PFAS-affected communities demand to be heard by Ursula von der Leyen

30.01.2025 | Fundamental right

PFAS-affected communities demand to be heard by Ursula von der Leyen

Communities from France, Germany, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands, who are affected by PFAS pollution, questions with urgent emergency a meeting with President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

“PFAS pollution has devastating consequences for public health and the environment. We want to present our testimonies directly to the President of the European Commission and call for immediate action on chemical regulation,” the affected communities.

PFAS: The 'poison of the century'

PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” are linked to cancer, infertility, thyroid disorders, obesity, immune system damage and many other health problemsScientists, regulators and civil society organizations call PFAS “the poison of the century”-An unprecedented environmental disaster.

Recent research by the Forever Lobbying Project it turns out how the PFAS industry has successfully lobbied for decades to delay and weaken necessary regulations, of serious consequences for the health of all Europeans. That's why we come affected communities from across Europe in action.

During the action week they are carrying out protest actions to To shake up European policymakers:

• In Dordrecht (Netherlands) activists collapsed buckets of contaminated soil in front of Chemours.
• In Zwijndrecht (Belgium) became PFAS-contaminated beer distributed to chemical plant workers.
• In Vicenza (Italy) protesters camped in court during the trial against Miteni, the company that discharged PFAS for years.

Affected citizens demand justice

Joop Keesmaat out Sliedrecht (Netherlands), Stop PFAS Stop Chemours, declares:
“The chemical industry claims that there is no human future without PFAS. But with PFAS there is no human future at all, because PFAS causes cancer, and cancer means death!”

Show Pens out Zwijndrecht (Belgium), Grondrecht vzw, adds:
“I have seen first-hand how PFAS pollution has affected our health, our environment, and our future. Together with Grondrecht vzw, we demand real action: clean-up, transparency, and accountability. This is not a local problem—this is a national and European crisis. We need stronger regulation and immediate action to protect communities like ours across Europe.”

Cristina Cola out Trissino (Vicenza, Italy), Mammenopfas, say:
“I never imagined that my children would have carcinogenic substances in their blood, simply by drinking water or eating food from our region. It is unacceptable that the profit of a few has had such disastrous consequences for the health of at least 350,000 people and has destroyed our living environment forever.”

A call that can no longer be ignored

This is not the first time that victims of PFAS pollution a conversation with the European Commission have applied for. In October 2023 remained an earlier request for a meeting with Ursula von der Leyen unanswered.

Determined to make their voices heard, the affected communities last night a powerful message was projected on the facade of the Berlaymont building:

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