Mr Van Miert did say, however, that talks were already taking place with the Belgian and Dutch authorities to ensure that there will be a much fairer distribution of tickets for the European Championships to be held in the Netherlands and Belgium in the year 2000. The big clean up New regulations setting permitted levels in drinking water of pesticides, disinfectants, lead and copper come into force after a Council common position was approved in Parliament this month. Member States will be free to introduce stricter standards if considered necessary. As far as lead is concerned, MEPs want the Member States to be given 10 rather than 15 years to comply with new levels. Each state should come up with a plan to remove all lead piping from homes.
Parliament also wants to see a reduction in radioactivity levels in water.
Three further measures approved are designed to cut back drastically on air pollution levels, especially from car fumes, and dust and sulphur dioxide emissions from power stations. The measures are designed to reduce the 40,000 premature deaths a year in Europe resulting from breathing difficulties, especially asthma, aggravated by air pollution. It is also intended to set up measuring stations which would enable alert warnings to be issued when danger levels are reached in cities. At present, it is estimated that seven out of 10 EU cities cannot meet the new limits. A move to reduce the threat of acid rain was also approved.