shift of the biocides policy from the DG of Environment to DG Health and of the cosmetics policy from DG Health to DG Enterprise is a clear bias towards prioritising business interests over protection of human health and the environment," they claim.

To date, forty six MEPs have already written to Mr Juncker asking for a reassessment of the mission letters taking into account sustainability and good management of natural resources.

Juncker's European Committee

After being elected as incoming president of the Commission back in June, Jean-Claude Juncker seen intense bidding from member states' for nominees for certain positions.

In July, Juncker published his agenda for the next EC before announcing that he had completed the puzzle and revealed the full commission and distribution of portfolios the first week of September.

Appointments relating to the cosmetics sector include former health minister of Lithuania, Vytenis Andriukaitis stepping into the role of EU health commissioner, Czech Republic’s Věra Jourová being appointed to consumer protection and Malta’s Karmenu Vella as environment commissioner.

A new post of vice president for 'better regulation' was also assigned to Frans Timmermans from the Netherlands, which analysts say should please UK Prime Minister David Cameron, who has led a campaign for less red tape and regulation in EU policy-making.

Timmermans could have important influence over the development of EU chemical controls as the next round of REACH registration is staged by 2018..