WRITTEN QUESTION E-3196/97 by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission (16 October 1997)

Subject: Water pollution in Ireland

An organization from the West of Ireland, the Carra Mask Angling Federation, has recently made a submission to the European Commission on moves by the Irish Government to curb the overuse of phosphates in farming, which has caused serious water pollution.

The submission was in response to a strategy document published by the Irish Department of the Environment, Managing Ireland's Rivers and Lakes.

The Angling Federation argues that the best way to reduce water pollution is to apply the 'polluter pays' principle by introducing a tax on phosphate applications, which it believes would result in a substantial decrease in their use in agriculture.

As much EU legislation subscribes to the 'polluter pays' principle, would the Commisison favour the implementation of such a tax? What action will it take on the basis of the recommendations made by the Carra Mask Angling Federation?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (20 November 1997)

The Community's fifth action programme 'Towards a sustainable development' ((OJ C 140, 11.5.1996. )) sets out various approaches to environmental pollution complementing each other, such as setting emission limit values and water quality criteria, and strengthening the 'polluter pays' principle.

The proposed water framework directive ((OJ C 184, 17.6.1997. )) would oblige Member States to achieve good status for all their waters (groundwater and surface waters) by 2010, and, following a combined approach of emission limit values and water quality objectives, to establish and implement legally binding programmes of measures where the body of water in question does not yet achieve the objective of good status. However, the proposal also states that, following a first step of 'full cost recovery' charges for services related to water, the Commission should, if appropriate, come forward with proposals concerning environmental and resource costs of impacts to waters as well.

Further, in its communication on environmental taxes and charges in the single market ((COM(97) 9 final. )) the Commission has expressed its support for an increased use of fiscal instruments by Member States to make environmental policy more efficient and cost-effective, as long as these environmental taxes and charges are used and implemented in a way compatible with Community legislation. This communication lays out the essential conditions (possibilities and constraints) for such compatibility of fiscal instruments with the framework of the single market. It does not discuss the advantages and disadvantages in terms of economic efficiency and environmental effectiveness of using environmental levies at Member State level. In general, however, the Commission appreciates their scope for more cost-effective environmental policy and acknowledges that environmental taxes and charges can be an appropriate way of implementing the 'polluter pays' principle, by including the environmental costs in the price for goods and services.

Finally, Council Directive 76/464/EEC ((OJ C 129, 18.5.1976, p. 23. )) on the discharge of dangerous substances obliges Member States to establish and implement programmes concerning the pollution reduction of certain dangerous substances. As phosphorus compounds are listed amongst the dangerous substances, and Ireland has not fully established the necessary programmes, the Commission has opened proceedings under Article 169 of the EC Treaty.