Renovated EU Commission HQ in new row over timber
Source: Reuters
By David Brunnstrom BRUSSELS, Dec 1 (Reuters) - The trouble-prone home of the European Commission ran into more difficulties on Friday as it emerged its renovation used uncertified timber green activists said had been ripped illegally from Indonesian rainforests. The Commission only moved back into the Berlaymont building in 2004 after evacuating the star-shaped landmark in 1991 when it was found to be riddled with asbestos. The renovation ran years behind schedule and millions of euros over budget. The EU executive, which insists on its green credentials, confirmed that one contractor had used 1,000 square metres of uncertified plywood on the building's 13th floor, violating its pledges to use timber from well-managed forests. "There has been an infringement," said Valerie Rampi, the EU's spokeswoman for administration, audit and anti-fraud. "This has been recognised by the contractor which has accepted to pay a fine for damage suffered by Commission." She said the fine amounted to 750 euros ($993) and said there were no plans to redo the renovation work. The office of European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso is on the 13th floor of Berlaymont. Barroso himself has faced criticism of his green credentials for using vehicles that exceed Commission emission targets. Environmental group Greenpeace said the incident showed how the European market was awash with illegal timber and further criticised the Commission for delaying plans to launch a public consultation on ways to combat the wider problem. "At the moment, it's easier to get illegal timber into the EU than it is to bring in pirated music or movies," it said. It called on the Commission to put foward legislation to ensure all timber products on the European market came from legal sources and responsibly managed forests. A Commission spokeswoman said it was looking into the possibility of an import ban and legislation on the sale of products derived from illegally harvested timber. Rampi declined to comment when asked if she felt the fine of 750 euros on the contractor was sufficient.
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