WRITTEN QUESTION E-0102/04 by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission. Paying for water.
Date: 2004-01-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: consumer price, fixing of prices, polluter pays principle, water management

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/533

All these people have done is to voice a critical opinion of the regime led by General Khin Nyunt by
denouncing the misdeeds, abuses and harassment which the people of Burma have been suffering for too
long now. The members of this dictatorship have,
in fact, over the years, spirited away international
donations to the value of several million dollars which were actually intended for the world of sport, to
construct and renovate facilities, purchase sports equipment and clothing, and promote football
throughout the country.

The military government, on the other hand, has gone so far as to appropriate funds earmarked for sport,
without the merest fraction of the money received being allocated to the ends for which it was intended,
in order to maintain the current system, which is corrupt, repressive and flies in the face of the most
fundamental democratic principles.

In practice, a criticism and negative opinion of this corrupt system has been transformed into an ‘illegal’
conspiracy against the state, and therefore one punishable by death.

Will the Commission use the powers conferred upon it to intervene to ensure the suspension and
revocation of this death sentence, thereby saving the lives of the nine accused, and to safeguard the most
fundamental principles of civilisation and democracy that should be applied to all citizens of a democratic
nation, in line with the dictates of the European Union?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(18 February 2004)

The Commission remains deeply concerned about the death sentences issued on 28 November 2003
against Zaw Thet Htway and eight of his colleagues, as was expressed in the EU declaration of
31 December 2003 on the Death Penalty in Myanmar.

The Commission and the EU as a whole are committed to working towards the universal abolition of the
death penalty. To this effect, specific EU guidelines on the death penalty were adopted in 1998. According
to these guidelines, certain minimum standards should be respected in States that still apply the death
penalty. One requirement is that procedural guarantees for a fair trial must be respected.

The Commission will continue, together with the Member States, to follow this case very closely in view of
possible further action.

The political commitment of the Commission and the EU as a whole to the universal abolition of the death
penalty is supported by Community funding under the European Initiative for Democracy and Human
Rights (EIDHR). The fight against the death penalty has been identified as one of the four priority areas of
action for this initiative. This enables the Commission to fund projects that aim at raising awareness in
retentionist countries as regards both public opinion and the judiciary.

(2004/C 84 E/0610)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0102/04

by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission

(22 January 2004)

Subject: Paying for water

In light of current Community legislation and the ‘polluter pays’ principle, does the Commission believe
that water consumption should be paid for, whether totally or partly,
in proportion to the amount
consumed?

If so, can the Commission find a basis for this in the current legal framework?

C 84 E/534

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(4 March 2004)

The Community has, through the Water Framework Directive (1), thoroughly restructured its water policy.
One of the key elements of the Directive is the principle of supporting environmental objectives by
economic instruments, in particular water pricing reflecting the costs.

By 2010, based on economic analysis and participation of citizens and stakeholders, Member States will
have to ensure adequate pricing of water-related services, reflecting the principle of recovery of costs.

To this purpose, Member States have to ensure by that date:

(cid:1) that water pricing policies provide adequate incentives for the users to use water resources efficiently,

and thereby contribute to the environmental objectives of the Directive;

(cid:1) that an adequate contribution of

households and agriculture,
economic analysis due by the end of 2004 and taking into account the polluter pays principle.

the different water uses, disaggregated into at

industry,
is made to the recovery of the costs of water services, based on an

least

Details of how to charge for water use are, within the above framework, the responsibility of Member
States. In this context Member States will have some discretion to apply the principle of cost recovery,
having regard to the social, environmental and economic effects of the recovery as well as the geographic
and climatic conditions of the region or regions concerned. At the same time, the principle of cost
recovery does not prevent the funding of particular measures such as preventive or remedial measures.

(1) 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.

(2004/C 84 E/0611)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0103/04

by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission

(22 January 2004)

Subject: Water for human consumption

Can the Commission tell me whether direct or indirect references in European legislation to minimum
pressure levels for water for private consumption are being respected?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(5 March 2004)

There are no criteria set out in Community environmental legislation for minimum pressure levels for
water supplied by distribution systems.

The Drinking Water Directive (1) of 1998 establishes clear and binding criteria for the quality of drinking
water from the tap provided to consumers of water supply systems.

(1) Council Directive 98/83/EC of 3 November 1998 concerning the quality of water

intended for human

consumption, OJ L 330, 5.12.1998.