Water policy: quality of bathing water

By adopting the report on bathing water the committee has set out the lines for a future EU water policy. The rapporteur, Mr Doeke EISMA (ELDR, NL) welcomed the proposals by Council and Commission, but had, with other MEPs, tabled a great number of amendments to ensure that the future water policy of the Community will, indeed, be "watertight". In June 1995, the environment committee held a public hearing, the main conclusion of which was that there is an urgent need to review the existing series of water quality directives and decisions. Rapporteur EISMA, who had made a very critical analysis of the provisions and of the microbiological and physico-chemical parameters in the annexes of the proposed directive, accepted amendments on the definition of "bathing water of a good quality" and of "bathing seasons". The rapporteur regretted that the Commission has not yet adopted a more systematic approach to water policy, which ought to begin by determining the general principles and strategies to be adhered to, followed by proposals appropriate to the various types of water. �