Groundwater protection action programme - Commission proposal The European Commission has published the text of a proposal for a Parliament and Council Decision on an action programme for integrated groundwater protection and management. The proposed action programme offers a framework for the development of sustainable groundwater prote... The European Commission has published the text of a proposal for a Parliament and Council Decision on an action programme for integrated groundwater protection and management. The proposed action programme offers a framework for the development of sustainable groundwater protection and management, based on action by the Community and Member States acting in close cooperation. Recognizing the importance of groundwater resources for the future supply of good quality drinking water, the Commission proposes four main action lines: - Development of Community principles for integrated planning and management of water protection and use, for application on a national and sub-national level; - Ensuring rules for quantitative maintenance of fresh water resources, including a rational regulatory framework for fresh water abstraction; - Development of instruments for control of groundwater pollution from diffuse sources, including codes of good practice, and consideration of longer-term measures for integration of sustainable water protection and management and agricultural policy; - Development of instruments for control of point-source emissions and discharges, including a rational regulatory framework and incentives for development of environmentally-friendly production processes and procedures. These four lines of action would be supported by research and development at Community level, as well as by appropriate national initiatives.
