| Author (Person) | Davies, Eric |
|---|---|
| Publisher | ProQuest Information and Learning |
| Series Title | In Focus |
| Series Details | 13.1.01 |
| Publication Date | 13/01/2001 |
| Content Type | News, Overview, Topic Guide | In Focus |
|
Background On 12 January 2001, the European Commission adopted a consultative document on the quality of bathing water: Developing a new Bathing Water Policy (COM (2000) 860). The launch of the consultation document is the first stage in a four-part exercise intended to modernise the 25-year old 'Bathing Water Directive' (76/160/EEC). In the second stage of the process, interested organisations and individuals are invited to respond to the document by 1 March 2001. Those who submit contributions will then be invited to attend a Bathing Water Conference during Green Week (24-28 April 2001). The final part of the exercise will be the publication of a draft Directive, probably in June/July 2001. Announcing the new initiative, Margot Wallström, European Commissioner responsible for the environment said:
Measures introduced under the 1976 Bathing Water Directive are acknowledged to have improved the quality of both inland and coastal bathing waters in Member States (although it was not until 1991 that it was possible to compare water quality in different Member States under the common reference standards laid down in the Directive). Between 1992 and 1999, the percentage of 'compliant' coastal waters rose from 84.9 to 95.6; those for fresh waters increased from 47.5 to 90.5. However, the Directive has been increasingly criticised on a number of grounds, including: Rather than give too many details of what the future Directive might look like, the text [pdf] of the Commission's Communication focuses on 'Specific Issues in Bathing Water Quality Management', including: The Communication also identifies three other Directives of particular relevance to bathing water: the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271), the Nitrates Directive (91/676), and the Water Framework Directive (2000/60). Since the 1976 Bathing Water Directive was adopted, there have been 17 reports on bathing water quality (each has been the subject of a press release on RAPID - see 'Further information' below). The European Commission does not itself make awards on the basis of the (now) annual assessments. However, since 1987 it has provided financial support for the Blue Flag Campaign - an initiative launched in 1985 by the Foundation for Environmental Education in Europe. Although initially restricted to France, the campaign was extended to all Member States in 1987 - the European Year of the Environment. Moves to revise the Bathing Water Directive started in 1994 with a Commission proposal, which - for a variety of reasons - was not adopted by the Council. The proposal did, however, initiate a debate on water quality management, as a result of which it was decided to link a revised Directive to the Water Framework Directive. Member States have not always complied with the requirements of the Directive as quickly or as fully as they might. In 1993, the European Court of Justice confirmed that Member States must comply with the 'norms and the time frame laid down in the Directive'. Even so, the Commission has still taken numerous legal actions against Member States in relation to bathing water quality. Further information within European Sources Online: European Sources Online: Topic Guide European Sources Online: European Voice Penguin Companion to European Union (Penguin, October 2000) EU Law (Penguin, 1999) Further information can be seen in these external links: European Commission: DG Environment European Commission: RAPID database European Commission: Press Release: IP/01/40 European Commission: Press Release: IP/00/1541 European Commission: Press Release: IP/00/871 European Commission: Press Release: IP/00/552 European Commission: Press Release: IP/00/384 European Commission: Press Release: IP/00/14 European Commission: Press Release: IP/99/784 European Commission: Press Release: IP/99/599 European Commission: Press Release: IP/99/519 European Commission: Press Release: IP/99/340 European Commission: Press Release: IP/98/1119 European Commission: Press Release: IP/98/634 European Commission: Press Release: IP/98/450 European Commission: Press Release: IP/97/419 European Commission: Press Release: IP/96/413 European Commission: Press Release: IP/95/607 European Commission: Press Release: IP/94/505 European Commission: Press Release: IP/94/11 European Commission: Press Release: IP/93/593 European Commission: Press Release: IP/93/429 European Commission: Press Release: IP/92/464 European Commission: Press Release: IP/91/601 European Commission: Press Release: IP/91/599 European Commission: Press Release: IP/90/561 European Commission: Press Release: IP/89/462 European Commission: Press Release: IP/88/434 European Commission: Press Release: IP/88/373 European Commission: Press Release: IP/88/114 European Commission: Press Release: IP/87/129 European Parliament Blue Flag Campaign Coastal Guide Europe Environment Agency, UK Eurobeaches European Environment Agency Fédération Française de Canoë Kayak Guardian Unlimited Marine Conservation Society Surfers Against Sewage Tidy Britain Group Further and subsequent information on the subject of this In Focus can be found by an 'Advanced Search' in European Sources Online by inserting 'bathing water' in the keyword field. Eric Davies On 12 January 2001, the European Commission adopted a consultative document on the quality of bathing water: Developing a new Bathing Water Policy. |
|
| Subject Categories | Environment |
