Concerns over new water laws

EU governments should prepare for possible new laws to conserve water supplies, according to a document being discussed by EU environment ministers today and tomorrow (30-31 August).

The document, drafted by the Portuguese presidency, will be the basis for talks at an informal environment council meeting in Lisbon. It follows a European Commission communication on water scarcity and droughts published in July.

"The [water scarcity and droughts] process should be kept open for follow-up in the near future," according to the Portuguese paper, "not excluding legislative action if need be."

But even the possibility of legislation is likely to upset interest groups, ranging from industry and environmentalists.

VEMW, the Dutch energy and water association, has urged governments to be cautious with the introduction of new legal instruments.

"We see no need for a new administrative burden for industrial companies, including small and medium enterprises," said a VEMW statement.

WWF, the conservation group, fears that governments may use the process of agreeing new legislation as a way to avoid implementing existing EU water conservation laws.

"The six-year-old water framework directive contains tools for dealing with both too little and too much water," said Sergiy Moroz of WWF. "It would be short-sighted at this stage to depart from making member states implement this directive properly."

According to the water framework directive, member states must develop national policies to improve water quality and conserve water resources by 2015.

EU governments should prepare for possible new laws to conserve water supplies, according to a document being discussed by EU environment ministers today and tomorrow (30-31 August).