EU Farce Revealed: Brussels rules have exposed Britain’s flood defences

Many will be aware of the horrifying floods that have occurred this week. UNN has obtained information that shows Britain’s flood defences have been left exposed by Brussels bureaucracy and red tape. Britain is subject to EU directives on things such as the habitat of birds, water and floods. These directives have had a direct impact on Britain’s management of its rivers for the last two decades. Sources have told the Express that the Government’s actions have been constrained by a raft of European Union directives. UNN can reveal that the EU Water Framework Directive has had a direct impact on the actions of the British environment agency. These directives have limited levels of dredging in order to protect the wildlife in and around Britain’s rivers. 

It should be noted that these directives do still allow the British government the final say. However, in 2011 a note released by the EU environment department said flood risk management “should work with nature, rather than against it”. In addition to this dredging the UK’s rivers has been slashed because of the huge costs of disposing of silt under the EU Waste Framework directive. Many are critical of the European Commission as it categorises the silt as waste rather than a natural resource, making its disposal costly and time-consuming.

Boris Johnson has visited Yorkshire this week as it has been annihilated by flooding with 34 more warnings still in place across England, from Somerset and East Sussex to the Lower River Nidd near Harrogate in Yorkshire. Stuart Roberts who is the vice-president of the National Farmers’ Union has stated: “as has become abundantly clear over the past few days, it is essential that flooding and water management in river and coastal areas is properly funded and properly prioritised to protect urban and rural businesses, infrastructure and communities. With more extreme weather becoming ever more common, the Environment Agency must prioritise essential maintenance of flood defence assets and watercourses which have been neglected for decades. Crucially, the importance and value of our agricultural land must not be overlooked with food and farming contributing over £122 billion to the national economy and employing over four million people.” 

Anthea McIntyre who is a Conservative MP and the owner of a family-run farm stated “It is vital that farmers and householders get every protection possible from flooding, and dredging is a key prevention method. That’s why we must be sure that the right balance is struck in deciding where dredging takes place. Over-prescriptive EU regulations need to be minimised and we also need to avoid gold-plating and over-zealous implementation.” UNN is extremely concerned about developments in Yorkshire this week and all of us hope that the situation is improved as soon as possible. 

Oliver Down

Current Affairs Correspondent | My name is Oliver Down I am 22, and a staunch brexiteer. I am a Bristolian lad who studied politics in Leicester. I believe in free speech and accurate journalism and I won’t be afraid to give you “the other side” of the story!

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