E.U. Concerns

The European Union questions whether fracking can be a viable technology anywhere in the union, acknowledges several broad risks and impacts, and urges member states “not to authorise any new hydraulic fracturing operations”.

The latest official position of the European Parliament on fracking:

  • acknowledges public concern
  • consequences for:
  • climate
  • environment
  • health
  • decarbonisation goals
  • questions its viability

The paragraph of the report reads:

NR 134.  While recognising that the energy mix is primarily a Member State competence, acknowledges the public concerns about hydraulic fracturing and the consequences this technology might entail for the climate, environment and public health and for the achievement of the EU’s long-term decarbonisation goal;

recognises, furthermore, that the limited potential of unconventional fuels to help meet the EU’s future energy demand, coupled with high investment and exploitation costs and the current low global oil prices, means that it is questionable whether hydraulic fracturing can be a viable technology in the European Union;

believes that public concerns must be properly addressed and that any hydraulic fracturing activities should comply with the highest climate, environmental and public health standards;

asks those Member States which intend to pursue hydraulic fracturing to respect the 2014 Commission recommendation on minimum principles for the exploration and production of hydrocarbons (such as shale gas) using high-volume hydraulic fracturing;

REPORT on Towards a European Energy Union – EU, Nov 2015

Also, in discussions on biodiversity in February 2016, MEPs voted to urge member states to apply the precautionary principle and not to permit any new fracking.  The text, which was proposed by the Green MEP for S.E. England Keith Taylor, is not binding but advises members:

“On the basis of the precautionary principle and the principle that preventive action should be taken, and taking into account the risks and the negative climate, environmental and biodiversity impacts involved in hydraulic fracturing for the extraction of unconventional hydrocarbons, and the gaps identified in the EU regulatory regime for shale gas activities – not to authorise any new hydraulic fracturing operations in the EU” – EU Biodiversity Strategy Review

MEPs support ban on fracking – Drill Or Drop