16 October Environment Council

Date: 23/10/1997

MINISTERS agreed to wide-ranging plans to clean up EU drinking water supplies.

The new framework directive could cost up to 70 billion ecu to put into place and is designed to update an earlier water quality law passed in 1980. The plan obliges the 15 Union member states to halve levels of lead in drinking water - currently standing at 50 micrograms per litre (mg/l) - over five years.

The ultimate aim would be to reduce the figure to just 10 mg/l over a ten-year period. The framework directive also calls on governments to cut levels of other damaging substances such as heavy metals, certain pesticides and harmful bacteria.

PLANS put forward by Environment Commissioner Ritt Bjerregaard aimed at reducing the amount of rubbish disposed of in landfill sites came in for a rough ride. Ministers discussed the reduction of biodegradable household waste and the possibility of derogations for certain member states from some of the proposed directive's more stringent measures. They also called on Bjerregaard to provide a clearer explanation of how governments will be expected to pay for the long-term care of 'full' sites which have been sealed.

MEMBER states put the finishing touches to the EU's negotiating position ahead of December's international climate change conference in Kyoto, Japan. Ministers confirmed that the Union will call for a 15&percent; reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2010, but admitted that further clarification was needed over the specific cuts each member state should make. They also discussed the so-called 'European bubble' question - which concerns the Union pushing ahead with cuts before many other third countries. This point is likely to cause some serious EU-US friction at Kyoto.

THE problem of acidification was discussed in the wake of a Commission communication on the subject. Ministers argued that more data was needed on the problem before any new legislation could be introduced. The meeting also looked at ways to coordinate regional, national and EU measures aimed at combating the problem of acid rain. In addition, the Council discussed how best to encourage the central and eastern European countries (CEECs) currently lining up to join the Union to take the question of acidification more seriously.

BJERREGAARD presented ministers with her communication on environmentally friendly taxation measures. The plan is a watered down version of earlier attempts to bring in a true system of eco-taxes. It suggests ways national tax regimes could be altered to take account of environmental considerations, but also stresses the need to respect existing internal market rules.