No tie on sunny days

9 July 2007

BRUSSELS – European commissioner Charlie McCreevy is asking his male office staff to refrain from wearing a tie when the weather is warm. He thinks this can make a positive contribution to the environment.

If men open their top button they will stay cooler, is the commissioner’s reasoning. Air conditioning will have to be used less often as a result. That means less energy consumption and hence a valuable contribution to the fight against climate change.

The Irish commissioner came up with the idea while in Japan, the German edition of the Financial Times reported on Monday. It is uncertain whether other European commissioners will follow his example.

Subject: Belgian news