The modalities to be adopted to guarantee all EU citizens the right of access to clean and safe tap water will be submitted to the European Parliament for a vote on Tuesday 23 October in Strasbourg, when MEPs will vote on the proposed revision of the European Directive on the quality of water intended for human consumption (98/83/EC) and for the opening of negotiations with the Council on this text.
The vote is expected because the proposal submitted in February had a twofold objective: to strengthen the maximum limits for certain pollutants, such as lead and certain endocrine disrupters (bisphenol A and beta-estradiol), to monitor microplastics levels, and to ensure access for all to potable tap water in the EU, especially vulnerable populations, in response to the European Citizens' Initiative 'Rigth2water'.
By its vote, the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy had only marginally modified the limit values, particularly the parametric limit values, by slightly tightening those for perfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS). The rapporteur, Michel Dantin (EPP, France), had succeeded in ensuring that measures to provide access to water in Member States, such as public fountains, were encouraged, but not binding, and that Member States first identified vulnerable groups (see EUROPE 12093).
Many amendments by the ELDD, GUE/NGL and Greens/ALE groups, tabled separately, aim to explicitly state in the text that the directive should "guarantee universal access for all in the European Union to water intended for human consumption" and ensure that all measures are taken for these vulnerable groups - and not just studied.
The MEPs of these political groups consider that the European Commission's proposal, like the text voted in committee, does not adequately respond to the ECI 'Right2water'. It clearly called for the recognition of water as a fundamental human right and the universal right of access to water and sanitation.
On the Council side, the working group continues its difficult task on the issues identified during the first ministerial debate in June (see EUROPE 12048). The Austrian Presidency indicates that it is doing its utmost to make progress, but is not at all confident that it will be able to complete an inter-institutional agreement before the end of the year. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)