PAULINE GREEN is wrong about the effect of the European Union on the environment (Independent 4.11.98).

There have long been international agreements on trade, environmental pollution, product safety, and so on, covering far more countries than the few covered by the EU.

Self-governing nations such as Australia and Canada are safe though they lack anything like the EU.

The policies of the EU are not shaped by people but by the lobbyists of vested interests and multinational corporations.

The EU is embarking on a huge unnecessary road-building programme because the large multi-nationals find it more economical to use road transport.

I could also mention the environmental damage caused by the Common Agricultural and Common Fisheries Policies.

In short, the EU is no friend of the environment.

JONATHAN SMITH,

Edmonton.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.