Commission welcomes Parliament's second reading of the water framework Directive
Ms Margot Wallström, the European Commissioner for the Environment, welcomed the European Parliament's second reading of the water framework Directive on 14 February: 'I strongly welcome the results of Parliament's second reading which shows how seriously the new Parliament takes its environmental responsibility', she said. The European Parliament has now adopted amendments to the Directive which will improve the Council's common position in terms of more stringent and transparent environment requirements, more ambitious and clear objectives and shorter timetables for implementation, reports the Commission. Parliament's amendments also call for the introduction of the Member States' recent commitments within the OSPAR (OSLO-PARIS Marine) convention for radical control of emissions of hazardous substances to marine water. The Parliament decision was more modest in relation to water pricing than the Commission's proposal, although it has now decided to encourage the Council to adopt amendments to the 'polluter pays principle'. It also intends to ensure that water users in different economic sectors cannot in the long run avoid paying the costs through open or hidden subsidies from other sectors, says the Commission. Rapporteur Marie Lienemann (PES, F) tabled more than 70 amendments to the Council's common position on a framework directive on 14 February to update existing EU water legislation and to lay down a long term strategy to ensure the availability of good clean drinking water for the protection of existing water resources including river basins and coastal waters. The Directive is also aimed to help take action on tackling the problems of floods and droughts. The Directive sets out to achieve these aims by setting target dates for an end to discharge of dangerous substances, setting limit values on pollutants and the introduction of water management for river basins. It is also aimed to ensure that the costs of clean-ups and water management plans are reflected fairly in charges to the consumer.