EurEau newsletter - edition 27 - July+August 2018
EurEau News
EurEau’s update on 3Ts
In order to deliver water services in a sustainable way, all costs must be recovered through tariffs, taxes and/or transfers (3Ts) This “Full Cost Recovery” model is in accordance with the Water Framework Directive and the OECD Model.
Eureau recently published its latest update on the matter.
EU news
Regulation water reuse: Legislators in no urge
The Commission proposal for a is limited to irrigation in agriculture.
EurEau submitted comments in the ex-post consultation providing its general support, but asking for a number of improvements.
The European Parliament will propose amendments to the proposal but the Council does not seem in a hurry. The adoption of the regulation before the 2019 elections is then compromised.
Single Use Plastics Directive: Parliament prepares report
The draft directive on the , essentially covering single-use plastics (including wet wipes) and fishing gear is currently discussed in the European Parliament’s ENVI Committee. The of the rapporteur F Ries (B) is available here.
EurEau developed a position paper calling for stronger measures regarding wet wipes.
UWWTD: Commission launches public consultation
The evaluation of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive entered a new phase with the launch of a . It consists of a part addressed to citizens and another one for specialists.
EurEau will submit its feed-back before the 19 October deadline.
DWD – summer developments
The European Parliament has worked intensively over July and August to formulate compromises over some of the key amendments presented by the ENVI Committee MEPs. The vote is still scheduled for the 10 September in the ENVI Committee.
The Council working party on the environment held a meeting at the end of July. Member States are invited to submit comments on the Presidency text, although the DWD does not feature within the political priorities of the Austrian Presidency and an agreement under the current European Parliament legislature seems unlikely.
CAP: Quarelling over the future of Europe’s agriculture
The agricultural ministers from Finland, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, the Netherlands and Sweden invited the European Commission to simplify its proposal for the post-2020 (CAP), in particular regarding the environmental protection measures.
As regards the European Parliament, it was decided after long discussions that the Environment committee would be associated to the leading Agricultural Committee regarding environmental aspects of the CAP. EurEau submitted its reponse to the ex-post consultation of the European Commission.
Nitrates Directive: NGO takes Germany to court over groundwater pollution
The European Court of Justice ruled in June 2018 that Germany had not completely implemented the Nitrates Directive. During the preceding infringement procedure, Germany adopted slightly improved rules in 2017 which were not subject of the ECJ ruling.
The German environment NGO Deutsche Umwelthilfe took the German government to court over claims that the new rules were respecting EU rules. The German water suppliers share this assessment.
Water Framework Directive: EEA sees little progress in water quality
The European Environmental Agency published its report in early July. Only 40% of water bodies monitored between 2010 and 2015 achieved the minimum ‘good’ or ‘high’ ecological status set out in the WFD, with only marginal improvements since the first report was published in 2012. Read more on the ‘EU matters blog’ here.
DG Environment’s director Veronica Manfredi announced clear recommendations in the RBMP report scheduled for November. Infringement procedures would be envisaged in certain cases.
Pharmaceuticals in the Environment: EurEau joins call for EU action plan
Environmental groups, EurEau and investors have to publish the EU action plan on pharmaceuticals in the environment and propose effective policy solutions. The publication has been delayed many times.
The letter from Aviva Investors, Nordea Asset Management, EurEau, European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), European Environmental Bureau (EEB), Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Germany, Health Care Without Harm Europe, Envirohealth Matters and the Changing Markets Foundation can be .
A number of Member States have also invited the Commission to take swift action on pharmaceuticals in the environment and on the plans for a non-toxic environment.
The letter from Member States is available on .
Chemicals and circular economy: Commission launches public consultation
As part of its circular economy action plan, the Commission launched a public consultation on the . It focuses on the impact of hazardous substances potentially contained in recycled products.
Other news
Sweden: Government investigates sludge to farmland ban
The Swedish government will launch a study into the possible obligation to recover phosphorous from sewage sludge accompanied by a ban to spread sewage sludge on farmland.
More details .
New energy-positive waste-water treatment process uses just 15% of the energy required for current alternative
A new kind of plant that consumes less energy exists! Read .
Spain: ECJ fine amid non-compliance with UWWTD
The European Court of Justice found Spain in breach of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive as the country failed to meet its obligations in 17 agglomerations. Spain was fined €12 million with an additional €11 million to pay per six-month period of delay from the year 2011.
ISO work on water governance
ISOO TC 224 will develop guidelines for “Principles for effective corporate governance of water utilities”. It will build on the recently adopted OECD principles on Water Governance.
Horizon 2020 call for proposals
The European Commission will launch a call for proposals on the topic on 14 November 2018. The deadline is 19 February 2019.
Communications news
EU Gateway | Business Avenues 2019 Business Missions in Asia
EU Gateway | Business Avenues, an EU-funded flagship programme helping European companies to establish business collaborations in Asia.is
organising
Business Missions in 2019 for the Environment & Water Technologies sector with the following opportunities:
- Tokyo, Japan: 11-15 March 2019, within N-EXPO Tokyo 2019
- Singapore and Philippines: 17-22 March 2019, within Water Expo Philippines 2019
For detailed information on the programme, please consult the official website: or email Maria-Luisa Langer, recruitment officer for EU Gateway | Business Avenues at
.
The next EurEau meetings are:
11 September 2018: Executive Committee meets in Bucharest.
6-9 November 2018: EurEau Congress 2018 in Limassol, Cyprus.
15 November 2018: Executive Committee WebEx.
Other events
26-31 August –World Water Week, Stockholm. .
16-21 September - , Tokyo. EurEau co-organises a session on the circular economy with a number of EurEau members speaking.
20-21 September - EU Water Conference will take place in Vienna. Anders Finnson, chair of our JWG WFD, will speak on behalf of EurEau. and . .
21-22 September - Public Utilities Conference in Podcetrtek, Slovenia. EurEau’s Oliver Loebel will give several presentations.
28-30 September – Altroconsumo Festivalfuturo 2018, Milan, Italy. Carla Chiaretti from the EurEau Secretariat will speak about water and circular economy on Saturday 29 September. .
7 November - Young Water Leaders first global event, Berlin (InterContinental Hotel)
- Created on .