Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-05-09-Speech-1-080"
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".
Mr President, first of all I should like to thank and congratulate the rapporteur, Mr Maaten, for his work on this difficult dossier. With regard to the European Commission's report on the 2004 bathing season, I wish to inform you that it will be published by the end of the month, and not just in Greek but in other languages also.
The Commission's initial proposal was designed to update the existing directive, which dates back to 1976. It proposed adopting stricter water quality standards, updating bathing water management measures, rationalising monitoring requirements and improving public information channels. The Commission accepted in full or in part 22 of the 37 amendments approved by Parliament at first reading.
The wording of the proposal was improved; however, its basic structure and, more importantly, the water quality standards remained in keeping with the Commission's initial proposal. Discussions in the Council were held during the Greek, Italian and Irish Presidencies.
It soon became evident that a significant majority of the Member States considered that the Commission's proposals on quality standards were over-ambitious and that they would be overly expensive. Similarly, it was clear from discussions in the Council that there was a desire to distinguish between quality standards for coastal waters and quality standards for inland waters.
Other changes which emerged from discussions in the Council concerned the choice of the right time for adopting the new standards and an alternative approach to combating short-term pollution and emergencies. The Commission considers that many of the changes made to the common position improve the Commission's initial proposal. However, with regard to the question of whether or not the water quality standards and the classification categories adopted are strict enough, the Commission would prefer the original proposal to stay as it is. Nonetheless, after long and arduous negotiations with the Council, it was concluded that the Commission proposal would never muster the necessary support.
The Commission therefore decided to support the common position which, even if far from ideal, does nonetheless represent a significant improvement over present arrangements under the current directive. The current legislation, which is nearly 30 years old, urgently needs updating. When the common position was approved, the Commission made a statement for the record, emphasising its intention to fund an epidemiological research programme to examine in depth the possible repercussions on bathing and, more importantly, the health repercussions associated with bathing in fresh water. The results of this programme are expected to be ready in 2008 and will perhaps allow certain issues on which the Council and Parliament today take different stands to be resolved.
I would like to ask Parliament to try, with the Commission's help, to find common ground with the Council on this dossier as quickly as possible. We urgently need a new directive with targeted management practices, more rational monitoring schemes and more effective communication with the public."@en1
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