In France, an « essential democratic body » sacrificed on the altar of « simplification »? – release
It is a little -known body of the general public which nevertheless makes it possible to include citizens in the process of major projects presenting an impact on the environment. This Tuesday, March 25, the ten employees and nearly 300 employees in the National Public Debate Commission (CNDP) have been called to strike, an unprecedented movement to alert on the « threat » Who aims at them. A towing operation at the entrance to the Ministry of Ecological Transition, which houses the structural offices, was also carried out to inform agents about the ongoing reforms. Because within the framework of the simplification bill, supposed to facilitate the life of companies, the government wishes to exclude industrial projects of more than 600 million euros from public debate. However, this constitutes a large part of the activities of the CNDP.
« Mines, factories, oil operating projects, shale gas, industries of all kinds and all sizes could start in France without the slightest consultation guaranteed by the CNDP », deplores the SNE-FSU union. And add: « Public debates around new industrial projects are one of the few opportunities for citizens to give their opinion on the guidelines taken by political leaders on the country’s energy and industrial future and their translations in their daily lives. » Concretely, until now for a major project such as Future EPRs or a lithium minea debate was opened for maximum four months, with all the documents made available to the general public. The commission then made a report and the industrialist had three months to say to what extent he took into account the returns.
The Action Climate (RAC) network, federating 27 national associations, provides its support for a « Essential democratic organ »which for example allowed the total abandonment of the Mining project in Guyana called « gold mountain » And to develop other projects. RAC also regrets that « The bill for simplifying economic life is transformed into a anthology of attempted declines on ecological and fair transition ».
« The government wants to release all industrial projects from the obligations they have today to inform and consult the public »Assène Florent Guignard, responsible for monitoring public debates at the CNDP. He specifies that he is not « Not convinced » By the possibility left to companies to seize the instance voluntarily. “It happened in the past but that is rare. What gives weight to the CNDP is its compulsory character, he argues. We ask the government to withdraw this disturbing, unfair and counterproductive reform. ” He also hopes that the Minister of Ecological Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runachermute on the subject, « positions itself ”.
Ironically, the Commission was created in 1995 by the Barnier law, which established public debate in France. The same Michel Barnier who, who became Prime Minister in September 2024, wanted to exclude the industry from the field of action of the CNDP via a decree. His predecessor, Gabriel Attal, had already said he was favorable, in January 2024to a « Refocusing of the committee’s work on national major projects ». François Bayrou then resumed the idea of the decree of Michel Barnier, who was finally found by the Council of State. But the government should finally take advantage of the Simplification law to introduce its measure by amendment during the next public meeting in the National Assembly, on April 8.
Monday, March 24, the CNDP also escaped an amendment to the national rally, which was ultimately rejected, which proposed its outright suppression. The SNE-FSU union reads an ideological will: « Logic at work to weaken the CNDP is the same as that which threatens today Ofb, Ademe Or the organic agency: decrease the protection of the environment, weaken those who are the guarantors, and give wages to the far right which, for a long time, wants to remove these organizations. ”
