The European Parliament adopted a legislative resolution approving the Council's position at first reading with a view to the adoption of a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the quality of water intended for human consumption (recast).
The Council's position at first reading reflects the agreement reached between the Parliament and the Council in the framework of the interinstitutional negotiations at the early second reading stage.
The overarching objective of the recast proposal is to ensure a high level of protection of the environment and of human health from the adverse effects of contaminated drinking water. The current revision also aims to address the first-ever successful European citizens' initiative, entitled 'Right2Water'.
The recast proposal :
- updates water quality standards,
- introduces a risk-based approach to water monitoring,
- improves water quality information that is provided to consumers and improves access to water;
- sets out minimum hygiene requirements for materials in contact with drinking water.
In a declaration on delegated acts annexed to the legislative resolution, the Commission regrets the decision of the co-legislators to limit its empowerment to amend the Annexes of the revised Drinking Water Directive to Annex III, whereas the Commission had requested an empowerment to amend Annexes I to IV in its original proposal.
In particular, the Commission regrets that the co-legislators did not agree on an empowerment to amend Annex II, which is particularly necessary in light of the need to update the monitoring requirements set out in Annex II to scientific and technical progress.
In a declaration on the procedure for the adoption of implementing acts, the Commission underlines that it is contrary to the letter and spirit of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 on ‘comitology’ to invoke point (b) of the second subparagraph of Article 5(4) without appropriate justification.