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Environment ministers to debate growing water scarcity[fr]

Published: Friday 31 August 2007

Following another summer characterised by heat waves, forest fires and droughts, the Portuguese EU Presidency brings together Europe's environment ministers to discuss options for dealing with an increased frequency of droughts and water shortages, exacerbated by the effects of climate change.

Background:

Every year between 2000 and 2006, 15% of the EU territory and 17% of its population have been affected by severe droughts, according to an interim report on water scarcity and drought (WS&D) put forward by the Commission in June. The report puts the economic fallout from droughts at €6.2 billion "in recent years", but admits that it is "difficult to give a comprehensive estimation of the costs incurred by all the European Union to face droughts".

In July, the Commission put forward a Communication on water scarcity and drought (EurActiv 18/07/07), which presents policy options but does not propose new legislation. A Green Paper on adaptation to climate change, presented by the Commission in late June, also addresses water scarcity among other climate-change related issues (EurActiv 02/07/08).

According to the Commission, better implementation of the Water Framework Directive (see our LinksDossier) would go a long way towards addressing EU water shortages, which are likely to increase.

Other related news:

Ministers are meeting today (31 August) and tomorrow in Lisbon for an informal Environment Council to address water scarcity and droughts (WS&D).

The Portuguese EU Presidency hopes that environment ministers can "envisage a European Strategy and adequate institutional, technical and financial instruments to deal with WS&D".

Ministers are to "analyse the current situation, which is made worse by climate change" and discuss policy options presented by the Commission, including possible future legislation.

The Presidency applauds the Commission's Communication on WS&D as a "fundamental and well-developed first set of proposed measures", and identifies several possible priorities areas for future action, including:

Better "enforcement of demand side measures", an apparent reference to efforts to reduce water waste in the EU (estimate by the Commission at 40%) including through proper water pricing policies, one of the main recommendations made by the Commission;
River Basin Management Plans, a key part of the Water Framework Directive, should be used "as much as possible" to deal with water scarcity in river basins;
possible "new indispensable water supply infrastructures" should be built, but "only when all other measures have been tried" and "subject to the scrutiny of EU legislation enforcement".

The presidency also argues that "coping with WS&D impacts in the EU should imply the possibility of the allocation of financial support to the member-state regions and activities affected".