30/11/10
The European Commission is about to table a Blueprint for Safeguarding Europe's Water and is to 'smart test' the various water policies within EU law.
The blueprint will include the three reviews foreseen by 2012:
• an assessment of river basin management plans (Water Framework Directive)
• the review of the strategy for water scarcity and droughts, including the importance of water-saving measures
• the review of the vulnerability of water and environmental resources to climate impacts and man-made pressures.
As part of the impact assessment and Commission policy for 'smart regulation', water has been selected as a pilot area for a fitness check of the whole body of European law.
We particularly welcome this aspect, which will include reviews of older directives such as Urban Waste Water Treatement and Nitrates and emphasise the importance of tackling water pollution at source. Disappointingly, it does not highlight the detrimental environmental impacts of complex end-of-pipe treatment.
Laraine Alder, Bryan Wallis
Future EU water blueprint to focus on savings
EurActiv news release
