Ahead of the vote on a resolution that will call on Member States to raise the bar so that by 2027, at the latest, all surface and groundwater in the European Union reaches “good status”, the European Parliament ensured on Tuesday 15 December that the EU Council and the Commission will do their part (see EUROPE 12552/8).
The draft resolution has broad agreement between political groups, in the hope that the serious shortcomings in the implementation of the Water Framework Directive, which were highlighted a year ago (see EUROPE 12613/38, 12389/14), will finally be remedied.
“395 amendments were reduced to 34 compromises. The European Parliament is very united”, said a delighted Christophe Hansen (EPP, Luxembourg) at the start of the plenary debate.
Protecting groundwater, improving the quality of freshwater reserves, which have fallen by 83% since 1990, taking carbon storage into account, involving agriculture, energy and industry, and strengthening the polluter pays principle are among Parliament’s requirements if the good status of water, which was to be achieved by 2015, is to be achieved at least by 2027.
The Commission has assured that it will not hesitate to open new infringement proceedings if necessary.
On behalf of the EU Council, the German Minister of State for European Affairs, Michael Roth, emphasised the importance of adequate investment and implementation of the Directive on the ground. He also recognised the need to integrate this matter into the transport and agriculture sectors, “which accounts for 33% of water consumption and is a source of pollution”.
According to Mr Roth, the responsibilities of each sector must be properly described and chemical pollution must be taken into account.
He assured that “all Member States are determined to take on the Commission’s recommendations on the risk management programme”. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)