Brussels, 28/04/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 28 April, the European Commission decided to bring Germany before the Court of Justice (third stage of the infringement procedure) for failing to take stricter measures to fight water pollution caused by nitrates of agricultural origin.
The fact that the situation has grown worse since an initial call to order followed by a reasoned opinion in July 2014 should, however, have required Germany to take these extra measures required by the European Directive 91/676/EEC.
According to the latest detailed figures from 2012 and several recent reports notified by Germany, nitrate pollution problems are growing worse in the ground water and surface water, particularly in the Baltic Sea, the Commission explains in a press release.
The 'Nitrates' Directive aims to protect the quality of water throughout Europe by preventing nitrates used in agriculture from polluting ground or surface water and by promoting the use of agricultural best practice. It requires the member states to monitor their waters, identify polluted waters and create appropriate action programmes to prevent and reduce pollution of this kind.
The Commission takes the view that nitrate water pollution is not taken sufficiently into account in the framework of the current revision of Germany's action programme.
As well as its potentially negative effects to public health, nitrate water pollution may lead to eutrophication, caused by excessive growth of algae which chokes other forms of life. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)