Posted on May 27, 2008 by Fiona Hilliard

Six Greenpeace activists dressed as cavemen driving a Flintstones type vehicle were arrested in Brussels yesterday for public order offences.

According to a Greenpeace spokeswoman a stone tablet accusing car lobbyists of driving climate change was also confiscated before it could be delivered to parliament. 

EU ministers are to consider changes that weaken the original proposals from Europe’s European Commission by reducing the levels of fines and introducing the laws more slowly than initially planned. 

European carmakers are arguing that the proposals threaten their ability to compete in international markets. 

Germany has promised to stand by its car sector which produces some of the world’s most desirable vehicles including Porsche, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. 

Commenting on their current campaign, transport campaigner Melanie Francis said:  “Our activists and their zero-emission vehicle are raising our alarm about the influence this dinosaur industry exercises over EU climate policy.”