Mr. Stavros Dimas urges EU states to consult on water plans
Environment commissioner Stavros Dimas has urged all EU states to start consultations on management plans for Europe’s river basins, due to be issued by the end of 2009.
Speaking at the European Water Conference in Brussels on Thursday, Mr Dimas said some countries were neglecting consultations, which were a crucial element of the EU’s 2000 water framework directive. The European commission’s first implementation report on the law painted a negative picture two years ago (EE 23/03/07 <http://www.endseurope.com/13177>).
Under the directive, river basin management plans should set out action to achieve water quality goals, report on water pricing and support effective planning. According to Mr Dimas, the plans are “vital if we are to face up to the many challenges that will put pressure on water availability and quality in the future”.
The head of the European Environment Agency told ENDS last month that climate change was making the need for strategic, long-term management of water resources more acute (EE 20/03/09
<http://www.endseurope.com/20956>).
Mr Dimas's speech
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