Ten green non-governmental organisations operating at a European level have sharply criticised EU President Jean-Claude Juncker's decision to nominate a Maltese Commissioner with responsibilities for the environment.

In an open letter they said:

“The inclusion in the mandate of orders to consider changing the EU Nature protection legislation, pre-empting the results of the ongoing fitness check, suggests a high level decision to weaken biodiversity protection in the EU.

"This is even more troubling as the Environment portfolio is given to a Commissioner whose government is under intense international criticism for failing to implement EU bird conservation legislation, which the Commissioner will now be in position to amend.”

While critical of many of the other proposals made by the new President, it is the new environment and portfolio that comes under the closest scrutiny.

BirdLife Malta executive director, Steve Micklewright said: “the NGOs that signed this letter are experts in European policy. Their analysis seems to be that the proposed new Maltese Commissioner will be responsible for weakening environmental protection across Europe. This open letter is clearly the start of a campaign across Europe to ensure that does not happen.”

The letter can be read in the pdf link below.