Activities of Antonio DE BLASIO related to 2008/2074(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Addressing the challenge of water scarcity and droughts in the European Union (debate)
Amendments (33)
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. Whereas water scarcity and drought are a complex environmental issue, and should as such be regulated in close connection with and taking account of other environmental issues;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. Whereas a region's economic situation, competitiveness and development opportunities are determined by these complex environmental issues;
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6a (new)
Paragraph 6a (new)
6a. Notes that the issue of water treatment is a strategic problem of great importance both at European and at Member State level; therefore considers it indispensable for this matter to be regulated at EU level in accordance with the following recommendations;
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6b (new)
Paragraph 6b (new)
6b. Points out that many regions within the EU are confronted with a very serious water scarcity and drought problem;
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6c (new)
Paragraph 6c (new)
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6d (new)
Paragraph 6d (new)
6d. Points out to the Commission that a region's economic situation, competitiveness and development opportunities are determined by these complex environmental issues;
Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6e (new)
Paragraph 6e (new)
6e. Calls on the Commission – given that several regions in the EU are seriously threatened with desertification, which may have a grave impact on economic life and consequently on further development in the regions concerned – to support all projects aimed at soil-binding;
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6f (new)
Paragraph 6f (new)
6f. Highlights the importance of agricultural watering, which not only benefits the growth of crops but also replenishes the soil’s water supply, thus boosting the long-term competitiveness and development of agricultural regions;
Amendment 47 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6g (new)
Paragraph 6g (new)
6g. Calls on the Commission, in accordance with the subsidiarity principle, to grant the Member States the necessary flexibility on problems relating to agricultural watering, so that each Member State can regulate this matter in the light of its own specific conditions;
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6h (new)
Paragraph 6h (new)
6h. Calls on the Commission, given that the problem of water scarcity is closely linked to forest protection, to do all in its power to prevent unnecessary logging and felling of forests which exacerbates devastating floods and results in the washing away of arable soil;
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6i (new)
Paragraph 6i (new)
6i. Points out that these complex environmental problems can produce serious cross-border impacts, and that it is thus indispensable for the European Union’s Member States, as well as regional and local organisations, to cooperate on the issue of water scarcity and drought and in working out solutions;
Amendment 50 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6j (new)
Paragraph 6j (new)
6j. Points out that water scarcity may be reduced by storing inflowing water or rainwater, and that to that end it is absolutely essential to step up water storage capacities in the European Union;
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6k (new)
Paragraph 6k (new)
6k. Calls on the Commission, with that in mind, to support the creation of water storage facilities to deal with flooding or torrential rain, thus reducing the affected areas’ exposure to problems of water scarcity and drought;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Points out that water scarcity may be reduced by storing inflowing water or rainwater, and that to that end it is absolutely essential to step up water storage capacities in the European Union;
Amendment 52 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6l (new)
Paragraph 6l (new)
6l. Considers it essential – since water storage facilities are of strategic importance and may where necessary permit one Member State to retain water flowing into another Member State – for the criteria for the creation of water storage facilities to be regulated at European level while respecting the subsidiarity principle;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Considers it essential – since water storage facilities are of strategic importance and may where necessary permit one Member State to retain water flowing into another Member State – for the criteria for the creation of water storage facilities to be regulated at European level while respecting the subsidiarity principle;
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6m (new)
Paragraph 6m (new)
6m. Calls on the Commission to support any project which provides for the collection of rainwater and its use for watering or other purposes, thus promoting water saving;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls on the Commission to support the creation of water storage facilities to deal with flooding or torrential rain, thus reducing the affected areas’ exposure to problems of water scarcity and drought;
Amendment 54 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6n (new)
Paragraph 6n (new)
6n. Calls on the Commission – since it is necessary to trap precipitation and inflowing water, taking into account the seepage conditions and improving them – to support such projects rather than water drainage, and to propose legislation promoting efforts towards a closed water balance;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls on the Commission – since it is necessary to trap precipitation and inflowing water, taking into account the seepage conditions and the need to improve them – to support such projects rather than water drainage, and to propose legislation promoting efforts towards a closed water balance;
Amendment 55 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6o (new)
Paragraph 6o (new)
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls on the Commission to support any project which provides for the collection of rainwater and its use for watering or other purposes, thus promoting water saving;
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6p (new)
Paragraph 6p (new)
6p. Notes that the Member States must encourage firms, factories and other entities using water on an industrial scale to use water more efficiently and economically by means of tax incentives and/or other economic advantages;
Amendment 57 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6q (new)
Paragraph 6q (new)
6q. Points out to the Commission that by devising an efficient water pricing policy which reflects the true value of water, it may encourage consumers to be more sparing in their use of water;
Amendment 58 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6r (new)
Paragraph 6r (new)
6r. Stresses the pre-eminent role of regional and local authorities and civil society organisations in awareness-raising campaigns and in organising educational activities;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Proposes to the Commission – given that the water scarcity and drought problem is closely linked to the complex of issues surrounding the wasteful use of water – that the criterion of economical water use should be incorporated into the system of conditions for the award of subsidies from EU funds;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Calls on the Commission – given that several regions in the EU are seriously threatened with desertification, which may have a grave impact on economic life and consequently on further development in the regions concerned – to support all projects aimed at soil-binding;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Highlights the importance of agricultural watering, which not only benefits the growth of crops but also replenishes the soil’s water supply, thus boosting the long-term competitiveness and development of agricultural regions;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Calls on the Commission, in accordance with the subsidiarity principle, to grant the Member States the necessary flexibility on problems relating to agricultural watering, so that each Member State can regulate this matter in the light of its own specific conditions;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Calls on the Commission, given that the problem of water scarcity is closely linked to forest protection, to do all in its power to prevent unnecessary logging and felling of forests, which exacerbates devastating floods and results in the washing away of arable soil;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Points out to the Commission that by devising an efficient water pricing policy which reflects the true value of water, it may encourage consumers to be more sparing in their use of water;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Stresses the pre-eminent role of regional and local authorities and civil society organisations in awareness-raising campaigns and in organising educational activities;