Members of the European Parliament’s environment committee have endorsed the Commission’s plans to hold companies legally liable for damaging the environment, even if the harm occurred long ago

Date: 14/09/00

But German centre-left MEP Dagmar Roth-Berendt said she doubted the legality of making the planned legislation retroactive and called for an expert opinion from the assembly's legal advisors. The Parliament's legal affairs committee is due to deliver its verdict on the issue before the full assembly votes on the proposal.