THOSE who linked the exit in July of Carlo di Meana, former European Community commissioner for environment, with England's assuming the presidency of the EC commission, have been vindicated. British environment secretary Michael Howard recently stated that a primary British goal during it six-month EC presidency will be to dismantle the organisation's common environment policy. Howard hinted EC directives on bathing and drinking water quality -- which resulted in an ongoing suit against the British government -- would be abolished. Ripa de Meana was adamant on central directives on environment and had initiated several enquiries into alleged violations, among them England's alleged failure to conduct environment impact studies regarding construction projects.