18/02/2020 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 18 February, a further procedural step was taken towards improving the safety of tap water and improving access to it across the EU, in response to the European Citizens' Initiative Right2Water. The European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Health and Food Safety overwhelmingly endorsed the political agreement reached in December 2019 between Parliament and Council negotiators on the recast of the 1998 Directive on water intended for human consumption (61 votes in favour, 3 against). The revised Directive, as agreed, strengthens drinking water quality and safety parameters, based on a risk-based approach, and improves access, in particular for vulnerable populations (see EUROPE 12395/9). (AN)