Activites

• 1998/11/09 Final act published in Official Journal
• 1998/10/20 Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
  • T4-0607/1998 summary

    Adopting the report by Mrs Patricia McKenna (Green, Irl.) on protection of water against agricultural pollution, Parliament calls on the Member States to implement the nitrates directive of 1991 fully and swiftly. This directive aimed to reduce water pollution by nitrates from agriculture and prevent its increase by setting maximum limit values for nitrogen (210 kg N/Ha from 20 December 1998 and 170 kg N/Ha from 20 December 2002), Member States with lower limits not being permitted to increase them. Apart from health problems (excessive nitrites in the blood), marine pollution (proliferation of algae - eutrophication) and pollution of groundwater, the very variable application of measures to combat nitrates distorts competition. Although the Member States bear the main responsibility, Parliament considers that the Commission also has a duty to ensure that regulations are respected. Parliament therefore calls on the Commission to speed up the infringement procedures against Member States which do not implement or incorrectly implement the nitrates directive. It also suggests that national action programmes be implemented as a means of solving the problem. The Member States should apply the 'polluter pays' principle with regard to solutions to problems caused by nitrates. Parliament also calls on the Commission to outline effective solutions to nitrate problems. In this regard, it proposes: - making compliance with the code of good agricultural practice mandatory, - drawing up specific requirements regarding the setting aside of protected areas, - reducing the number of animals to a maximum per hectare as a structural measure, - promoting energy production at smallscale biogas plants. Parliament also recommends that the horizontal measures proposed by the Commission in the context of AGENDA 2000 to promote environmental protection in agriculture (interaction between market- related direct payments and environmental levies) be made binding, especially with regard to nitrate pollution. Parliament asks the Commission to send it an annual report on implementation of the nitrates directive 91/676/EEC. �

• 1998/10/19 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament
• 1998/07/21 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • A4-0284/1998
• 1998/01/28 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
• #2033
• 1997/10/16 Council Meeting
  • 2033
• 1997/10/01 Non-legislative basic document published
  • COM(1997)0473 summary

    OBJECTIVE: to review the implementation of Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the Protection of Waters against Pollution caused by Nitrates from Agricultural Sources. SUBSTANCE: The report is particularly severe on the Member States. It reveals significant shortcomings on their part in implementing the 'Nitrates' Directive. Six years after the adoption of the Directive, no fewer than 13 Member States are the subject of infringement proceedings under Article 169 of the EC Treaty for failing to transpose it or failing to implement it correctly. The Directive has two objectives: 1) to reduce direct or indirect pollution of waters by nitrates from agricultural sources; 2) to prevent any increase in such pollution. To this end, the Directive requires Member States to identify waters affected by pollution and those likely to be affected by it, which are to be designated 'vulnerable zones'. For these zones, Member States must draw up programmes of action comprising binding measures concerning agricultural practices, indicating in particular the maximum quantities of effluent from livestock farming which may be applied to them per annum. Member States are required to draw up codes of good agricultural practice to be implemented voluntarily outside vulnerable zones and compulsorily inside them. The presence of nitrates in drinking water causes serious health problems. Nitrates are rapidly reduced to nitrites in the organism, impeding the transport of oxygen. This causes methaemoglobinaemia or blue baby syndrome, which particularly affects infants aged under 6 months. The presence of nitrites in the stomach also results in the formation of carcinogens. Ecologically, nitrates are a major eutrophication factor, particularly at sea and in coastal areas, where they stimulate the growth of algae (North Sea and Mediterranean coasts). Agriculture is the main source of nitrate pollution in water. In Europe, in particular, while the CAP has succeeded in increasing production, it has also had a disastrous impact on the environment. Intensive production has resulted in increased use of chemical fertilisers and a greater concentration of livestock in smaller areas. Consequently, the quantity of effluent produced has come to exceed that which could be absorbed by ecosystems without nitrate pollution occurring. The high nitrate concentrations observed are caused by the farming practices of recent decades. The Commission considers it essential to alter these practices. In accordance with the polluter- pays principle, this means that the cost of the measures to be taken should be borne by farmers themselves. Farmers display a marked reluctance to change land-use practices, although such changes have direct implications for their economic viability. This is why some of the requirements of the Directive encounter strong resistance among the farming community, and also why it has not been implemented very effectively. In view of this situation, the Commission concludes that it will not submit any proposals for revising the Directive and that it will do everything it can (including taking judicial measures) to enforce the Directive properly.�

Documents

• Non-legislative basic document published: COM(1997)0473
• Debate in Council: 2033
• Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading: A4-0284/1998
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T4-0607/1998

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)