Activities of Sandrine BÉLIER related to 2011/2297(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Implementation of EU water legislation (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the implementation of EU water legislation, ahead of a necessary overall approach to European water challenges PDF (267 KB) DOC (166 KB)
Amendments (26)
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 b (new)
Citation 7 b (new)
- Having regard to Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora and Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)
Citation 8 a (new)
- Having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on "Our life insurance, our natural capital: an EU biodiversity strategy to 2020"(COM(2011)0244)
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 b (new)
Citation 8 b (new)
- Having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on "Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe"(COM (2011)0571)
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
A b. whereas freshwater biodiversity in Europe is in crisis with 37% of European freshwater fish species and 40% of freshwater molluscs considered threatened according to IUCN Red List criteria;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas Europe is abstracting only around 13% of its total available water, but water resources are very unevenly distributed across European regionin many places in Europe, water abstraction goes beyond sustainable levels threatening wildlife, safe supply of society and different economic uses;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Acknowledges that the WFD constitutes a solid and ambitious legislative base for long-term integrated water management in the EU; welcomes the improvement in the quality of European waters and wastewater treatment in recent years; points out however that the rate of implementation has been slow and uneven across Member States and regions and that several challenges need to be overcome in order to achieve ‘good status’ across European waters by 2015;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Recognises that water is a shared resource of humankind and a public good and should not be a source of profit, and that access to water should constitute a fundamental and universal right; stresses that the sustainable use of water is an environmental and health necessity that plays a fundamental role in the climate regulation cycle; reiterates that 'the management of water resources should not be subject to internal market rules' (EP Resolution P5_TA (2004)0183) and invites the European Commission to review the relevant legislation, particularly that on public procurement and concessions, so as to guarantee public ownership and management of water and water utilities;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Deplores the extent of postponing of achieving WFD objectives in a large number of water bodies, way beyond the exceptional use originally foreseen; is similarly concerned about the practice of Member States classifying intact rivers as degraded or "heavily modified" to allow for future damage; calls therefore on the Commission to devote more resources to tackle the misuse of delays and exemptions by Member States;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines that, while the major focus should be on the implementation of current legislation, specific gaps exist that need to be filled by new legislation to address impact of specific sectors or activities;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Emphasises the importance to take all necessary measures to achieve good ecological and chemical water status by 2015, including specific measures to address the persisting significant water pollution from agriculture as well as the emerging issue of pharmaceuticals in the environment, as stated in the Commission Communication on a "Renewed vision for the pharmaceutical sector";
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Urges the Commission to take determined action to bring Member States' infringements of EU law in the field of water to an end; calls at the same time for comprehensive guidelines and effective instruments to be developed and made available to foster capacity-building, in particular for regional authorities and river basis agencies, to ensure a level playing field and assist the Member States in achieving better compliance at future stages of implementation of EU water policy, in order to deliver on water policy commitments;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises the nexus between energy production, energy efficiency, food and water security; points out that additional efforts need to be made at European level to ensure that the growing demand for energy and food does not jeopardise water security and that the potential for reducing energy use through water efficiency is captured; stresses that water use should be taken into account when assessing the sustainability of traditional as well as low-carbon energy sources, including in particular hydropower and biofuels;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that the efficiency and sustainability of water use by the agriculture sector can be improved by the introduction of innovative technologies and practices, and by improvement of information and awareness of farmers and end users;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6 c. Points out that the remaining potential in Europe for building new hydropower plants is extremely limited; considers that the remaining free-flowing and unregulated river stretches should be protected for their ecological potential while significant efforts are needed to restoring past damage;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Underlines the importance of ecodesign, water-saving devices and metering for water efficiency in public water systems and industrycalls for water metering to be made binding across all sectors and users in all EU countries; furthermore calls the Commission to regulate water-efficiency of devices in domestic and agricultural use;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 c (new)
Paragraph 10 c (new)
10 c. Recalls that soil protection is a core element for preserving the quality of water, and is convinced that the adoption of a soil framework directive would contribute to the better protection of waters in the EU;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Stresses that water isresources and related ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, which could lead to a decline in the quantity and quality of water available, particularly drinking water, as well as to a rise in the frequency and intensity of floods and droughts; calls for climate change adaptation and mitigation policies to take due account of the impact on water resources; underlines the importance of risk prevention, mitigation and response strategies to prevent water-related extreme phenomena;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Points out that integrated water resource management and land use planning at river-basin scale should take into account water-dependent economic activities and water needs for all usersbe adapted to ensure the conservation of water resources also under a changing climate with emphasis on meeting the needs of ecosystems first and adapting demand to supply, as well as the need for a holistic approach to water scarcity and climate change, and should ensure the sustainability of human activities on water;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12 b. Points out that ecosystem based climate change adaptation and mitigation measures have proven to be especially cost-effective and calls the Commission and Member States to mainstream such measures though policy development and implementation and allocating funding through European and national budgets, especially the EU Regional Development Funds;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 d (new)
Paragraph 15 d (new)
15 d. Acknowledges that nuclear energy remains the most water intensive of all thermal energy types posing both quantitative and qualitative concerns for water bodies;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure the full application of the ‘'polluter pays’' and ‘'user pays’' principles by means of transparent and effective pricing schemes that aim at full cost recovery; underlines however that social issues should be taken into account when setting water tariffs for personal useimplemented in all water using sectors that aim at full cost recovery including environmental and resource costs and make this a condition to receive EU Common Strategic Framework funding; underlines however that social issues should be taken into account when setting water tariffs for personal use; furthermore calls on the Commission and member States to assess and revise subsidies harmful for water and to develop and introduce further economic instruments, such as taxes to reduce environmentally detrimental activity and incentivize more sustainable use of water resources; stresses that water pricing should reflect the environmental impact of wastewater treatment and calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure appropriate financing of small- scale, cost effective, decentralised waste water treatment plantfacilities;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)
Paragraph 16 c (new)
16 c. Alarmed regarding the significant risks to both surface and groundwater posed by shale gas exploration and extraction, calls for the Commission to bring forward legislative proposals to clarify that deep-well injection of fracking fluids is not allowed under the WFD and to ensure that such activities are covered by the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive; calls on the Commission to also swiftly issue guidance on the gathering of baseline water monitoring data which must be obtained prior to any fracking – both explorative and exploitative and the criteria to be used for assessing impacts of fracking in different geological formations, including potential leakage, to groundwater reservoirs;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 g (new)
Paragraph 16 g (new)
16 g. Considers demand management to be the key to addressing water scarcity and calls for water demand management plans to a condition for dispursing EU structural and cohesion fund support to water sector or water intensive activities, as well as for Member States to require water sustainability assessments as a condition for authorising water intensive economic activities such as mass tourism or particular types of agriculture;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls for the strengthening of public awareness of water issues, in order to bring about a better understanding of the links between water, ecosystems, sanitation, hygiene, health, food safety, food security and disaster prevention to consumers, health operators and policy and decision makers; underlines the primary role of regional and local authorities and civil society organisations in awareness-raising campaigns and educational activities;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18 b. Considers that better water management, the collection and use of rainwater and water efficiency can foster green jobs and economic opportunities;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 c (new)
Paragraph 18 c (new)
18 c. Emphasises the importance of introducing good water systems in buildings and public areas to help reduce the need for bottled water;