Baltic and European news
MEPs hold firm on EU water pollutant limits
2536, 06/05/08
MEPs remained on a collision course with EU governments over proposed EU controls on priority water pollutants following a second reading vote in the European parliament's environment committee on Tuesday.
The committee reinstated several key changes rejected by environment ministers at first reading last June (EED 28/06/07 http://www.endseuropedaily.com/23501). The second reading position was adopted with 51 votes in favour and none against. The proposed directive is the final major piece of legislation needed to support the EU water framework law (WFD).
In one of several compromise amendments adopted by the committee, MEPs confirmed their desire for 31 additional substances to be reviewed by the European commission for possible classification as priority or priority hazardous substances.
Priority substances would have to meet maximum concentration limits by 2015, while priority hazardous substances would have to be phased out by 2025.
Of the 33 pollutants included in the commission's original proposal, twelve were classified as priority hazardous substances (EED 19/07/06 http://www.endseuropedaily.com/21411). The committee says the commission should assess whether a further ten of these should also receive the hazardous classification.
MEPs accepted the idea that member states can designate "mixing zones" adjacent to discharge areas where pollutant concentrations may exceed EU limits. However governments may only designate such areas provided they "apply best available waste water treatment techniques".
Follow-up: European parliament environment committee http://www.europarl.europa.eu/comparl/envi/default_en.htm,
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