The conciliation process between Parliament and Council on the water framework directive formally opened on May 23. The aim of the directive is to put an end to hitherto fragmented water legislation and protect surface water, coastal and territorial waters and groundwater. It will establish a framework to prevent further deterioration, protect ecosystems, promote sustainable water use, help combat floods and drought and phase out discharges of hazardous substances. Specific directives will subsequently be adopted within this framework.
The rapporteur, Marie-Noëlle LIENEMANN (PES, F), explained during the meeting of Parliament's delegation that the EP had adopted around 60 amendments at its second reading on February 16. Council did not accept all of these at its second reading and so conciliation had to follow.
The aim of Parliament's second reading amendments is to make the objectives of the directive binding. The Parliament delegation also stated this as its main priority at yesterday's meeting. The objectives themselves cover different aspects of protection and restoration of surface water and groundwater.
The main dispute is over the elimination of hazardous substances from surface water (with Parliament aiming at cessation and phasing out of dangerous substances within 20 years, whereas Council would like to keep this as a non-binding aim of the directive). Another thorny issue is quality standards for groundwater, which the Council believes would be hard to establish.
While the Council is content to achieve the target of good surface water status and good groundwater status in 16 years, Parliament wishes to reduce this to 10 years.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------The conciliation process, which is the last stage of the codecision procedure, must be completed within six weeks (with a possible further two-week extension), otherwise it fails. The process could therefore yet be completed under the Portuguese presidency, e.g. by the end of June.
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