Brussels, 17/12/2012 (Agence Europe) - Depleting water resources and the EU's predicted inability to attain the good water status target by 2015 (which, however, current legislation highly recommends), have convinced EU27 environment ministers of the good sense underpinning the European Commission proposed programme for protecting water resources (see EUROPE 10731). The unanimous conclusions adopted on Monday 17 December in Brussels by the Environment Council (the last Council under the Cypriot presidency) provided a positive response to this long-term strategy that aims to ensure that the EU has enough quality water up until 2020. The EU27 considers that this programme and the action plan accompanying it provide the appropriate instrument for helping the EU and member states complete full implementation of the water framework directive and the framework directive underpinning the EU's marine strategy guaranteeing sustainability of all activities that have an impact on water resources. In addition to the proposed action plan, the Council is also expecting a useful contribution to the EU objective of stemming the decline in biodiversity and ecosystem services up to 2020, as well as efforts to be made in the fight against desertification and climate change adaptation.
The Council considers that the precautionary principle, as well as those on preventive action, the polluter pays and environmental damages compensation, are crucial in this initiative. It is calling on member states to help implement this programme and considers that it will substantially help to improve EU policy in the water resources domain. It takes formal note of the Commission's intention to take into account the results of the ongoing negotiations on the future 2014-2020 budget as a means of examining the possibility of adding further proposals.
The Council is convinced that the issue of water is crucial to human life, the environment and the economy. It emphasises that water shortages constitute a major challenge because drinking water resources only represent 2% of water on the planet and that only 40% of water requirements will be covered worldwide by 2030. The Council also points out that despite the substantial efforts agreed by member states to implement the framework directive on water only 53% of the EU's water resources will attain a good quality status by 2015. (AN/transl.fl)