UK tried diluting EU law on mining transparency: MEP
The British government, influenced by mining company Rio Tinto, attempted to undermine an EU law that aims to bring greater transparency to the oil, gas, mining and logging sectors despite the government’s public declarations that it supports more disclosure, the European lawmaker who led the negotiations said on Wednesday (10 April).
The world’s second-largest mining company, Rio Tinto Group influenced the British government’s proposals and Britain was unhelpful in ensuring smooth progress of the legislation, Arlene McCarthy, a UK Labour politician in the European Parliament, said in an interview with TrustLaw.
The EU legislation requiring companies to make detailed disclosures of their natural resource contracts was finalised by lawmakers late Tuesday after months of deliberation. McCarthy said it now is expected to easily win full parliamentary approval before endorsement by EU member states.
See http://www.euractiv.com/sustainability/uk-tried-diluting-eu-law-mining-news-519049.