European Commission welcomes EP vote on water quality standards
The
European Commission welcomes the European Parliament's second reading
vote approving the agreement reached with the Council on the proposed
directive on environmental quality standards in the field of water. The
directive will better protect rivers, lakes and coastal waters against
pollution from a range of chemical substances. European Environment
Commissioner Commissioner Dimas said: 'This directive has a particular
importance as it completes the legislative framework for the protection
of Europe's water resources. I am grateful to the Parliament for the
ambitious approach it has taken throughout the negotiations and I
welcome that Parliament and Council have reached agreement at second
reading.'
The directive on environmental quality standards for water is the
final major piece of legislation needed to support the Water Framework
Directive (WFD),[1] the cornerstone of EU water protection policy. The
WFD requires that all EU waters should achieve 'good status' by 2015.
It establishes a new regime for the prevention and control of chemical
pollution of water.
The new directive will implement this for surface waters by setting
harmonised quality standards for a list of currently 33 priority
substances. These standards will give a high level of protection to the
environment and human health by translating the concept of 'good
status' into transparent numerical values based on best available
science and knowledge.
The Parliament has ensured that the level of ambition proposed by
the Commission has been maintained, and has left its mark on key
points, in particular by:
The new directive will repeal five existing directives[2] and at the
same time simplify water-related reporting within WISE, the newly
created Water Information System for Europe.
Contact information | n/a |
---|---|
News type | Inbrief |
File link |
http://www.environmental-expert.com/resulteachpressrelease.aspx?cid=8819&codi=33031&loginemail=jauad.el-kharraz@semide.org&logincode=151743 |
Source of information | European Commission, Environment DG |
Keyword(s) | EU-WFD, WISE |
Subject(s) | WATER QUALITY |
Relation | http://www.semide.org/initiatives/dce |
Geographical coverage | EU |
News date | 19/06/2008 |
Working language(s) | ENGLISH |