Greetings from Brussels! After the success of the first letter writing campaign supporting the E-waste directive, the time has come for more action. Your support is needed once more!!!

The European Union Commission is currently in the final stage of preparing the proposal for a Directive on Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment. The third draft came out in July 1999 and includes:

• strong proposals with respect to the responsibility of producers and
• the phase out of toxic substances.

At the moment, it is politically stuck in the Commission since each DG is trying to promote its own interests. Strong reactions have also been provoked both from the EU and US industry and governments.

The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) has already sent its analytical position paper to the Commission and also the cabinets of the Commissioners for the environment and industry. However, as you can easily understand, the message passed is only one although EEB represents 130 environmental NGOs. So, your support is needed! Please write a letter addressing your concern and by using this letter as a basis to:

• Mrs. Wallström, Commissioner for the Environment,
• Mr. Byrne, Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection,
Mr. Liikanen, Commissioner for Industrial affairs,
• Mr Lamy, Commissioner for Trade,
Mr. Bolkenstein, Commissioner for Internal Market and
• Mr. Patten, Commissioner for External Relations

The detailed EEB position on the proposal can be found on the http://www.eeb.org.

Our US allies, Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition are running the Clean Computer Campaign, where you can

• read the trade associations claims about the barriers to trade put forth by the WEEE directive
• view their analysis of the trade association's claims that the directive is an unfair barrier to trade



• view their letter on the issue




• For more information contact: Elena Lymberidi at the EEB office ecoproducts@eeb.org Tel.: +32 2 2891302, Fax: +32 2 2891099)
  
  

  Thank you very much for your support !!!!