Luxembourg, 28/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - The EU27 environment ministers easily reached a political agreement on 28 June in Luxembourg on the draft directive establishing surface water quality norms with a view to achieving good quality maritime and inland waters by 2015. The agreement reached on this proposal, which completes the framework directive on water (2000/60/.EC), is the result of a compromise concocted by the outgoing German EU Presidency, and is very close to the Commission's initial proposal.
The text approved establishes limit values for the concentration of 41 priority chemical substances in water. Such substances are of particular importance as they present a danger for human health and the environment (heavy metals, pesticides and natural substances contained in diesel fuel). The Parliament's ambitions are still far from being fulfilled, however. During first reading, it had added a list of 27 substances (EUROPE 9433) but a compromise should satisfy MEPs. Rather than reducing controls on surface water, the Council added surveillance of biotes and sediments (live plant and animal organisms in a region, for which analysis is easier and may give better information on the level of pollution than water samples as 70% of organic pesticides are not soluble in water), according to distinctive criteria.
Sweden and Finland, that are particularly concerned by the level of pollution of their waters by mercury from other countries, rallied to the compromise once certain assurances had been obtained. The text provides for these member states to cooperate with the countries responsible for mercury emissions (from energy production based on carbon components) and to take every possible measure to respect the norms of the future directive. If, however, despite everything, norms are still exceeded, then they should notify this to the European Commission and take part in a consultation forum with the countries causing the pollution, with Commission support.
Opening the debate, Sigmar Gabriel, German Environment Minister who chaired the work, had found the “compromise very balanced”. He was heard. Speaking on behalf of the European Commission, Stavros Dimas had for his part assured that this proposal would ensure a high level of protection for groundwater and the health of citizens. The Commissioner welcomed the fact that the text organises exchange of information between member states for practical implementation of the future directive.
During the debate, Finland was pleased that the approved text had taken quantities of mercury into account. Italy welcomed the fact that the agreement specifies, as it had requested, that follow-up of water quality should be done on the basis of the physiochemical properties of the substances, but pointed a finger of blame at the lack of consistency with the framework directive, which makes toxicological elements a very important factor in defining standards. Sweden and Finland, who would have liked to add a larger number of substances to the list of priority substances, submitted a joint statement to the minutes of the session calling on the Commission to speed up its work to result in an international agreement on eliminating mercury, in line with the strategy pursued by the EU in the context of the protocol on long distance, cross-border atmospheric pollution. Denmark rallied to the declaration.
The text will be consolidated by linguist jurists before being formalised into a common position. Discussions with the Parliament at second reading already look as though they will be difficult. (an)