Shale gas: environmental impact studies vote postponed 

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Parliament postponed Wednesday's vote on whether to include shale gas fracking in an update of the EU Environmental Impact Assessment Directive to the October I session. Before voting, MEPs want to hold a plenary debate with representatives of the European Commission and the Council Presidency.

The draft report by Andrea Zanoni (ALDE, IT) proposes amending existing legislation so as to require environmental impact studies for non-conventional hydrocarbon exploration and extraction projects. MEPs also suggest measures to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure that the public is informed and consulted.