The European Commission is examining the UK’s action plan on waste water treatment and is considering new provisions at EU level under Directive 91/271/EEC concerning urban waste-water treatment, a Commission representative said on Thursday 1 September.
The European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries has questioned the Commission on the effects of waste water discharges by the UK into the English Channel and North Sea (see EUROPE 13007/7).
Several MEPs, including Francisco José Millán Mon (EPP, Spanish) and Manuel Pizarro (S&D, Portuguese), called on the Commission to act against these practices of dumping untreated waste water, which have effects on fish health and human health.
The Commission stated that the UK had already been convicted twice by the Court of Justice (in 2012 and 2017) for infringing the Directive in this area. Since leaving the EU, the UK no longer has to comply with EU law. However, since 31 December 2020, the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the parties includes a non-regression clause for environmental standards, which also covers the marine environment.
The Commission expressed “deep concern” about these practices and their possible effects on the marine environment and fisheries. Untreated waste water discharges can have complex negative impacts on fish, the Commission representative stated. Human health may be affected through the consumption of contaminated seafood, the Commission added.
On 26 August, the UK presented a plan to reduce excess waste water. However, the Commission considered the timeframe for action too long (13 years).
The Commission has contacted France to seek information on the impacts of these waste water discharges. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)