Written Answers. - EU Water Directive.
Joe Higgins
Question:
93
Mr. Higgins (Dublin West)
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
his views on whether the proposed EU framework water directive may weaken the water quality objectives in existing EU law; the position the Irish Government is taking with regard to this directive; and if he will provide any relevant internal memoranda relating to this directive.
[5393/98]
The aim of the draft EU framework water directive as presented by the European commission is to protect and improve the quality of waters in the Community and to address quantity considerations to ensure sustainable use. The proposal includes ambitious environmental objectives which are to be pursued on the basis of programmes of measures for river basins. Programmes must achieve a level of protection at least equivalent to that provided under relevant existing Directives, including Directive 76/464/EEC on pollution caused by certain dangerous substances discharged into the aquatic environment and Directive 80/68/EEC on the protection of groundwater.
The proposal reflects a recognition of the need for greater coherence in Community legislation on water and seeks to provide a framework within which water quality and quantity issues can be pursued in a more effective and integrated manner. It will complement other Directives such as those covering integrated pollution prevention and control, drinking water, urban waste water treatment and protection of waters against pollution caused by agriculture and bathing water quality. In formulating the proposal, the Commission identified scope to rationalise certain aspects of Community legislation on water and accordingly incorporated key elements of existing legislation in the draft framework. The intention is that the Directives concerned, such as Directives 76/464/EEC and 80/68/EEC, will eventually be repealed. However, this will not be done until programmes of measures for river basins, prepared so as to at least achieve the quality objectives established under the Directives to be repealed, are in place.
The framework proposal also provides for the review of water quality standards and emission controls and enables the Commission to bring forward proposals for revised or new requirements.
I support the incorporation of ambitious environmental objectives in the framework Directive proposal and consider that the approach envisaged should provide an effective guard against any weakening of the water quality objectives contained in existing Directives.
Further elaboration of the basis for the Commission's proposal, including clarification of the relationship between the framework Directive and other water Directives which will continue to remain in force, as well as the manner in which Directives identified for repeal will be catered for, is provided in the explanatory memorandum which accompanied the Commission's proposal as published in February 1997. A copy of the memorandum, together with other relevant documentation, including the Irish position on the proposals, is contained in "Commission Proposal for a Council Directive Establishing a Framework for Community Action in the Field of Water Policy — Main Background Documents and Events Concerning Commission Preparation of Proposal", copy of which is available in the Library.
