Brussels, 25/01/2016 (Agence Europe) - Despite the billions of euro disbursed by the EU to assist the member states in the Danube river basin implement the water framework directive (Directive 2000/60/EC), water quality has scarcely improved in the river, according to a European Court of Auditors (ECA) report published on Monday 25 January. The blame for this is laid at the door of the river basin management plans and their lack of ambition.
To get things back on track, the Court recommends the countries of the Danube river basin should: - improve their monitoring and diagnosis systems for water pollution; - provide clear and valid justifications when granting exemptions; - identify cost-effective measures to be targeted; - consider charges or taxation to discourage emissions.
The European Commission should: - provide guidelines for differentiated reporting on progress; - examine binding criteria for member state inspections of urban waste water treatment plants; - consider limiting phosphorus application on land; - provide guidance on cost recovery in relation to environmental damage caused by diffuse pollution (pollution caused by a range of activities) - currently, the polluter pay's principle is only partially applied to diffuse pollution from agriculture. These are the main ECA recommendations.
Directive 2000/60/EC requires efficient water management by means of programmes of measures by river basin district ensuring the plentiful supply of good quality water. The countries of the Danube river basin have been implementing this directive since 2004. Between 2007 and 2013, the European Regional Development Fund and Cohesion Fund provided €6.35 billion to these countries for waste water treatment. Over the same period, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development provided €6.39 billion to compensate farmers taking agri-environmental measures. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)