2011/2297(INI)
Implementation of EU water legislation, ahead of a necessary overall approach to European water challenges
Implementation of EU water legislation, ahead of a necessary overall approach to European water challenges 2011/2297(INI)
Lead committee dossier: ENVI/7/07348
Legal basis: RoP 048
| ENVI | ITRE | PETI | |
| Lead Rapporteur | SEEBER Richard (EPP) | ||
| Opinion Rapporteur(s) | SZYMAŃSKI Konrad (ECR) | CHOUNTIS Nikolaos (GUE/NGL) |
Legal basis: RoP 048
Procedure completed
2011/2297(INI) Implementation of EU water legislation, ahead of a necessary overall approach to European water challenges
Lead committee dossier: ENVI/7/07348
Legal Basis RoP 048
| Role | Committee | Rapporteur | Shadows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | ENVI | SEEBER Richard (EPP) | ESTRELA Edite (S&D), GERBRANDY Gerben-Jan (ALDE), BÉLIER Sandrine (Verts/ALE), OUZKÝ Miroslav (ECR), FERREIRA João (GUE/NGL) |
| Opinion | ITRE | SZYMAŃSKI Konrad (ECR) | |
| Opinion | PETI | CHOUNTIS Nikolaos (GUE/NGL) |
Legal Basis RoP 048
Activites
- 2012/07/03 Text adopted by Parliament, single reading
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2012/07/02
Debate in Parliament
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2012/07/02
Prev DG PRES
- DG {u'url': u'http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/environment/', u'title': u'Environment'}, POTOČNIK Janez
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2012/06/06
Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
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A7-0192/2012
summary
The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety adopted the own-initiative report by Richard SEEBER (EPP, AT) on the implementation of EU water legislation, ahead of a necessary overall approach to European water challenges. The report acknowledges that Directive 2000/60/EC (water Framework Directive or WFD) constitutes a solid and ambitious legislative base for long-term integrated water management in the EU. It points out however that the rate of implementation has been slow and uneven across Member States and regions and that the implementation of the WFD needs to be improved significantly in order to achieve good status throughout European waters by 2015. Members state that specific gaps exist that need to be filled both by adapting existing legislation to water priorities and by providing new legislation to address the impact of specific sectors and activities. They reiterate their position that the Commission must submit draft legislation which encourages the adoption of an EU policy on water shortages, droughts and adapting to climate change. They take note of the Commissions upcoming Blueprint to safeguard Europes water resources. 1) Water Efficiency and Management of Resources: the report calls for more efficient water usage especially in sectors such as energy and agriculture, which are the largest water users. It stresses that water use should be taken into account when assessing the sustainability of traditional as well as low-carbon energy sources, including in particular bioenergy and hydropower, and draws attention to the risks associated with non-conventional natural gas extraction. Members stress that the efficiency and sustainability of water use by the agriculture sector can be improved by the introduction of innovative technologies and practices, and by improvements to information and the awareness of farmers and end users. They emphasise that, in view of the challenges of climate change and food security, sufficient water resources should be mobilised for agriculture, for example by developing water storage. The report calls for EU water legislation to be updated as appropriate to properly take into account technological advances for the reuse and recycling of water. Pointing out that reducing water consumption should be a priority, it underlines the importance of ecodesign and water-saving devices and calls for water metering to be made binding across all sectors and users in all EU countries. The Commission is asked to regulate the water efficiency of devices in domestic and agricultural use. 2) Water and Ecosystems: noting that water is at the core of most ecosystem services, the report stresses the importance of proper water management in reaching biodiversity targets. It stresses the need for reforestation and wetland restoration measures in the management of water resources, and calls for better alignment of the objectives of the WFD with Natura 2000. It stresses that the knowledge base should integrate the concept of environmental flows and take into account the ecosystem services supported by water. Members underline the impact that climate change could have on our water ecosystems, necessitating stringent, systematic measures aimed at conserving nature and biodiversity, and which require the establishment of meticulous rules for the mass management of transformed water. Regarding the significant risks posed by shale gas exploration and extraction, the Commission is asked to ensure that such activities are covered by the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive. Recalling that soil protection is a core element for preserving the quality of water, the report calls on all Member States to meet their obligations with regard to the assurance of soil quality and to maintain soil health, while also urging Member States where no soil protection provisions exist to step up to their responsibilities. Members call for the establishment of more targeted incentives for efficient water management and in particular for poor and rural populations affordable access to water for all, and for the distribution of water in areas facing shortages, particularly those areas situated at a distance from large urban agglomerations equipped with water infrastructure. The Commission is asked to step up the battle against the increasing release of pollutants such as anti-biotic and drug residues as well as hormone residues from contraceptive pills in water, as these residues have a negative effect on human health and the environment. 3) Knowledge and Innovation: whilst recognising that the EU policy framework has allowed the collection of less fragmented data on water as well as better monitoring, the report notes the lack of reliable data on water quantity, for instance on abstraction and leakage. It notes the potential for better data management based on an improvement in statistical information and on the use of data collection stations, the Water Information System for Europe (WISE) and GMES monitoring of the state of water resources. The Commission is asked to develop a new set of reliable indicators for water accounts in cooperation with the European Environment Agency. Members believe that it is important to encourage research and innovation in connection with water and the development of European clusters in this area. They call on the Commission, the Member States and other relevant stakeholders to support the European Innovation Partnership on Water. They also stress the need to focus on the specific objectives and activities of the Horizon 2020 programme in terms of better, sustainable management of water resources. 4) Water Mainstreaming: the report stresses the need for better consistency and better integration of water-related objectives into the legislation at EU, national regional and local levels. It calls for a full evaluation of the effects on water resources to be taken into account in the design of the overarching economic governance policies such as EU2020 and of joint EU policies such as the common agricultural policy and cohesion policy. 5) Water and the Economy: Members call on the Commission and Member States to ensure the application of the polluter pays and user pays principles by means of transparent and effective pricing schemes implemented in all water-using sectors that aim at the recovery of the costs of water services, including environmental and resource costs, as set down in the Water Framework Directive. They underline however that social issues should be taken into account when setting water tariffs and that clean water should be available at an affordable price for human needs. The report calls on the Commission and Member States to assess and revise subsidies harmful for water and to develop and introduce further economic instruments to reduce environmentally-detrimental activity and incentivise more sustainable use of water resources. 6) Water and Society: Members urge the Commission, Member States and regional authorities to stimulate intersectoral dialogue, as well as dialogue between the various economic operators and citizens on issues related to water and between authorities and the Petitions Committee whenever the latter is addressing the concerns of European citizens with regard to water issues. The Commission should also foster full and transparent participation of local communities and stakeholders at all levels in the development of water policy. The exchange of best practices should be encouraged for effective multi-level governance in the field of water. The report calls for the strengthening of public awareness and education on water issues, among consumers, health operators and policy and decision makers in order to bring about a better understanding of the links between water, ecosystems, sanitation, hygiene, health, food safety, food security and disaster prevention. Members call for: · the Blue Flag scheme to be extended to all bathing areas in Europe, including rivers, lakes and ponds; · the provision of training in connection with saving water and the sustainable use thereof for tourism professionals, particularly in coastal areas and thermal belts; · introducing good water systems in buildings and public areas to help reduce the need for bottled water. 7) Water and the World: the report welcomes the early achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goal on sustainable access to safe drinking water. It calls on the Commission, Member States and the relevant authorities at all levels to reinforce their commitment, to play an active role in achieving the MDG on basic sanitation and to take into account the relevant outcomes of the Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development, ensuring that access to potable water and sanitation is guaranteed as a fundamental human right.
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A7-0192/2012
summary
- 2012/05/30 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
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2012/04/27
Deadline Amendments
- 2012/03/28 Committee draft report
- 2011/12/15 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
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2011/11/16
EP officialisation
Documents
- Committee draft report: PE486.108
- Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading: A7-0192/2012
- Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T7-0273/2012
Votes
A7-0192/2012 - Richard Seeber - § 2/3
2012/07/03
| Position | Total | ALDE | ECR | EFD | GUE/NGL | NI | PPE | S&D | Verts/ALE | correctional |
| For | 518 | 15 | 0 | 16 | 7 | 15 | 244 | 165 | 56 | 0 |
| Against | 145 | 60 | 43 | 11 | 18 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Abstain | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Amendments | Dossier |
| 222 |
2011/2297(INI) Implementation of EU water legislation, ahead of a necessary overall approach to European water challenges
2012/03/30
PETI
48 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Declares that water is a shared resource of humankind and a public good
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Declares that water is a shared resource of humankind and a public good and therefore should not be a source of profit, and that access to water should constitute a fundamental and universal right; stresses that the sustainable use of water is an environmental and health necessity that plays a fundamental role in the climate regulation cycle; reiterates that ‘the management of water resources should not be subject to internal market rules’ (EP Resolution P5_TA (2004)0183) and invites the European Commission to review the relevant legislation, particularly that on public procurement and concessions
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Declares that water is a shared resource of humankind and a public good and therefore should not be a source of profit, and that access to water should constitute a fundamental and universal right; stresses that the sustainable use of water is an environmental and health necessity that plays a fundamental role in the climate regulation cycle; reiterates that ‘the management of water resources should not be subject to internal market rules’ (EP Resolution P5_TA (2004)0183) and invites the European Commission
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Declares that water is a shared resource of humankind and a public good and therefore should not be a source of profit, and that access to water should constitute a fundamental and universal right; stresses that the sustainable use of water is an environmental and health necessity that plays a fundamental role in the climate regulation cycle; reiterates that ‘the management of water resources should not be subject to internal market rules’ (EP Resolution P5_TA (2004)0183) and invites the European Commission to review the relevant legislation, particularly that on public procurement and concessions, so as to guarantee continued or restored exclusive public ownership and management of water and water utilities;
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Declares that water is a shared resource of humankind and a public good and therefore should not be a source of profit from trade, and that access to water should constitute a fundamental and universal right; stresses that the sustainable use of water is an environmental and health necessity that plays a fundamental role in the climate regulation cycle; reiterates that ‘the management of water resources should not be subject to internal market rules’ (EP Resolution P5_TA (2004)0183) and invites the European Commission to review the relevant legislation, particularly that on public procurement and concessions, so as to guarantee public ownership and management of water and water utilities, and its proper distribution;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. reiterates that water services under the EU law are considered services of general economic interest, which can be carried out by public authorities or entrusted to public or private entities; stresses that the regulation and provision of water services should respect the principles of continuity of service, quality, security of supply, equal access, affordable prices, social, cultural and environmental acceptability, the polluter pays principle, while they should also aspire to the highest standards of environmental sustainability and efficiency.
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2.
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Is concerned that the balance between the need for water and available resources has reached a critical level in many regions of Europe
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Is concerned that the balance between the need for water and available resources has reached a critical level in many regions of Europe and that climate change could make the situation even worse; water scarcity now affects the whole territory of some Member States on a permanent basis; urges extreme caution regarding the potential serious negative environmental impact of schemes designed to engineer deviation or modification of existing river courses and flows which can seriously aggravate threats to the sustainability of water resources and ecological balance; recalls that the use of desalination plants to alleviate water scarcity in certain regions may be necessary but that these should in all cases be in conformity with the strictest environmental standards both as regards their site, their level of energy consumption and their safe disposal of extracted salt;
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Is concerned that the balance between the need for water and available resources has reached a critical level in many regions of Europe and that climate change could make the situation even worse; water scarcity now affects the whole territory of some Member States on a permanent basis; emphasizes that climate change and the subsequent changing weather conditions significantly affect the quality and availability of European water resources, that Europe's high water stress areas are expected to increase from 19 % today to 35 % by the 2070s and that climate related extreme weather events constitute further challenges to efficient water management. Stresses that local, regional or national adaptation measures can only be effective if coordinated at EU level and effective water management practices have to be integrated into other sectoral policies such as agriculture, energy, cohesion and health;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Notes that, by contrast, other countries do not suffer from shortages of water but are having difficulty in managing the excess of water resulting from regular or heavy rainfall, flooding, river erosion and pollution affecting river basin and coastal areas, as well as the effects of these phenomena on the local population, as are witnessed by many petitions received;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Expresses concerns that in the field of WFD implementation at present, ineffective application and enforcement remains a major problem in some Member States; current implementation status shows that some Member States lag behind schedule, that the
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Expresses concerns that in the field of WFD implementation at present, ineffective application and enforcement remains a major problem; current implementation status shows that some Member States lag behind schedule, that the
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Expresses concerns that in the field of WFD implementation at present, ineffective application and enforcement remains a major problem; current implementation status shows that some Member States lag behind schedule, that the integrity of EU's waters is far from acceptable and that the objectives of other EU policies, including on industry, energy, agriculture and transport, are often in open contradiction with the ‘water protection’ objectives; highlights that good water management has to be integrated into all European policies on sectors that use and pollute water;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Expresses concerns that in the field of WFD implementation at present, ineffective application and enforcement remains a major problem; current implementation status shows that some Member States lag behind schedule, that the integrity of EU's waters is far from acceptable and that the objectives of other EU policies, including on industry, agriculture and transport, are often in open contradiction with the ‘water protection’ objectives; expresses its hope that the ongoing reform of the Common Agricultural Policy will address the problems related to agricultural water management and will reduce agricultural water pollution;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Encourages the Commission to combat the waste of water resources, caused by for example food wastage and irrigation, through legislation on water efficiency; and investigate and report to the Parliament the impact of a shift towards the biobased economy on water usage.
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Considers that waste water from urban resources represents one of the most significant pollution impacts on the aquatic environment, in rivers and on the coast, and that the successful implementation of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive has a significant influence on the water quality in all Member States, and thus on the successful implementation of the WFD;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Draws attention to the severe impact that such pollution can have on human health as witnessed by petitions received from Ireland (Galway), France (Brittany), and other Member States and recalls its resolution on Waste Management which drew attention to the dangerous levels of water contamination resulting from badly managed or illegal landfill sites and quarries which led to infiltration and pollution of groundwater and of water tables (nappes phréatiques);
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Notes that despite the progress made in the implementation of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, there are still gaps concerning the compliance rates on collecting systems and/or treatment; asks the Commission to provide more support for the financing of waste water treatment plants and small- and large-scale infrastructure for collecting systems
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Notes that despite the progress made in the implementation of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, there are still gaps concerning the compliance rates on collecting systems and/or treatment; asks the Commission to provide more support for the financing of waste water treatment plants and collecting systems infrastructure in the EU, including the reuse of treated waste water for irrigation and industrial purposes;
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Notes also that since 1988, among the petitions relating to environmental complaints addressed to the Committee on Petitions,
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Takes note that according to a Eurobarometer survey (March 2012), 68 % of Europeans think that water quantity and quality problems are serious, eight out of ten believe that chemical pollution is a threat to the water environment, 62 % feel that they are not sufficiently informed about problems facing groundwater, lakes, rivers and coastal waters in their countries, while 67 % think that the most effective way of tackling water problems would be awareness-raising about water related problems, and 73 % of European citizens think that the EU should propose additional measures to address water problems in Europe;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8. Reminds the Member States of their obligations under the WFD to achieve good water status by 2015, and calls on the Member States and the Commission to take all necessary measures and to make sufficient funding and technical assistance available to reach these water quality targets; considers that the participation of citizens, the competent authorities at the various levels of government, productive sectors, environmental NGOs and the civil society is essential for successful implementation of the WFD and sustainable environmental management as a whole;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8. Reminds the Member States of their obligations under the WFD to achieve good water status by 2015, and calls on the Member States and the Commission to act as quickly as possible to take all necessary measures and to make sufficient funding and technical assistance available to reach these water quality targets; considers that the participation of citizens, environmental NGOs and the civil society is essential for successful implementation of the WFD and sustainable environmental management as a whole;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 9.
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 9. Invites the European Commission to be more determined in its inquiries
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 a (new) 9a. Stresses that, since water is a common public resource, it should be established what percentage of costs is made up of taxes and tariffs;
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 10 10. Draws attention to the existence of certain activities denounced by the petitioners, including waste landfills, agriculture and industry, which
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 10 10. Draws attention to the existence of certain activities denounced by the petitioners, including waste landfills, urban development, agriculture
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 10 10. Draws attention to the existence of certain activities denounced by the petitioners, including waste landfills, irregular or unlawful agricultur
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 10 10. Draws attention to the existence of certain activities denounced by the petitioners, including waste landfills, failure by the competent authorities to control water quality, agriculture and industry, which produce a great impact on the environment and human health and are responsible for poor water quality; calls therefore for the abandonment of subsidies which undermine incentives for efficient water management by creating overuse, and to free up funds for targeted subsidies – in particular for poor and rural populations – aimed at affordable access for all;
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 10 10. Draws attention to the existence of certain activities denounced by the petitioners, including waste landfills, agriculture and industry, which produce a great impact on the environment and human health and are responsible for poor water quality; calls therefore for the abandonment of subsidies which undermine incentives for efficient water management by creating overuse, and to free up funds for targeted subsidies – in particular for poor and rural populations – aimed at affordable access for all and the distribution of water in areas facing shortages, particularly those areas situated at a distance from large urban agglomerations equipped with water infrastructure;
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 11 11. Regrets that the European Commission proposal amending the WFD (COM (2011)876) adds only 15 new chemical substances from a list of 2000 potentially dangerous substances that should be monitored and reduced, and fails to set out clear timetables to phase out the most dangerous chemicals, despite explicit legal requirements agreed upon since 2000; asks, therefore, the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, in its recommendation to the Commission, to pay particular attention to the priority substances mentioned above – very often identified by petitioners as ‘toxic and radioactive waste’ – given the high degree of risk they pose, as water contaminants, to human health;
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 11 11. Regrets that the European Commission proposal amending the WFD (COM (2011)876) adds only 15 new chemical substances from a list of 2000 potentially dangerous substances that should be monitored and reduced, and fails to set out clear timetables to phase out the most dangerous chemicals, despite explicit legal requirements agreed upon since 2000; asks, therefore, the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, in its recommendation to the Commission, to pay particular attention to the priority substances mentioned above – very often identified by petitioners as ‘toxic and radioactive waste’ – given the high degree of risk they pose, as water contaminants, to human health and the aquatic environment;
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 11 a (new) 11a. Urges the Commission to step up the battle against the increasing release of pollutants such as antibiotic-, drug- and hormone residues from anti-conception pills in water, as these residues have a negative effect on human health and the environment.
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 12 Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 12 12. A
Amendment 39 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 12 12. Asks at the same time the Commission and the Member States to improve monitoring and reporting of chemical pollutants in water,
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 12 12. Asks at the same time the Commission and the Member States to improve monitoring and reporting of chemical pollutants in water, along with a mechanism to obtain better information on concentrations of other pollutants for which monitoring may prove necessary in the future at EU level; asks the Member States to share with each other and with the Commission data deriving from voluntary monitoring activity of pollutants in water;
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 12 a (new) 12a. reiterates that the WFD prescribes coordination between Member States for the entire river basin district where use of water may have transboundary effects, and urges Member States in this respect to engage in a regular transboundary communication and cooperation to support the implementation of the WFD with regard to priority substances, priority hazardous substances and nutrients pollution;
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 13 13. Considers that nutrient
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 14 14. Asks the Commission to develop and publish in 2012 a road map to set recommendations focusing on improving the efficiency of water resources and land use,
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 14 a (new) 14a. Considers that economic leverage should be used to encourage less consumption and waste, the reutilisation e of waste water and the restoration of water bodies;
Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 15 15. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to develop water awareness programmes and information campaigns so as to introduce a water saving and water efficient culture among the European citizens.
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 15 15. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to develop water awareness programmes so as to introduce a water saving and water efficient culture among the European citizens; these awareness programmes must be aimed at citizens of all ages, so that this public and essential asset can be used more effectively and efficiently.
Amendment 47 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 15 a (new) 15a. Emphasis the importance of the promotion of good water systems to help reduce the need for bottled water and thereby additional waste as well as to limit resource spending including oil and water for the production and transport of bottles.
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 15 a (new) 15a. Believes that public involvement is a precondition for the water protection and for the identification of both the problems and the most appropriate measures to solve them; therefore asks for more cooperation between the responsible national, regional and local authorities of the Member States and the Petitions Committee when the latter is dealing with the direct concerns of European citizens in reference to water issues;
source: PE-486.133
2012/04/05
ENVI
130 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 6 a (new) - having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market,
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 7 a (new) - having regard to Directive No 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 establishing a framework for Community action to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides,
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 7 b (new) - Having regard to Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora and Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 7 c (new) - having regard to Regulation (EC) No …/…/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the placing on the market and use of biocidal products,
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 8 a (new) - Having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on "Our life insurance, our natural capital: an EU biodiversity strategy to 2020"(COM(2011)0244)
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 8 b (new) - Having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on "Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe"(COM (2011)0571)
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 9 bis (new) - having regard to the Communication from the Commission of 18 July 2007 on ‘Addressing the challenge of water scarcity and droughts in the European Union’ (COM(2007)0414),
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 10 – having regard to its resolution of 15 March 2012 on the 6th World Water Forum
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 11 A (new) - having regard to the Resolution of the European Parliament of 6 May 2010 on the Commission White Paper: ‘Adapting to climate change: Towards a European framework for action’,
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A a (new) A a. whereas EU water and chemicals legislation needs further harmonisation to contribute to achieving the 2020 phase out objective for priority hazardous substances the EU committed itself to internationally;
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A b (new) A b. whereas freshwater biodiversity in Europe is in crisis with 37% of European freshwater fish species and 40% of freshwater molluscs considered threatened according to IUCN Red List criteria;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A c (new) A c. whereas water is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, which could lead to a decline in the quantity and quality of water available, particularly drinking water, as well as to a rise in the frequency and intensity of floods and droughts;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas water is an inalienable public asset essential for life and proper water management plays a vital role in the preservation of the world’s natural capital and ecosystem services, as well as in all aspects of resource use and economic production;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas water is essential for life and
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B a (new) B a. whereas water is a shared resource of humankind and access to water is a fundamental and universal right;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas Europe is abstracting only around 13% of its total available water, but
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas Europe is abstracting
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas Europe is abstracting only around 13% of its total available freshwater, but water resources are very unevenly distributed across European regions;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C A (new) Ca. whereas the semi-arid climates of large expanses of southern Europe are also characterised by very unequal distribution of water resources throughout the year, and from year to year, and this extremely irregular distribution tends to intensify with climate changes;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas the Europe 2020 Strategy stipulates a more efficient use of resources, but current trends in water use are often unsustainable due to inefficient practices resulting in water wastage, and whereas water infrastructure systems are often outdated and there is a lack of information about actual performance and losses;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas trends in water use are often unsustainable due to inefficient practices resulting in water wastage, and whereas water infrastructure systems are often outdated, whether in the most developed regions or in the less developed regions, and there is a lack of information about actual performance and losses;
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D a (new) Da. whereas the transition to a green economy can only be achieved by taking into account water-related challenges;
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D b (new) Db. whereas inadequately cleaned waste- water continues to pollute the seas lapping the shores of the EU, it is therefore essential to speed up the development of sewage treatment infrastructure in the Member States;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Acknowledges that the WFD constitutes a solid and ambitious legislative base for long-term integrated water management in the EU; welcomes the improvement in the quality of European waters and wastewater treatment in recent years; points out however that the rate of implementation has been slow and uneven across Member States and regions and that
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Acknowledges that the WFD constitutes a solid and ambitious legislative base for long-term integrated water management in the EU; welcomes the improvement in the quality of European waters and wastewater treatment in recent years; points out however that the rate of implementation has been slow and uneven across Member States and regions and that several challenges need to be overcome in order to achieve ‘good status’ across European waters by 2015;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 a (new) 1 a. Recognises that water is a shared resource of humankind and a public good and should not be a source of profit, and that access to water should constitute a fundamental and universal right; stresses that the sustainable use of water is an environmental and health necessity that plays a fundamental role in the climate regulation cycle; reiterates that 'the management of water resources should not be subject to internal market rules' (EP Resolution P5_TA (2004)0183) and invites the European Commission to review the relevant legislation, particularly that on public procurement and concessions, so as to guarantee public ownership and management of water and water utilities;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 b (new) 1 b. Deplores the extent of postponing of achieving WFD objectives in a large number of water bodies, way beyond the exceptional use originally foreseen; is similarly concerned about the practice of Member States classifying intact rivers as degraded or "heavily modified" to allow for future damage; calls therefore on the Commission to devote more resources to tackle the misuse of delays and exemptions by Member States;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Underlines that
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Underlines that, while the major focus should be on the implementation of current legislation
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Underlines that, while the major focus should be on the implementation of current legislation, specific gaps exist that need to be filled by
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Underlines that, while the major focus should be on the implementation of current legislation, specific gaps exist that need to be filled by both adapting existing legislation to water priorities and by providing new legislation;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Underlines that
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Underlines that, while the major focus should be on the implementation of current legislation, specific gaps exist that need to be filled by new legislation to address impact of specific sectors or activities;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3.
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 a (new) 3 a. Emphasises the importance to take all necessary measures to achieve good ecological and chemical water status by 2015, including specific measures to address the persisting significant water pollution from agriculture as well as the emerging issue of pharmaceuticals in the environment, as stated in the Commission Communication on a "Renewed vision for the pharmaceutical sector";
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Urges the Commission to take determined action to defend, guarantee and protect water as a strategic public asset and to bring Member States’ infringements of EU law in the field of water to an end; calls at the same time for comprehensive guidelines and effective instruments to be developed and made available to foster guarantees that all citizens, without exception, may enjoy the right to access to water and sanitation, which involves pricing policies geared towards universal entitlement to services and not towards profits or capital recovery, and also to foster capacity- building, ensure a level playing field and assist the Member States in achieving better compliance at future stages of implementation of EU water policy, in order to deliver on water policy commitments;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Urges the Commission to take determined action to bring Member States’ infringements of EU law in the field of water to an end; calls at the same time for further assistance, for example through comprehensive guidelines and effective instruments, to be developed and made available to foster capacity-building, ensure a level playing field and assist the Member States in achieving better compliance at future stages of implementation of EU water policy, in order to deliver on water policy commitments;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Urges the Commission to take determined action to bring Member States' infringements of EU law in the field of water to an end; calls at the same time for comprehensive guidelines and effective instruments to be developed and made available to foster capacity-building
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 A (new) 4a. Reiterates its position that the Commission must submit draft legislation, similar to the directive on floods, which encourages the adoption of an EU policy on water shortages, droughts and adapting to climate change; also in this context, reiterates the importance of creating the European Drought Observatory, responsible for studying, mitigating and controlling the effects of drought;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution Subheading 2 Water
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Emphasises the nexus between energy production, energy efficiency and water security; points out that additional efforts need to be made at European level to ensure that the growing demand for energy does not jeopardise water security; stresses that water use should be taken into account when assessing the sustainability of traditional a
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Emphasises the nexus between energy production, energy efficiency and water security; points out that additional efforts need to be made at European level to ensure that the growing demand for energy does not jeopardise water security; stresses that water use should be taken into account when assessing the sustainability of
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Emphasises the nexus between energy production, energy efficiency and water security; points out that additional
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Emphasises the nexus between energy production, energy efficiency, food and water security; points out that additional efforts need to be made at European level to ensure that the growing demand for energy and food does not jeopardise water security and that the potential for reducing energy use through water efficiency is captured; stresses that water use should be taken into account when assessing the sustainability of traditional as well as low-carbon energy sources, including in particular hydropower and biofuels;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 a (new) 5 a. Emphasises the importance of water efficiency; calls for more efficient water usage especially in sectors, such as the energy and agricultural sector, which are the largest water users;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 B (new) 5b. Stresses that water is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate changes that can lead to a reduction in the quantity and quality of available water, especially drinking water, as well as an increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, particularly floods and droughts; calls for the policies on climate change adaptation and mitigation to take into account the impact on water resources; underlines the importance of risk prevention and mitigation strategies, as well as a response to those risks, in order to mitigate extreme events linked to water;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 C (new) 5c. Points out that integrated water resource management and land planning at river-basin scale should take into account water-dependent economic activities and water needs for all users, as well as the need for a holistic approach to water scarcity, and should ensure the sustainability of human activities on water;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Stresses that the efficiency and sustainability of water use by the agriculture sector can be improved by the introduction of innovative technologies and practices; in this context emphasises that cooperation between land managers and other stakeholders is a good way to attain positive results in water protection; further emphasises that, in view of the challenges of climate change and food security, sufficient water resources should be mobilised for agriculture;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Stresses that the efficiency and sustainability of water use by the agriculture sector can be improved by the introduction of innovative technologies and practices; recognises that with regard to the challenges of climate change and food security, adequate water resources must be mobilised for agriculture, for example, by developing water storage;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Stresses that the efficiency and sustainability of water use by the agriculture sector can be improved by the introduction of innovative technologies and practices emphasises the importance of the conservation and sustainable use of water in the current reform of the CAP;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Stresses that the efficiency and sustainability of water use by the agriculture sector can be improved by the introduction of innovative technologies and practices, and by improvement of information and awareness of farmers and end users;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Emphasises that the rate of groundwater recharge under agricultural and forested land is very high and that farmers and foresters have particular responsibilities with regard to maintaining the purity of high quality groundwater; in this context points out that, thanks to major efforts by farmers in recent years, significant improvements have been achieved in water quality;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 b (new) 6b. Emphasises that the rate of groundwater recharge under agricultural and forestry land is very high and that farmers and foresters already have particular responsibility in maintaining the purity of high quality groundwater; the efforts by farmers to date to improve groundwater quality must be recognised;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 c (new) 6 c. Points out that the remaining potential in Europe for building new hydropower plants is extremely limited; considers that the remaining free-flowing and unregulated river stretches should be protected for their ecological potential while significant efforts are needed to restoring past damage;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 quinquies (new) 6d. Recalls that about 20 % of water in the EU is lost due to inefficiency. Therefore, improving efficiency in the use of water resources is key to sustainable water management and, in particular, to dealing with the problems of water scarcity and drought;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 e (new) 6e. Also notes that, with regard to the future challenges to food security and climatic changes, sufficient water resources must be available for agriculture;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Underlines that an environmentally- and economically-sound water sanitation and wastewater management policy should tackle pollution at source before passing all pollutants to a costly end-of-pipe treatment and that the environmental impact assessment shall be taken into account during the marketing authorisation of all products resulting in emissions of chemicals in water; encourages the use of wastewater and by-products of end-of-pipe treatment as a new resource;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Underlines that an environmentally- and economically-sound water sanitation and wastewater management policy should tackle pollution at source before passing all pollutants to a costly end-of-pipe treatment, particularly with regard to water flowing through contaminated soil; encourages the use of wastewater and by- products of end-of-pipe treatment as a new resource;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Underlines that an environmentally- and economically-sound water sanitation and wastewater management policy should tackle pollution at the source before passing all pollutants to a costly end-of- pipe treatment; encourages the use of wastewater and by-products of end-of-pipe treatment as a new resource on the basis of stringent quality requirements;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 a (new) 7 a. Is concerned about the increasing application of nano-technology and the increasing presence of nano-particles in water; is concerned about the irretrievability of these materials and the lack of knowledge about the long term impact of nano-particles on water quality, ecosystems, biodiversity and human health; calls for obligatory impact assessment and the setting of health standards before the technique is more widely taken up;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Calls for EU water legislation to be updated — as appropriate — to properly take into account technological advances for the reuse and recycling of water, to allow a cost- and energy-efficient reuse of treated wastewater for irrigation, as well as the reuse of greywater in households; calls for measures for proper monitoring of the chemical and biological quality of reclaimed water;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Calls for EU water legislation to be updated to properly take into account technological advances for the reuse and recycling of water, to allow a cost- and energy-efficient reuse of treated wastewater for irrigation, industry, as well as the reuse of greywater in households; calls for measures for proper monitoring of the chemical and biological quality of reclaimed water;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Calls for EU water legislation to be updated to properly take into account technological advances for the reuse and recycling of water, to allow a cost- and energy-efficient reuse of treated wastewater for irrigation, as well as the reuse of greywater in households; calls for measures for proper monitoring of the chemical and biological quality of reclaimed water; requests the Commission consider formulas to create incentives for more widespread use of treated wastewater, greywater and rainwater, in order to help to mitigate water stress;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Underlines the importance of ecodesign, water-saving devices and
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9.
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 bis (new) 9a. Calls attention to the fact that in some parts of Europe losses caused by water leakage can reach in excess of 40 % of the total supply, so there is great potential for water savings in this area;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Notes that water is at the core of most ecosystem services and stresses the importance of proper water management in reaching biodiversity targets;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Notes that water is at the core of most ecosystem services and stresses the importance of proper water management in reaching biodiversity targets; encourages reforestation and wetland restoration measures in the management of water resources — where appropriate; calls for better alignment of the objectives of the WFD with Natura 2000;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Notes that water is at the core of most ecosystem services and stresses the importance of proper water management in reaching biodiversity targets; encourages reforestation and wetland restoration measures in the management of water resources; calls for better alignment of the objectives of the WFD with Natura 2000; underlines that the knowledge base should integrate the concept of 'environmental flows' and take into account the ecosystem services supported by water; stresses the need to take into account that water cycle changes depend on habitat and this has an influence on the percentage of water that is recycled. The water cycle is not the same everywhere and differences exist between the one of the tropics, of the Mediterranean and of the mid or high latitudes.
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 A (new) 10a. Underlines the impact that climate changes could have on our water ecosystems, necessitating stringent, systematic measures aimed at conserving nature and biodiversity, and which require the establishment of meticulous rules for the mass management of transformed water, in particular as regards the management of reservoirs and transformed water systems;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 B (new) 10b. Stresses that water, and water ecosystems, have no administrative borders, and therefore all measures must be taken to protect and develop them in a consistent and coordinated manner, preferably by competent entities with jurisdiction over the entire river-basin;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 c (new) 10 c. Recalls that soil protection is a core element for preserving the quality of water, and is convinced that the adoption of a soil framework directive would contribute to the better protection of waters in the EU;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Stresses that water
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 bis (new) 11a. Emphasises the need for the Commission to call on the Member States to promote the reintroduction of environmentally friendly agricultural activities in mountain areas to combat hydrogeological instability and to promote water regulation by reintroducing the good practices of creating ditches, drains and embankments, which make it possible, in the event of excessive rain, to reduce the negative impact downstream and, in the event of drought, to guarantee stored water resources that can be used also to fight forest fires;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 b (new) 11 b. Recognises the essential role that underground aquifers play in the water cycle and in a number of key issues including water pollution, flood mitigation schemes, saline intrusion and land subsidence due to prolonged depletion of groundwater; calls on the Commission to place sufficient emphasis on the importance of sustainable underground aquifer management;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Points out that integrated water resource management and land use planning at river-basin scale should
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 a (new) 12a. Notes that the causes and consequences of soil deterioration are mostly local and regional in nature and that the principle of subsidiarity should therefore be applied; calls on all Member States to meet their obligations with regard to the assurance of soil quality and to maintain soil health, while also urging Member States where no soil protection provisions exist to step up to their responsibilities;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 b (new) 12 b. Points out that ecosystem based climate change adaptation and mitigation measures have proven to be especially cost-effective and calls the Commission and Member States to mainstream such measures though policy development and implementation and allocating funding through European and national budgets, especially the EU Regional Development Funds;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 quater (new) 12c. Recalls that the preferred approach to water resources management should focus on demand and considers that an effective ranking of water use should be promoted. Stresses the importance of ensuring ecological flows in water basins to allow bodies of water to have a good ecological status;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Recognises that the EU policy framework has allowed the collection of less fragmented data on water as well as better monitoring; notes however the lack of reliable data on water quantity, for instance on abstraction and leakage; calls on the Commission, in cooperation with the European Environment Agency, to develop a new set of reliable indicators for water accounts
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Recognises that the EU policy framework has allowed the collection of less fragmented data on water as well as better monitoring; notes, however, the lack of reliable data on water quantity, for instance on abstraction and leakage; calls on the Commission, in cooperation with the European Environment Agency, to develop
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 a (new) 13a. Notes that better management of water resources directly depends on ecosystem services, and highlights the importance of eco-innovation for conservation of water resources and biodiversity and balanced ecosystems;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 b (new) 13 b. Highlights that in every European there is the need to improve knowledge on the water cycle and to recover the water cycle as a mechanism that includes the relation between climate and territory; this knowledge has to be comprehensive if we take into consideration "environmental flows" and underground water resources;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Calls on the Commission, the Member States and other relevant stakeholders to support the European Innovation Partnership on Water as an effective instrument to concentrate efforts on world- leading research and innovation and remove the barriers that prevent the quick transfer to the market and establishment of knowledge, best available techniques and technological breakthroughs
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 a (new) 14 a. Taking into account the improvements made by innovation on water, on the techniques that are used for water purification and on the solutions that are created and being applied in Europe, it is important that the European Development Agency and the European Innovation Partnership for Water make a list of all the existing technologies in order to avoid their duplication and to improve in this way the transfer of know- how;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 ter (new) 14b. Points to the great potential that a water policy based on innovation and knowledge has for ‘green’ job creation. Asks the Commission to evaluate and quantify the impact on employment of its actions to promote the growth of R&D in the area of water;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Stresses the need for better consistency and better integration of water-related objectives into the legislation at the EU, national and regional levels; calls for a
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Stresses the need for better consistency and better integration of water-related objectives into the legislation at the EU, national
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Stresses the need for better consistency and better integration of water-related objectives into the legislation at the EU, national and regional levels; calls for a full evaluation of the effects on water resources to be taken into account in the design of the common agricultural policy and cohesion policy frameworks, in order to achieve a thematic concentration of available financing on water issues and to mainstream the issue of water into all policy areas to improve the quality of water in all European regions;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 a (new) 15 a. Urges the Commission and Member States to integrate the resource efficiency agenda, which contains crucial water efficiency objectives, as comprehensively as possible into all other policies, including the overarching economic governance policies such as EU2020, and to implement it at local, regional, national, and EU level;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 b (new) 15 b. Calls for all CAP payments to be underpinned by robust cross-compliance rules, covering the Water Framework Directive and pesticides legislation;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 c (new) 15c. Calls on the Commission to draw attention to the best practices of third countries in using collected rainwater and repeatedly using waste-water and thus combating water scarcity, particularly during the driest periods; encourages increased cooperation in these areas with the most technologically advanced third countries in terms of the use of water resources;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 d (new) 15 d. Acknowledges that nuclear energy remains the most water intensive of all thermal energy types posing both quantitative and qualitative concerns for water bodies;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure the
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure the full application of the
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure the application of the ‘polluter pays’
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure the application of the ‘polluter pays’ and ‘user pays’ principles, as set down in the Water Framework Directive, by means of transparent pricing schemes that aim at full cost recovery; underlines, however, that social issues should be taken into account when setting water tariffs for personal and commercial use; stresses that water pricing should reflect the environmental impact of wastewater treatment and calls on the Commission to ensure appropriate financing of wastewater treatment plants;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure the application to all sectors of the ‘polluter pays’ and ‘user pays’ principles by means of transparent pricing schemes that tendentiously aim at full cost recovery; underlines, however, that social issues should be taken into account when setting water tariffs for personal use; stresses that water pricing should reflect the environmental impact of wastewater treatment and calls on the Commission to ensure appropriate financing of wastewater treatment plants;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure the application of the ‘polluter pays’ and ‘user pays’ principles by means of transparent pricing schemes that aim at full cost recovery; underlines, however, that social issues should be taken into account when setting water tariffs for personal use; stresses that water pricing should reflect the environmental impact of wastewater treatment
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure the application of the ‘polluter pays’ and ‘user pays’ principles by means of transparent pricing schemes that aim at full cost recovery; underlines however that social issues and costs for water usage, discharge and infrastructure in Member States should be taken into account when setting water tariffs for personal use; stresses that water pricing should reflect the environmental impact of wastewater treatment and calls on the Commission to ensure appropriate financing of wastewater treatment plants;
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure the application of the ‘polluter pays’ and ‘user pays’ principles by means of transparent pricing schemes that aim at full cost recovery; underlines however that social issues should be taken into account when setting water tariffs for personal use and clean water shall be available at an affordable price for human needs; stresses that water pricing should reflect the environmental impact of wastewater treatment and calls on the Commission to ensure appropriate financing of wastewater treatment plants;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 a (new) 16a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to seek administrative measures and financial resources facilitating connections to sewerage networks for people living in rural areas;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 b (new) 16 b. Urges the Commission and Member States to adopt without delay concrete plans for phasing out all environmentally harmful subsidies before 2020 and to report on progress through the National Reform Programmes;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 c (new) 16 c. Alarmed regarding the significant risks to both surface and groundwater posed by shale gas exploration and extraction, calls for the Commission to bring forward legislative proposals to clarify that deep-well injection of fracking fluids is not allowed under the WFD and to ensure that such activities are covered by the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive; calls on the Commission to also swiftly issue guidance on the gathering of baseline water monitoring data which must be obtained prior to any fracking – both explorative and exploitative and the criteria to be used for assessing impacts of fracking in different geological formations, including potential leakage, to groundwater reservoirs;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 D (new) 16d. Invites Member States to use the opportunities provided by the Structural Funds, the Cohesion Fund and the Rural Development Fund and to invest in improving or renewing existing infrastructures and technologies to achieve greater efficiency in the use of water resources;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 e (new) 16e. Urges Member States to access the funds available for water infrastructure improvements;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 f (new) 16f. Calls on the Commission to develop a strategy for internalising the external costs incurred through water consumption, water pollution and wastewater treatment;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 g (new) 16 g. Considers demand management to be the key to addressing water scarcity and calls for water demand management plans to a condition for dispursing EU structural and cohesion fund support to water sector or water intensive activities, as well as for Member States to require water sustainability assessments as a condition for authorising water intensive economic activities such as mass tourism or particular types of agriculture;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Urges the Commission to stimulate intersectoral dialogue and foster full and transparent participation of local communities and stakeholders at all levels in the development of water policy; highlights the importance of effective multi-level governance in the field of water, w
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Urges the Commission
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 bis (new) 17a. Calls on the Commission to fully apply the principle of subsidiarity, with the full involvement of local communities as they, to all intents and purposes, have the most knowledge of their own region, with specific biodiversity features that differ across the EU; this knowledge would encourage the overall improvement of action in the field of European water policy;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Calls for the strengthening of public awareness of water issues, in order to bring about a better understanding of the links between water, ecosystems, sanitation, hygiene, health, food safety, food security and disaster prevention to consumers, health operators and policy and decision makers; underlines the primary role of regional and local authorities and civil society organisations in awareness-raising campaigns and educational activities;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Calls for the strengthening of public awareness
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 a (new) 18a. Calls for transnational and regional cooperation in the preparation of responses to transboundary effects impacting the lack of quality water resources, to ensure water security in the spirit of good relations between countries;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 b (new) 18 b. Considers that better water management, the collection and use of rainwater and water efficiency can foster green jobs and economic opportunities;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 c (new) 18 c. Emphasises the importance of introducing good water systems in buildings and public areas to help reduce the need for bottled water;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 D (new) 18d. Reaffirms the importance of the entire process for adopting the Resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations recognising the right to drinking water and sanitation as a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life and all human rights; reiterates that the Resolution calls on States and international organisations to scale up efforts to provide safe, accessible and affordable drinking water and sanitation for all;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Welcomes the early achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goal on sustainable access to safe drinking water; calls on the Commission and the Member States to reinforce their commitment to achieve the MDG on basic sanitation and to take into account the relevant outcomes of the Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 a (new) 19 a. Points out that EU has a very high level of water expertise that should be utilised in practice to achieve the MDG on basic sanitation and on other water related sustainable development goals;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 b (new) 19b. Calls for a strengthening of cooperation with third countries and organisations in order to overcome current problems, such as drought and water resource management;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 c (new) 19 c. Believes that international ambitions should be increased to achieve sustainable water use through integrated water resource management and increased resource efficiency;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Encourages local authorities to devote a proportion of the levies collected from users for the supply of water and sanitation services to decentralised cooperation measures; also draws attention to the principle of ‘1 % solidarity for water’ adopted by some Member States as a
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Encourages local authorities or other relevant entities to devote a proportion of the
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20.
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 a (new) 20 a. Stresses the need for Europe to promote instruments and aids for the spread of technology and current knowledge in order to help the development of an internal market of water technology.
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 B (new) 20b. Calls on water companies, universities and other research centres, and the relevant authorities at all levels to play an active role so that the Millennium Development Goals can be achieved in the shortest time possible, so that access to water is guaranteed as a fundamental right of humanity, under the terms adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 2010, and so that the recommendations of the major international forums, such as the sixth World Water Forum or the Rio+20 United Nations Conference, can be implemented;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 quater (new) 20c. Calls on the Commission, on behalf of the European Union and the Member States, to accede to the 1997 United Nations Convention on International Watercourses and to promote the entry into force of the amendments to the 1992 Helsinki Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, in order to extend the scope of this instrument beyond the UNECE countries alone, and to encourage wider ratification of the Protocol on Health and Water to the 1992 Helsinki Convention, with a view to promoting the coordinated and fair management of water in national and international basins;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 quinquies (new) 20d. Welcomes the active participation of the European Union in the 6th World Water Forum on 12–17 March 2012 in Marseille; calls on the European Union to continue its commitment on improving water access throughout the world, particularly with a view to the 7th World Water Forum which will take place in South Korea in 2015;
source: PE-487.993
2012/12/04
ITRE
44 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Stresses the need to focus on the specific objectives and activities of the Horizon 2020 programme on better management of water resources in the EU and its neighbouring countries; believes that EU research policy should respond to growing challenges concerning water management for agriculture, industry and water- efficiency ambitions; notes in this regard the BONUS programme for the Baltic Sea as an example for other regions;
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Stresses the need to focus on the specific objectives and activities of the Horizon 2020 programme on better management of water resources and aquatic environments in the EU and its neighbouring countries; believes that EU research policy should respond to growing challenges concerning water management for human consumption, agriculture, industry and water-
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Stresses the need to focus on the specific objectives and activities of the Horizon 2020 programme on better sustainable management of water resources in the EU and its neighbouring countries; believes that EU research policy should respond to growing challenges concerning environmentally-friendly water management for agriculture, industry, the population and water-efficiency ambitions;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Stresses the need to focus on the specific objectives and activities of the Horizon 2020 programme on better management of water resources in the EU and its neighbouring countries; believes that EU research policy should respond to growing challenges concerning water management for agriculture, buildings, industry and water-
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Calls on the European Commission to put forward specific proposals for saving water, such as implementing measures on water efficiency in buildings or introducing water consumption labels for water-using appliances (washing machines, etc.);
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 b (new) 1b. Insists on the urgent need to conduct an audit on the state of the European water network to assess quality, degeneration and interconnectivity because it is possible that as much as 70 % of the water in European cities is lost as a result of leaks in the water system, and to encourage infrastructure investments;
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Notes the lack of knowledge and information about the challenges related to water management, the availability of water resources and the securing of water supplies, and, in view of the scale and complexity of these challenges, calls on the European Commission and the Council to take this area into account as one of the key areas in preparing the multiannual financial framework (2014– 2020);
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Notes that water management has direct effects on human health, energy production, agriculture and food security, and efficient water management is a fundamental prerequisite for poverty reduction;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Notes that every human and economic enterprise depends on water resources and believes that the future of industry in Europe depends on the effective response to the current water challenges; therefore stresses the need for sustainable water management in Europe;
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Notes that every enterprise depends on water resources and believes that the future of industry in Europe depends on the effective response to the current water challenges and a responsible management of existing water resources;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Notes that every enterprise depends on water resources and believes that the future of industry in Europe depends on
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Stresses that privatisation of supplying the population with drinking water must not result in the owner’s monopoly or full market faciliation of these services, which must be treated as public services;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Encourages a hierarchical approach to water management, depending on the end use of water between consumption and its use, noting that it is important to decouple the use of water (consumption or industry) and to treat it appropriately;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 b (new) 2b. Observes that water is the only resource for which there is no replacement;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 c (new) 2c. Observes that pricing should be consistent with water-saving, and that prices should be transparent and incremental, and should reflect the true cost of the services provided;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 d (new) 2d. Observes that manufacturers wish to receive clear and accessible information about the quality of water, and that it is therefore up to operators to publish data on water quality and to warn manufacturers of any substantial changes to water composition;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 e (new) 2e. Notes that the quality of bathing water has an impact on tourism; calls for the Blue Flag to be extended to all bathing areas in Europe including rivers, lakes and pools;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 f (new) 2f. Stresses that sustainable tourism encourages the conservation of water; calls for the provision of training in connection with saving water and the sustainable use thereof for tourism professionals, particularly in coastal areas and in thermal belts;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 g (new) 2g. Insists that for a water management policy to be effective, it needs to be implemented close to the resource; calls for the European Commission to take into account areas with natural handicaps, such as mountain or island territories;
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 h (new) 2h. Observes that agri-food industries distributing water need to take account of health and safety during heatwaves or in other exceptional circumstances, and that their presence in the territory should therefore be assessed, and their development and access to the entire territory encouraged;
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 i (new) 2i. Calls on the European Commission to encourage businesses to use materials that require less water through support for R&D and through structural funds in areas where the resource is at its most scarce;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Calls on the Commission to conduct a relevant analysis of the ways to prevent the effects of flooding, due to a noticeably frequent flood risk in Member States’ territories in recent years;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Notes the potential for better data management, based on an improvement in statistical information and the
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Notes the potential for better data management, based on an improvement in statistical information
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Notes that it is important to encourage research and innovation in connection with water and that the development of European clusters in this area must be supported;
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Stresses the importance of the availability of water resources for EU industrial policy; calls on the Member States to ensure the necessary investment in the purification and recycling of waste water processes in order to maintain and improve water quality;
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 b (new) 4b. Stresses the importance of the transfer of knowledge and technology relating to water conservation, water collection, irrigation techniques, groundwater management and waste water treatment;
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Notes the potential of hydropower as a form of CO2-neutral and own-resource- based energy production that can effectively respond to a large part of the demands of European energy supply; calls for the development of new and innovative energy solutions in this area;
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Observes that waste water can be used as a source of energy by recovering the heat or energy from the organic matter it carries, and that this opportunity should be exploited;
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Notes the great potential in applying water re-use technologies treating wastewater in agriculture and both domestic and commercial buildings;
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Encourages the Commission to develop a coherent approach to the internalisation of the costs resulting from water use
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Calls for transnational and regional cooperation when responding to the transboundary effects that lead to a shortage of quality water resources, in order to secure a safe water supply in the spirit of good neighbourly relations between states;
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Calls for enhanced international cooperation with third countries, considering cooperation especially with those third countries that are neighbours of the EU, and international organisations to tackle effectively the current water management challenges facing society.
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Calls for enhanced international cooperation with third countries and international organisations to tackle effectively the current and future water management challenges facing society.
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. States that the growing demand for water, together with the process of steppe formation or even the desertification of some regions in the Member States, requires urgent irrigation investments;
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 b (new) 7b. Notes that investments in hydrotechnical infrastructure should be considered to a greater extent than they have been so far in the new EU financial strategy on cohesion funds;
Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Calls on the European Commission to encourage optimisation of the successive uses of water extracted from the water cycle, including recycling water used for agricultural and industrial purposes where appropriate;
Amendment 39 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 b (new) 7b. Calls on the European Commission to facilitate access to solutions to water shortages, such as artificially recharging groundwater reservoirs, water harvesting and developing alternative irrigation techniques;
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 c (new) 7c. Insists that water pollution be primarily controlled and managed at source;
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 d (new) 7d. Observes that the majority of water is used by the agricultural sector, and that the most effective practices and techniques for saving water must be encouraged through the common agricultural policy where possible;
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 e (new) 7e. Observes that the standards that apply to farmers are already high and closely monitored; calls for the strengthening of eco-conditionality for the common agricultural policy on the basis of existing obligations;
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 f (new) 7f. Believes that the contribution for financing the system must be no less than that of the permanent residence in cases where secondary residences benefit from the same resource availability;
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 g (new) 7g. Recognises the Mediterranean as a common heritage of both banks, and calls for the permanent exchange of information on industrial policies that may affect the Sea.
source: PE-487.709
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History
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