Sir, The revision of the EU’s Animal Experiments Directive is reaching a critical point, with the EU Council meeting on 14 December to discuss the proposals Animal experimentation is an issue which attracts a great deal of public concern. A recent opinion survey in the UK, France, Germany, Sweden, Italy and the Czech Republic found [...]

Sir, Regarding ‘EU hails ‘new era’ as Lisbon Treaty goes into force‘: The Treaty of Lisbon amending the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community (alias the Lisbon Treaty) entered into force on Dec. 1st, 2009 [1]. Choosing an emblematic timing, on Nov. 30th – on the eve of the Lisbon [...]

Sir, Regarding ‘Barroso warns opponents not to weaken Europe’: I would like to share with you my personal view on why José Manuel Barroso should not be re-elected as president of the Commission of the European Communities (alias the European Commission). I would not support Mr. Barroso for a second term because: 1) The legislation [...]

Sir, Regarding ‘Barroso unveils five-year plan with 2020 horizon‘: Your article on European Commission President José Manuel Barroso’s political guidelines correctly highlights his intention to develop a European Digital Agenda under the new EU executive. As the European Competitive Telecommunications Association (ECTA) we welcome the plan, which correctly identifies the importance of the telecoms industry [...]

Sir, Regarding ‘EU light bulb ban attacked from all sides as phase-out starts‘: There is a great deal of hot air being generated in what passes for the ‘debate’ on more efficient lighting. A couple of stats would be helpful. In a home that is heated by oil or gas (and has no air conditioning), [...]

Sir, Regarding ‘Blair: Climate efforts no reason to give up cars‘: It would seem that Mr Blair is not only an expert on weapons of mass destruction (their ownership or lack thereof) but also energy policy, transport policy and indeed, climate change in general. In the case of cars, there is nothing inevitable about rising [...]

Sir, Regarding ‘Intelligent transport raises privacy concerns‘: Address the root cause of congestion and you resolve the problems. It is not the number of vehicles on the roads: it is whether they can transit from point A to point B and to do so without stopping. How much would you save if every trip around [...]

Sir, Regarding ‘Risk consultant: EU R&D hostage of ‘eco-religious fundamentalism’‘: Recycling is no more ritualistic than washing your hands after you go to the bathroom or making sure your smoke alarm has a battery – i.e. it has a clear purpose. If the language on climate change is apocalyptic, it is because the situation is [...]

Sir, Regarding ‘UN shipping body agrees to CO2-cutting proposals‘: Action by the IMO on shipping emissions has been (and I’m being charitable now) slow. However, it is quite possible that, post-Copenhagen, shipping will be pulled into ETS in much the same way as aviation was. In November 2007, [European Commission Vice-President Margot] Wallström said both shipping [...]

Sir, Regarding ‘Risk consultant: EU R&D hostage of ‘eco-religious fundamentalism’‘ I just came across the interview with Mr. Zaruk, and must say that I was appalled and scared when reading his views. But on the other side, he only expresses himself as what he is, a former lobbyist of the chemical industry more interested probably in pushing [...]