Ombudsman opens inquiry into EU Commission’s gas stance

(EurActiv, 14 Feb 2020) The EU Ombudsman announced on Thursday (13 February) it has opened an inquiry into the European Commission’s catalogue of priority energy projects, after green activists lodged a complaint about the inclusion of new gas infrastructure on the list.

Emily O’Reilly, the EU Ombudsman, wrote to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen earlier this week requesting clarifications about the inclusion of gas projects in the so-called fourth EU list of Projects of Common Interests (PCI).

The inquiry follows a complaint lodged by Food & Water Europe, a civil society group, which claims that the EU executive did not adequately assess the sustainability of the 32 gas projects included on the list and as such has broken EU law.

Food & Water Europe are not the first ones to object to the list, a litany of NGOs have campaigned against it, as well as Hollywood actor Mark Ruffalo.

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EurActiv, 14 Feb 2020: Ombudsman opens inquiry into EU Commission’s gas stance