MEPs’ stand on tar sands

[mailchimp_signup][/mailchimp_signup]In a non-legislative resolution, the full European Parliament last month welcomed the bilateral trade deal being negotiated by EU and Canadian officials, but said the EU should be free to assess the environmental impact of tar sands oil as it thinks is right. The issue is relevant for the implementation of the fuel quality directive: the Commission wants to give a higher environmental impact rating to oil derived from tar sands than for conventionally sourced oil because of the additional emissions involved in extraction, but Canada has objected, and has hinted that it might lead to a collapse of negotiations if the EU insists on a different treatment for tar sands.