Final Word from Thursday, December 11, 2008
Some businessmen fear that if high energy prices, the strong crown and the financial crisis don't bury Czech industry, the Green revolution will. CEO Andrej Babiš of Agrofert told Ekonom that the EU is on the right path to destroying its economy. The EU's antitrust fines, REACH rules for the chemical industry, and emissions permits will make it imposible for Europeans to compete globally over the long term, he said. Many industrialists and observers had proclaimed that "Green is dead" and predicted that the financial crisis would bring about a delay in implementing costly new environmental measures, but the EU is moving full steam ahead. European politicians who blame the U.S. for the economic crisis are failing to see the big picture. The U.S. might have helped put the noose around their neck, but they are now willingly tightening the knot themselves. And watching by the gallows, with a wry small on their face, are industrialists from Eastern countries that haven't yet bought into the Green revolution.[Czech Republic United States of America European Union]