Plaid MEP Jill Evans has welcomed the backing of the European Parliament's petitions committee today for two groups of campaigners from Wales. Campaigners against the LNG pipeline that stretches from Milford Haven right across the south of Wales, and the Hafod landfill site Ruabon, Wrexham were invited to Brussels by Ms Evans to petition the European Parliament.
Speaking after the hearing in Brussels, the Plaid Cymru MEP said:
"I'm obviously very pleased that the Petitions Committee decided to keep all three petitions open and have requested further information to help them establish if there are any breaches of EU law.
"The Petitions Committee and European Commission take these cases very serious, and obviously think there may be a case to answer."
"Climate change, our natural energy resources, and how we dispose of our waste are presenting major challenges to us, not only in Wales, but throughout Europe, and these cases only serve to highlight these facts.
"We need to look at sustainable, long-term solutions to these challenges and take into account the views of local communities when we do so. And that is something I've always pushed for, and will continue to do so in the future."
"The petitioners deserve a lot of credit for they way they stated their case. They included well-researched, factual evidence and presented it clearly. I'm sure this contributed to the petitions committee's decision to keep the petitions open, and I'd like to congratulate them for doing so."
Protestors against the LNG pipeline lodged a petition last December and the European Commission has been looking into possible breaches of EU law. The 150 mile long pipeline stretches from Milford Haven to Gloucestershire and in parts runs within a few metres of houses and schools. A second petition deals with the safety of the LNG terminals in Milford Haven. The European Commission will now make further enquiries into the issue.
At the same meeting, residents opposed to the Hafod landfill site near Wrexham gave evidence on their petition. Their submission refers to potential breaches of EU law because of part of the site's status as a Special Area of Conservation and because of the effect on health and quality of life in the area.
