Andrew is the region's most environmentally friendly MEP, say Friends of the Earth

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 7th Apr 2004

Andrew Duff - East of England's Greenist Euro MP

Only one Member of the European Parliament, Liberal Democrat Andrew Duff, scored top marks for voting for the environment in an analysis of European voting records published today by Friends of the Earth Europe ahead of the European Elections on June 10 [1]. The Conservatives and UK Independence Party have the worst voting record.

By analyzing voting records on key environmental votes over the last four years it has been possible to identify the greenest MEPs in Europe, those who have consistently voted against environmental improvements and those who have not turned up to vote on these issues [2] Collectively UK MEPs have the worst voting record in Europe [3].

The eight East of England MEPs scored as follows (in order of environmental performance) [4]:

Andrew Duff (Liberal Democrat), Score 100 per cent. Euro rank: equal 1st out of 685

Richard Howitt (Labour), Score 77 per cent. Euro rank: equal 323 out of 685

Eryl McNally (Labour), Score 70 per cent. Euro rank: equal 345 out of 685

Bashir Khanbhai (Conservative), Score 20 per cent. Euro rank: equal 569 out of 685

Christopher Beazley (Conservative), Score 12.5 per cent. Euro rank: equal 606 out of 685

Geoffrey Van Orden (Conservative), Score 12.5 per cent. Euro rank: equal 606 out of 685

Robert Sturdy (Conservative), Score 11 per cent. Euro rank: equal 621 out of 685

Jeffrey Titford (UK Independence Party), Score 0 per cent. Euro rank: equal 646 out of 685

The England, Wales and Northern Ireland political parties' votes for environmental improvement were ranked as follows:

1. Greens, Plaid Cymru and SDLP - all 100 per cent

2. Liberal Democrats - 99 per cent

3. Labour - 70 per cent

4. DUP - 50 per cent

5. Conservatives - 13 per cent

6. UUP - 12 per cent

7. UKIP - 0 per cent

The key votes were identified by the major environmental groups within Europe. The European Union is responsible for around 90 per cent of environmental laws in the UK [5]. Recent research shows that over 30 per cent of UK citizens are "very worried" about environmental issues [6]. The environment is one of the few areas where the European Parliament has co-decision making powers with the Commission and Council of Ministers and is therefore one of the few areas where MEPs can make a significant difference.

Friends of the Earth's Campaigns Director Mike Childs said:

"The European Union has been the driving force to cleaning up Britain's drinking water, rivers and beaches. Its laws on waste are improving the safety of waste disposal facilities and leading to increased recycling. It has a huge influence at international negotiations on issues as diverse as wildlife protection, trade and corporate accountability. It's disappointing to only see one East of England MEP scoring top marks on voting on issues of real concern to East Anglian people. The environment is of huge importance to public health and people's quality of life. UK MEPs must do better."

Notes:

[1] The website is at www.EU-votewatch.org

[2] The ten key votes were identified by, amongst-others, Friends of the Earth, WWF, Birdlife and Greenpeace. They were on: Agriculture, Air pollution, Chemicals, GM food, Liability, Nuclear power, Recycling, Renewables, Transport. Further details on the precise nature of the votes and background information is at www.EU-votewatch.org.

[3] Ranking of Countries by MEPs for environmental improvements was carried out by analysing total number of votes by a country MEPs for environmental improvements against total against. The following is a list of percentage of votes for environmental improvement: Denmark (84 per cent), Sweden (81 per cent), Austria (77 per cent), Belgium (76 per cent), Netherlands (75 per cent), Finland (75 per cent), Greece (70 per cent), Spain (69 per cent), Portugal (67 per cent), France (66 per cent), Luxembourg (63 per cent), Ireland (59 per cent), Germany (57 per cent), Italy (57 per cent), UK (49 per cent).

[4] Percentage is the number of times voted positively for the environment out of times voted. MEPs can miss votes for various reasons, some good and some bad.

[5] A common claim made by Euro-sceptics in the UK is that UK business are at a disadvantage because it is only the UK that properly implements EU laws and that other countries do not. A recent report by the European Commission shows that the UK has more actions against it for failure to implement EU laws than 10 other member states. Only 4 other states have a worse record than the UK. 2003 Environment Policy Review, Consolidating the environmental pillar of sustainable development, Com (2003) 745 final of 3.12.2003.

[6] European Opinion Research Group, December 2002, Eurobarometer 58.0, the attitudes of Europeans towards the environment, DG Environment. Available at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/barometer/barometer_2003_en.pdf