The European Parliament supports the revision of the urban wastewater treatment directive to combat pollution, particularly from microplastics and PFAS, with an extended producer responsibility scheme.
The amended report by Finland’s Nils Torvalds (Renew Europe), adopted on Thursday 5 October (420 votes in favour, 62 against, 84 abstentions), represents Parliament’s first-reading position and preserves the compromises already reached in Parliament’s Committee on Environment (ENVI) (see EUROPE 13254/10). However, several amendments from the EPP group were adopted.
A derogation would be granted to the outermost regions for discharges into coastal waters of wastewater from agglomerations of less than 150,000 inhabitants: these regions could adopt an appropriate level of treatment if primary treatment is not technically possible or would entail excessive costs. This derogation must be scientifically substantiated and notified to the Commission by the Member State concerned.
Furthermore, if a Member State has implemented all the energy efficiency measures set out in the energy audits, but does not achieve 100% of its energy neutrality targets for wastewater treatment plants treating a load of at least 10,000 population equivalents, and cannot increase the energy production of wastewater treatment plants on or off site it could, by way of exceptional derogation, authorise the purchase of renewable energy from external sources under power purchase agreements for the remaining percentage up to a maximum of 40%.
In addition, regarding the compensation of victims of pollution caused by an infringement of the directive, Parliament deleted the provision that would require Member States to ensure that the person responsible for the infringement must prove that the infringement did not cause or contribute to the damage.
The text has been referred back to the parliamentary committee to begin interinstitutional negotiations.
The Spanish Presidency will attempt to establish a general approach for the Environment Council on 16 October. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)