WRITTEN QUESTION E-3553/01

by Eurig Wyn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Subject: Revision of the 1976 EC Bathing Water Directive

There are millions of water users who use Europe's coastal and inland waters each year. Would the Commission agree that a number of changes to the legislation should be made in order that these water users get the protection they deserve?

Will the Commission ensure that when this directive is revised, the following will be incorporated:

1. a broadening of the concept of bathing waters to take into account those waters heavily used by citizens participating in water contact recreation;

2. acknowledgement of the year round nature of water use at certain locations;

3. the development of a standard and methodology that will give the best possible health protection;

4. accessible, up to date information to enable the public to make an informed choice about which waters they use, and when.

Will the Commission take into account that the above proposals will not only benefit the water user but also the tourism and leisure industry?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(25 February 2002)

In order to protect the health of numerous bathers the Commission currently revises the Council Directive 76/160/EEC of 8 December 1975 concerning the quality of bathing water(1) hereafter the 1976 Directive. When preparing this revision, the Commission published in December 2000 a Communication(2) to the Parliament and the Council and has organised a wide public and stakeholder consultation.

1. From this consultation it is apparent that the scope of the 1976 Directive should be reviewed in the light of modern recreational practices. In fact, nowadays water activities are not just bathing and swimming but encompass several water sports.

2. The bathing season may vary according to geographical and regional conditions. However, during the consultation no consensus could be reached to formally extend bathing seasons throughout the year, because at most locations the number of bathers would be very limited during the colder months. As a consequence, the revised Bathing Water Directive will not foresee bacteriological monitoring of beaches throughout the entire year. The general water quality of inland and coastal waters is however subject to the Urban Wastewater Directive(3), the Nitrates Directive(4), the Water Framework Directive(5) and the relating monitoring schemes. Moreover, the Water Framework Directive foresees the concept of Good Ecological Status for all European waters.

3. The revised directive will foresee a standard for monitoring and analysis. Scientific research indicates that stringent bacteriological parameter thresholds are only meaningful in conjunction with a standard testing methodology.

4. One of the weak points of the 1976 Directive was communication with the public. The revised Directive will take into account the new state of the art in (electronic) communication and will plan better and faster information. This communication will take place on two levels. First, a messaging system on the beaches will show beach and water status. Secondly, a wider information system (for example on the Internet) will exist, allowing the public to be aware of bathing water quality before reaching the beach. Both systems will deliver frequently updated information.

The Commission believes that the revision of the Bathing Water Directive will not only have a positive effect on public health. It will also be beneficial for the tourism and leisure industry in terms of improved public information provisions on beach and water status which will provide good publicity.

(1) OJ L 31, 5.2.1976.

(2) COM(2000) 860 final (http://www.europa.eu.int/water/water-bathing/index_en.html).

(3) OJ L 135, 30.5.1991 and OJ L 67, 7.3.1998.

(4) OJ L 375, 31.12.1991.

(5) OJ L 327, 22.12.2000.