Brussels 7 April 2009 – The European Parliamentary elections in June are a not-to-be-missed opportunity for EU citizens to influence European decision making of the next five years. On this occasion BirdLife International [1] today presented its four political priorities [2] for action in a new manifesto called “Vote for our planet” [3], and urges MEP candidates to become a “Voice for Nature” [4] in the next European Parliament.

The European Parliament has been leading the way in improving Europe’s environmental standards and often challenged Commission and Member States on this during the past years. MEPs have been asking for a more ambitious climate change and biodiversity policies, and better implementation and financing of the EU’s world-class Natura 2000 network. [5]

Yet, in the light of the current planetary crisis, the next Parliament has to be even more ambitious, as ecosystems and wildlife, on which our well-being and economy depend, continue to deteriorate on land and at sea. The majority of the species that are a priority for European conservation are in trouble and according to an EC report from 2008 every year the world is losing biodiversity providing ecosystem services worth 50 billion Euros. [6]

European citizens, including two million BirdLife members in Europe support a strong role of the EU on the environment. By signing BirdLife’s ‘Voice for Nature’ pledge MEP candidates commit to stand behind BirdLife’s priorities for the environment and promote and defend them wherever they can in the upcoming years.

Contact:

Tatiana Nemcova, Senior EU Advocacy Officer, BirdLife European Division, Brussels,
Tatiana.Nemcova@birdlife.org; Tel.: +32 (0)2 238 50 93
Herlinde Herpoel, Media & Communication Manager, BirdLife European Division, Brussels, herlinde.herpoel@birdlife.org, Tel.: +32 494 542 844