Parliament’s Environment Committee is set to examine the activities of environmental organisations and activists following an initiative by ELAM.
The issue, which is scheduled for discussion on Wednesday, 16 September, has already prompted criticism over the way the work of civil society and environmental campaigners has been framed.
Activists’ activities under scrutiny
According to the committee’s agenda, the matter is titled: “The impact of the activities of specific activist organisations and activists operating in the environmental sector, and an assessment of the need to take measures to address the phenomenon.”
The issue was registered for discussion at the initiative of ELAM MPs Linos Papayiannis and Linos Ioannou Hadjigeorgiou.
The proposal was approved by a majority, with the support of ELAM, DIKO and DISY. AKEL and ALMA voted against it.
The wording has raised questions because it does not refer to a specific environmental organisation or case. Instead, it broadly refers to the “impact” of organisations and activists and the possible need to take “measures to address the phenomenon”.
Environmental groups react
Members of environmental organisations have already criticised the decision on social media, describing it as unacceptable and expressing strong dissatisfaction over Parliament’s decision to place their activities under scrutiny.
Attention will now turn to the committee meeting and the arguments that will be presented by the MPs who proposed the discussion, including what “impact” they are referring to and what measures they believe may be necessary.
