Ms Urve Erikson, Member of Tudulinna Municipality Council, presented her opinion 'Priority substances in the field of water policy at the CoR Plenary Session on 30 November'. She supports the Commission's proposal for a revised priority list – a group of substances shown to be a major concern for European waters – in a fight to ensure cleaner, safer water for EU citizens. The opinion stresses the necessity to include pharmaceutical substances on the priority list.

 

Ms Erikson explained that: "In a situation where water resources in the world are increasingly scarce, the future will favour those countries and regions where water is protected". She added: "Hazardous substances, pose a significant risk to the aquatic environment throughout the whole European Union, which is why no concessions should be made on water and environmental protection standards".

Ms Erikson pointed out that steps must be taken to ensure that measures are cost-effective and that Member States as well as local and regional authorities should be given enough time and additional resources, to be able to implement provisions that ensure good water quality.