Extinction Rebellion blocks entrance of European Commission HQ in Brussels

Around a dozen activists of the environmental group Extinction Rebellion (XR) glued themselves to the entrance doors of the Berlaymont building, the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels, on Monday morning. They are demanding the introduction of ecocide legislation at both national and EU level. 

The action, which started at 8 o'clock Monday morning and was still going on over half an hour later, could be seen on a live stream on the Facebook page of XR Germany. The European Commission's security services and the police are on site.

"Companies and lobbyists must be named, held accountable and prosecuted for their actions," XR spokesman Aktis said in a press release. This requires, as far as the activists are concerned, an extension of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Ecocide should be included as the fifth international crime, alongside genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of aggression.

The activists also point out that the European Union is currently updating its legislation on environmental crimes for the first time since 2008. XR regrets that the Commission proposal does not mention ecocide. European leaders will meet later this week.

(TOM)

© BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK