WRITTEN QUESTION E-2019/01 by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission. Mediterranean Sea.
Date: 2001-07-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU environmental policy, Mediterranean Sea, environmental impact, saltwater, water treatment

C 40 E/164

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.2.2002

(2002/C 40 E/175)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2019/01

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(13 July 2001)

Subject: Mediterranean Sea

Does the Commission have any concerns about the long-term effects of the growing use of desalination
plants on the ecology and biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea?

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(6 September 2001)

The principle of sea water desalination is to remove the salt from sea water by a technical process (by
distillation, nowadays particularly by pressure filtration through very fine membranes), resulting on the
one hand in freshwater of the desired quality for drinking water supply etc. and on the other hand (cid:129) in
much smaller quantity (cid:129) of brines, sea water with a higher concentration of salt.

Possible impacts of desalination plants on the aquatic environment to be considered are therefore related
to the discharge of brines, in particular to higher salt concentrations and temperatures at a local level, plus
the use of chemicals used for pretreatment and/or cleaning. According to experience available, such impact
can largely vary from close to zero impact to considerable impact, depending on the location and details of
the process. This is why within the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) studies have commenced. MAP is
dedicated to the protection of the Mediterranean under the auspices of the United Nations Environment
Programme and the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea (1). This action is to
lead to a comprehensive document with an assessment of impacts as well as mitigation measures.

Community environmental
binding and enforceable instrument.

legislation has, through the new Water Framework Directive (2), a legally

The Directive addresses all impacts on water quality, including those from desalination plants. For surface
waters including coastal waters the objective is to ensure good ecological status. Such ecological status
addresses the quality of water in a holistic way, in terms of its biology and functioning of the ecosystem, as
well as morphological and physico-chemical components.

The necessary operational tools for achieving this objective (comprehensive analysis of all impacts on
waters; management plans and programmes of measures, as well as a permit procedure for all relevant
abstractions or discharges) will ensure that all impacts on coastal waters including those from desalination
plants are properly taken into account and the necessary measures taken.

The Commission will carefully observe technical and scientific developments, facilitate where appropriate
exchange of information and experience, and scrutinize the proper implementation of the Directive,
including achieving the objective of achieving/maintaining good ecological water status.

(1) Ratification by Council Decision 77/585/EEC of 25.7.1977 (OJ L 240, 19.9.1977), as amended by Council Decision

1999/802/EC, 22.10.1999 (OJ L 322, 14.12.1999).

(2) Directive 2000/60/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for

Community action in the field of water policy (OJ L 327, 22.12.2000).

(2002/C 40 E/176)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2020/01

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(13 July 2001)

Subject: Accession negotiations with Cyprus (cid:129) Environment charter

Is the Commission satisfied that Cypriot legislation requiring the safe collection and disposal of CFCs not
only exists but is being put into practice?