EU member states refuse to even try to clean up toxics in water
[Brussels – 28
March 2013] A preliminary deal carved out last Wednesday evening by negotiators
from the Irish Presidency and the European Parliament, led by Richard Seeber
MEP, on a proposal for new chemical quality standards for European waters, was
rejected yesterday by the Council, which wanted to further weaken the deadlines
for preparing and putting in place measures to deal with chemical pollution of
water. The EEB, strongly rejecting the preliminary deal, is shocked by Member
States’ utter disinterest and unwillingness to tackle pollution of water by
chemicals.
The compromise
agreement between the political groups and the Irish Presidency would have
postponed the deadline for reaching the objective of ensuring good chemical
status of our waters for new substances by almost a decade, from the end of 2021
to the end of 2027. Member States (MS) would in addition still be allowed to use
the derogation provided for in the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and
potentially postpone meeting the objective until 2039.
Moreover, little
would be done to address the risks posed by the presence of pharmaceuticals in
our rivers, lakes and coasts. The removal of 3 pharmaceuticals from the list of
Priority Substances and placement instead on the so called ‘watch list’ shows a
complete disrespect on the part of Governments and MEP’s for the solid
scientific evidence demonstrating the detrimental impacts of pharmaceuticals
upon freshwater ecosystems and discredits the prioritisation process of the
WFD.
Now this deal
was rejected yesterday by several MS as ‘being too ambitious’, since it would
require MS to prepare a preliminary programme of measures to tackle the
pollution by chemicals in 2018, with a view to be put in place after 2021. This
was viewed by these MS as being too soon. They also insisted on further changes
to be made that could potentially violate the no deterioration principle of the
Water Framework Directive.
Martina
Mlinaric, EEB Senior Policy Officer for Biodiversity, Water and Soil Protection,
said ‘It seems that MS, without any qualms of
conscience, finally pressed the button to once and for all flush the nasty
chemicals down the drain, where they will continue killing our rivers, lakes and
wetlands and endanger our health. It is a sad fact that this prime opportunity
to tackle the pollution from a very small number of known toxic substances will
not be grasped. Member States and the European Parliament have instead preferred
to hide behind misplaced arguments about cost.’
She
added ‘Many more dangerous chemicals were not
even part of this proposal, therefore it does not bode well for Europe’s rivers,
lakes and citizens’ health that a basic few could not be
tackled.’
*ENDS*
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