Strasbourg, 16/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - Water management in the Union is a tricky business (flooding in some countries, drought in others, damage caused by deforestation and urbanisation) and the hydrological plans of the member countries are not always what they should be, noted the European Parliament on Thursday. It expresses particular concern about the Spanish hydrological plan. In a question put to the Commission, Dutch Green member Alexander de Roo, cited Spain among the European countries that are contemplating major investment in dams and canals for transporting large quantities of fresh water from one region to another. In his view, the Spanish plan runs counter to three Community directives: the framework directive on water, the habitats directive and the wild birds directive. Speaking for the United Left, Spanish national Laura Gonzalez Alvarez presented a question along the same lines. Françoise Grossetête (EPP, France) put the problem in a more general way, recalling that the EP had, in January 1998, proposed a better repartition of water resources within the EU thanks to European hydraulic networks. She insisted, however, on the fact that any control of the water resources of a Member State without that State's consent is to be ruled out altogether. Speaking for the Liberal Group, Swedish Karl Olsson asked the Commission what the implications are for the future management of water in Europe, of major hydraulic building and planning projects.
The 2000/60 directive establishing a framework for Community policy in water resources, replied European Commissioner Erkki Liikanen, aims to protect water and the environment, in respect of the precautionary principle and the polluter-pays principle. Any transfer of water must be subject to control, and should not have any harmful effects on the environment. Eventual derogations should be limited and subject to strict conditions. It is in the light of such criteria that the Spanish project will be assessed, said Mr Liikanen.