​On 19 June the ENVE commission has adopted the opinion of Brian Meaney on local and regional authorities perspective on Shale Gas. Although shale gas exploitation could help to reduce EU dependence on imported gas and contribute in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, many question that drilling have serious negative environmental and human health effects. Issues remain over the water usage and treatment. In his opinion the rapporteur calls for a legally binding framework on exploration and exploitation of unconventional Hydrocarbons and requests the Commission to consider asking Member States to limit Unconventional Hydrocarbon development until regulatory gaps in relevant EU legislation are amended. Moreover, he calls for the establishment of waste water treatment standards and compulsory water management plans by operators in addition to the obligation for operators to declare chemical contents of fracturing fluids.

Mention is also made of the social and economic impacts of well abandonment whereby low skilled people are often hired with high salaries to start exploration operations and they are afterwards made redundant when operators leave an area.

The opinion will be voted at the October CoR plenary session.