Hungary urges Europe-wide ban on cyanide mining technology

Hungary urges a Europe-wide ban on cyanide mining technologies, the head of parliament's environmental committee told a conference on Monday.

Andor Nagy said Hungary had just put a law in force in December 2009 banning cyanide-based extraction technology and the ban should be widened across Europe.

The conference marked the 10th anniversary of a contamination from a cyanide spill on the river Tisza from Baia Mare, Romania, which caused devastating damage to the river's wildlife.

Nagy said Hungary's EU presidency in the first half of 2011 would give a good opportunity to promote such issues, especially if water becomes one of the priorities of the presidency. Adopting an EU directive on cross-border water pollution would be one of the objectives to work for, he said.

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