Is the Habitats Directive placing 'ridiculous costs on UK businesses'?

Juniper says 'Some ministers see EU laws, including the Habitats Directive  and the Water Framework directive, as constraints to "growth" and believe they need to be weakened in order to promote economic activity.'

Juniper also argues that 'Precious natural places under threat of development, sewage-blighted beaches, declining salmon and trout populations, health-damaging air pollution – are these really the hallmarks of a modern competitive economy? While Europe is a complex equation, one thing is for sure: our lives are healthier and better as a result of the EU's high environmental standards'.

Tony Juniper is the author of What Has Nature Ever Done for Us which is reviewed here

Read Tony Juniper's full article from The Guardian, 25th January 2013 here