MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on a ban on the mining of shale gas by means of fracking
13.11.2014
Dominique Bilde, Sophie Montel, Mireille D'Ornano
B8‑0239/2014
Motion for a European Parliament resolution on a ban on the mining of shale gas by means of fracking
The European Parliament,
– having regard to Rule 133 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas, in response to their energy supply problems, some Member States, such as Poland, have issued licences for the exploration of shale gas deposits;
B. whereas the extraction method currently used (fracking) involves drilling vertical bore holes and injecting horizontally under high pressure a mixture of water, sand and chemicals;
C. whereas the environmental and health implications of the use of this method are worrying, in particular in the light of the damage documented in the United States;
1. Calls, in keeping with the precautionary principle, for a moratorium to be imposed in Europe on the mining of shale gas by means of fracking;
2. Calls on all the Member States to suspend exploration licences and to commission rigorous studies into the impact of fracking on the environment and health;
3. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to carry out research with a view to identifying alternative methods of extracting shale gas which are not damaging to public health or the environment;
4. Instructs its President to put forward this resolution, together with the names of the signatories, to the Commission, the Council and the Member States.