Issue No. 26 – May 2012

Newsletter

Dear Reader, With the receipt of this monthly letter you will not only be well informed about the different activities and initiatives of the EWA, but also of the new events organised by our association. We will also be providing you with interesting inside news directly from the EU capital Brussels, from the European Commission and the European institutions. The EWA newsletter also gives a good insight into the EWA member associations, into their activities and aims. We hope that you will agree that the EWA newsletter provides expertise information and

therefore proves to be of interesting reading, so that you might want to recommend it further to

other water professionals and experts. The EWA newsletter service is provided monthly and is

free of charge.

NEWS FROM BRUSSELS Edited by Dr. Helmut Blöch

Green Week 2012 dedicated to water

The traditional Brussels Green Week, the 12th edition of this biggest annual environment event, is this year dedicated to water. Access to the detailed programme, speakers and presentations is available here.

EWA is represented at Green Week with an exhibition stand (No. 29) and Prof. Dr. Johannes Pinnekamp will be hosting session 4.7 (Meeting challenges and increasing efficiency in the water industry) at the 3rd European Water Conference which will take place during the Green Week.

IN THIS ISSUE

NEWS FROM BRUSSELS

Green Week 2012 dedicated to water

River basin management plans under the Water Framework Directive Water Framework Directive Further Priority Substances – Parliamentary rapporteur appointed EU-wide ban on phosphates in household detergents adopted

River basin management plans under the Water Framework Directive

The river basin management plans are the key planning instrument under the Water Framework

Directive (WFD). They were due by the end of 2009. An assessment as per May 2012 shows that the vast majority of Member States have established their river basin management plans: In 23 out of 27

Member States, plus in Norway, all plans are in place; in addition, plans for several regions are ready in those Member States still lagging behind in full completion. Read full article….

EU Funding Instruments 2014 – 2020 Common Agricultural Policy and Regional & Cohesion Policy European Parliament: vote on the review of the 6th Environment Action Programme and priorities for the 7th Environment Action Programme

Geographical scope of application of EU water legislation EU-wide Eurobarometer opinion poll: most Europeans realise the seriousness of water-related problems and support stronger EU action

Water Framework Directive: further priority substances – Parliamentary rapporteur appointed

The European Parliament on 13 March 2012 appointed Mr Richard Seeber (PPE/AT) as rapporteur, with the following MEPs acting as shadow rapporteur within other political groups: Kriton Arsenis

(S&D/GR), Holger Krahmer (ALDE/DE), Carl Schlyter (Verts/ALE/SE), Julie Girling (ECR/UK); abbreviations: PPE = Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats); S&D = Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament; ALDE = Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe; ECR = European Conservatives and Reformists Group; Verts/ALE = Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance)

Progress of the political and legislative debate can be followed here.

European Commission Communication on implementation of environmental legislation

Water-related recent press releases by European Commission and European Environment Agency European Parliament: During 2012 so far 66 Parliamentary questions related to water EWA INSIGHTS Latest news from EWA Dunbar Medal awarded to Philippe Duchene 16th International Symposium during IFAT ENTSORGA 2012

Public consultation on the issues important for the Water Blueprint

As reported in EWA News March 2012, the European Commission will by the end of 2012 present a Blueprint to Safeguard Europe’s Water Resources, assessing the

implementation and achievements of EU water policy as well as identify gaps and shortcomings. On the basis of this analysis, the Blueprint will identify actions to strengthen water policy and to address on-going vulnerability of the water environment. As part of the preparatory process, the Commission has published a consultation document and launched a public consultation (open between March and 6 June 2012).

Read the Commission consultation document. Participate in the consultation, as an academic or member of the general public, working in an NGO, working in a national administrative body, in a river basin authority or as another water manager, working in industry, working in an International Organisation, or other. Link to the questionnaire

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

22 - 25 May 2012

Green Week 2012

12th edition of Green Week, the

biggest annual conference on

European environmental policy

Brussels, Belgium

http://www.efaep.org/ Visit the EWA stand at the Green

Week 2012! Stand No. 29

30 - 31 May 2012

MaSzeSz Conference

Water Infrastructure development

and operation - cross cooperation in

the CEE region 2012

Lajosmizse, Hungary Programm

18 - 29 June 2012

Joint IWA, DWA and EWA

Workshop "Set up and Development of a Water Association" Hennef, Germany Download the description of the

workshop and application form For more information and registration please contact langel(at)dwa.de

EU-wide ban on phosphates in household detergents adopted

Household detergents, a

major source of phosphorus

input to our water environment, will in the future be

phosphate-free, following adoption of EU legislation

in March 2012. Read full article

Photo: Mass-growth of algae in the Baltic Sea Source: Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (Helsinki Commission), 2009 http://www.helcom.fi

15 - 20 July 2012

dex Summer School in

cooperation with EWA On water quality management Rottenbach, Austria www.expertenrat.org

26 – 27 July 2012

EWA/WEF/JSWA Joint Specialty

Conference

Cutting-edge Technologies and Best

Practices on Sewerage

Kobe, Japan

EU Funding Instruments 2014 – 2020 Common Agricultural Policy and Regional & Cohesion Policy

Two of the key EU funding instruments, the Common Agricultural Policy and the Regional & Cohesion Policy are currently covered by Regulations from 2006, for the period 2007 – 2013. Both the scope and the legislative basis are currently under political negotiation, based on Commission legislative proposals. Read full article

SAVE THE DATE

30 October 2012: 8th EWA Brussels Conference

31 October 2012: EWA EU Policy Workshop with Dr. Helmut Blöch

How to deal with Brussels For information and registration please contact Ms. Lorvik

European Parliament: vote on the review of the 6th Environment Action Programme and priorities for the 7th

Environment Action Programme (20 April 2012)

‘Water’ featuring high on the agenda

(see recitals C, D and H, and points 23, 34 and 35 of the resolution). Full text of the European

Parliament document here.

Graphics source: Wikipedia EN, Creative Commons license http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+REPORT+A7-2012-0048+0+DOC+PDF+V0//EN

Geographical scope of

application of EU water

legislation

EU water legislation applies

beyond the boundaries of the

European Union …

Read full article

Graphics source: Wikipedia EN, Creative Commons license http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:European_Economic_Area.svg

EU-wide Eurobarometer

opinion poll: most Europeans

realise the seriousness of

water-related problems and

support stronger EU action

Read full article

European Commission Communication on implementation of environmental legislation

In a communication of 7 March 2012, the European Commission underlined the crucial importance of proper implementation of EU environmental legislation, not least in economic terms. Read full article

Water-related recent press releases by European Commission and European Environment Agency

May 2012 Eco-innovation: The European Commission is launching a 34.8 million EUR call for eco-innovation projects. Businesses and entrepreneurs from across Europe can apply for funding to help bring novel environmental projects to the market. The call is open to eco-innovative products, techniques, services and processes that aim to prevent or reduce environmental impacts, or which contribute to the optimal use of resources. The call for applications is open until 6 September 2012, and around 50 projects will be selected for funding. Full reference Interested? Look for “2012 call for proposals -

application pack” here April 2012 Environment: Guidelines to limit soil sealing Press release

March 2012 “How agricultural and environmental interests meet together in the future CAP”: speech by EU Environment Commissioner Potočnik at the 5th Forum for Agriculture, Brussels, 27 March 2012 Press release

Italy: Failure to correctly transpose Water Framework Directive into national law Press release

EU-wide opinion poll: Europeans call for stronger EU action on water Eurobarometer 344, field work March 2012 in all EU27, publication March 2012 Press release

World Water Day 22 March 2012 – EU research on water Press release

6th World Water Forum, Marseille: “'Water democracy at work”: speech by EU Environment Commissioner Potočnik at Ministerial Conference 13 March 2012 Press release

6th World Water Forum, Marseille: “Achieving good ecological status of EU water bodies by 2015”: speech by EU Environment Commissioner Potočnik at Water Framework Directive Thematic Session 13 March 2012 Press release

Implementation of EU environmental legislation: Press release Questions and answers

State Aid: Investigation against Denmark into the reduction of, or exemption from, a Danish tax on the protection of drinking water Press release European Environment Agency: new report “Towards Efficient use of water resources in Europe”: Report Press release

February 2012 Poland to correctly transpose legislation concerning monitoring under the Water Framework Directive. Press release Commission takes France to the European Court of Justice for failing to combat water pollution by nitrates Press release

European Parliament: During 2012 so far 69 Parliamentary questions related to water

The high political profile attached to “water” is not least underlined by an increasing number of Parliamentary questions by Members of the European Parliament. The list below provides, for the period January to April 2012, author, political group, title and registration number of all water-related questions. The full text of the questions (by a considerable majority to the European Commission) and the replies by the institutions are available on the Website of the European Parliament here

For each question, the political group of the MEP in the European Parliament is set out in parenthesis, with the following abbreviations: PPE = Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats); S&D = Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament; ALDE = Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe; ECR = European Conservatives and Reformists Group; Verts/ALE = Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance; GUE/NGL = Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left; EFD = Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group; NI = non-attached.

May 2012 Zanoni (ALDE) “Testing of drinking water and failure to apply Directive 2003/4/EC on public access to environmental information” E-004662/12, 8 May 2012

Zanoni (ALDE) “Potential threat of groundwater pollution due to the Morganella gravel pit mined below the water table and located between the municipalities of Ponzano and Paese (Treviso)” E-004624/12, 7 May 2012

Rohde (ALDE) “The Water Framework Directive” E-004617/12, 7 May 2012

April 2012 Rossi (EFD) “Marine pollution and government responsibilities” E-004467/12, 27 April 2012

Tremosa i Balcells (ALDE) “Spanish Government's delay in drawing up and adopting river basin management plans” E-004406/12, 26 April 2012

Pietikäinen (PPE) and Hassi (Verts/ALE) “Discharges from the Talvivaara mine and the lack of intervention by Finnish authorities” E-004384/12, 26 April 2012

Tzavela (EFD) “Water reserves in Europe” E-004004/12, 18 April 2012

Tremosa i Balcells (ALDE) “Financing of the Segarra-Garrigues Canal Irrigation Plan II” E-003949/12,

16 April 2012

Tremosa i Balcells (ALDE) “Financing of the Segarra-Garrigues Canal irrigation project” E-003947/12,

16 April 2012

Grèze (Verts/ALE) “Pollution of the Uhabia river in Bidart and competitive water directives” E-003762/12, 12 April 2012

Morganti (EFD) “Drought in Tuscany” E-003590/12,

3 April 2012

Delvaux (PPE) “Expansion of vulnerable zones under the Nitrates Directive in Wallonia” E-003575/2012,

3 April 2012

March 2012

Sanchez-Schmid (PPE) “Drought in the Languedoc-Roussillon region” E-003320/12, 28 March 2012

Sanchez-Schmid (PPE) “Pollution in Lake Koka (Ethiopia)“ E-003319/12, 28 March 2012

Silvestris (PPE) “New research into water filter jugs” E-003304/12, 27 March 2012

Silvestris (PPE) “Venice and the risk of it disappearing” E-003301/12, 27 March 2012

Helmer (EFD) “Production and wholesale of electricity in Germany” E-003257/12, 27 March 2012

Rohde (ALDE) “Intercalibration of water courses” E-003251/12, 27 March 2012

Le Hyaric (GUE/NGL) “Negotiations on the final resolution for the Rio+20 United Nations Earth Summit and the basic right to water and sanitation” E-003232/12, 26 March 2012

Rossi (EFD) “Dried-up rivers” E-003177/12, 23 March 2012

Sommer (PPE) “Health information on minerals contained in mineral water” E-003051/12, 21 March 2012

Werthmann (NI) “Climate protection in Austria” E-

003050/12, 21 March 2012

Obermayr (NI) “Irrevocable destruction of the 'European Amazon' in Croatia” E-003032/12, 20 March 2012

Dăncilă (S&D) “Irrigation systems” E-003022/12, 20 March 2012

Pallone (PPE) “Mineral waters and the Directive on services in the internal market” P-002995/2012, 20 March 2012

Rossi (EFD) “Thirty million more people without

drinking water” E-002907/2012, 15 March 2012

Bearder (ALDE) “Israeli High Court judgment allowing the exploitation of West Bank quarries” E-002843/2012, 14 March 2012

Chountis (GUE/NGL) “Construction of a mine in the Kokkinari area of the prefecture of Fokida” E-002821/2012, 13 March 2012

Zanoni (ALDE) “Devastating environmental impact of the proposed construction of the Monte Nieddu-Is Canargius dam in violation of environmental protection directives” E-002814/2012, 13 March 2012

Rossi (EFD) “New bacteria and saltwater technique for renewable energy production” E-002775/2012, 12 March 2012

Melo (PPE) “Irrigation in the 2014-2020 common agricultural policy” E-002736/2012, 9 March 2012

Lange (S&D) “Implementation of the Water Framework Directive” E-002696/2012, 8 March 2012

Melo (PPE) “Meteorological disaster relief facility” E-002660/2012, 8 March 2012

Cramer (Verts/ALE) “Inclusion of the Elbe in the trans-European networks” E-002639/2012, 8 March 2012

Rohde (ALDE) ”Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC)” E-002528/2012, 6 March 2012

Tănăsescu (S&D) “The impact of medicines on the aquatic environment” P-002490/2012, 5 March 2012

Ferreira (GUE/NGL) “Support for farmers affected by the prolonged drought” P-002478/2012, 5 March 2012

Rossi (EFD) “UNICEF: protecting children living in slums” E-002472/2012, 2 March 2012

Rossi (EFD) “Unsustainable imports” E-002469/2012, 2 March 2012

Patrão Neves (PPE) “Drought in Portugal” P-002462/2012, 2 March 2012

Fernandes (PPE) “Drought in Portugal” P-002461/2012, 2 March 2012

February 2012

Miranda (Verts/ALE) “Use of European public funds in Ourense (Galicia)” E-002272/2012, 29 February 2012

Nicholson (ECR) “Post-2015 Millennium Development Goals” E-002257/2012, 28 February 2012

Tremosa i Balcells (ALDE) “Reality of production in the south of the EU” E-002232/2012, 28 February 2012

Tremosa i Balcells (ALDE) “Delay by the Spanish Government in drafting and adopting river basin management plans” E-002229/2012, 28 February 2012

Arsenis (S&D) “Migration of bisphenol A into drinking water” E-002164/2012, 24 February 2012

Legutko (ECR) “Inclusion of the River Oder in the list of priority projects within the TEN-T Core Network (Baltic - Adriatic Corridor, Annex 1 CEF)” E-002154/2012, 23 February 2012 to the Commission, and E-002153/2012, 23 February 2012 to the Council

Meyer (GUE/NGL) “Water privatisation: 'Canal de Isabel II', a public enterprise that plans and manages the complete water cycle in the Community of Madrid” E-002146/2012, 23 February 2012

Meyer (GUE/NGL) “Water privatisation: 'Aguas Ter-Llobregat', public water supply company in Catalonia” E-002112/2012, 22 February 2012

Ferreira (GUE/NGL) “The situation of irrigation in Portugal and the investment needed”

E-002096/2012, 22 February 2012

Hassi (Verts/ALE) “Breaches of the IPPC Directive and the Water Framework Directive in the application process for peat production permits in Finland” E-001889/2012, 16 February 2012

Zanoni (ALDE) “Request to prohibit further disposal of waste at the Pescantina (Verona) waste disposal site, which is already polluting the water table” E-001843/12, 15 February 2012

Langen (PPE) “Action by the Commission in response to shortcomings in the implementation of the 'Waste Water Directive' (91/271/EEC)” E-001793/12, 14 February 2012

Romeva i Rueda (Verts/ALE) “The new Spanish government's water policy” E-001569/12,

9 February 2012

Hassi (Verts/ALE) “Disposal of 'composted' mixed hazardous and non-hazardous waste on Hungarian red mud tailings pond: compliance with water and Natura legislation” E-001441/2012, 7 February 2012

Higgins (PPE) “Sustainable water use” E-001379/2012, 6 February 2012

Bearder (ALDE) “Regulation of hydraulic fracturing in the EU” E-001357/2012, 6 February 2012

Salvini (EFD) “Issues related to the Services Feio (PPE) “Environmental crime: Construction of the Ribeira da Cortes dam, Covilhã” P-001211/2012,

1 February 2012

January 2012

Feio (PPE) “Arsenic in Italian water, European checks” E-001128/2012, 31 January 2012

Higgins (PPE) “Water conservation” E-000675/2012, 23 January 2012

Chountis (GUE/NGL) “Contaminated bottled water” E-000543/2012, 18 January 2012

Zanoni (ALDE) “Immediate protection for Venice against the risks posed by large cruise ships entering the lagoon and urgent measures to avoid further disasters such as that which occurred off the island of Giglio” P-000469/2012, 17 January 2012

Winkler (PPE) “Urban waste-water policy: implementation of Directive 91/271/EEC, as amended by Directives 98/15/EC and 2000/60/EC” E-000344/2012, 12 January 2012

Gerbrandy (ALDE) “Water Framework Directive: Phasing out of cost recovery for water services in the Netherlands” E-000316/2012, 12 January 2012

Tremopoulos (Verts/ALE) “New dam on the River Aliakmonas in Nestorio, Kastoria” E-000198/2012, 11 January 2012

Tremopoulos (Verts/ALE) “Violation of environmental legislation by an olive-pomace oil extraction plant in Vassiliki in Lefkada” E-000157/2012, 10 January 2012

Seeber, Auconie, Sârbu, Gerbrandy, Hassi, Ouzký and Wils, on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety “6th World Water Forum in Marseille, 12-17 March 2012” O-000013/2012, 25 January 2012

EWA INSIGHTS

Latest news from EWA

William Dunbar Medal awarded to Philippe Duchène Hennef/Munich, 07 May 2012. In the framework of the opening ceremony of IFAT 2012, the William Dunbar Medal was awarded to Mr. Phillippe Duchène. The Medal was awarded by the President of the European Water Association (EWA), Professor Pertti Seuna (Finland), The Parliamentary State Secretary for the Minister of the Environment, Nature Conservation and

Nuclear Safety, Katharina Reiche, and the Bavarian Secretary of State for Health, Dr. Huber. Mr. Duchène was bestowed with this prize in recognition of his outstanding contributions to applied technical development in the field of sewage and waste treatment and disposal. Read full press release

16th International Symposium on Water, Wastewater, Solid Waste, Energy Hennef/ Munich May 2012 – On 7 May 2012, IFAT ENTSORGA – the world’s leading trade fair for the water, sewage, refuse and recycling - opened for the 17th time on the premises of the New Trade Fair in Munich. From 08 – 09 May 2012 the visitors were offered an international programme with a wide variety of topics: The European Water Association (EWA), the German Association for Water, Wastewater and Waste (DWA), the Association of Local Utilities (VKU) and the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) jointly invited the visitors of IFAT to the 16th International Symposium on “Water, Wastewater, Solid Waste, Energy”. During the joint event there were two Symposiums; on Sustainable Water Management and on Sustainable Solid Waste Management. A so-called “Municipal Day” was also held during IFAT. The detailed programme of the symposiums can be found on the homepage of the European Water Association (www.ewa-online.eu). For proceedings of the Symposium on Sustainable Water Management please contact Ms. Kloefkorn

Contact

European Water Association - Headquarters

Theodor-Heuss-Allee 17 D-53773 Hennef Germany Phone: +49 2242 872 189 Fax: +49 2242 872 135 E-Mail: info@EWA-online.eu

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