MEPs debate on updated rules on the collection, treatment and discharge of urban wastewater to better protect the environment and human health.The Environment Committee adopted its position in September. The report calls for treated wastewater from urban wastewater treatment plants to be reused more widely to prevent water scarcity. MEPs want chemical pollutants (including “forever chemicals”), microplastics, pathogens and antimicrobial resistance to be monitored more. They also agree that a system of extended producer responsibility (EPR) should be set up for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, which require additional treatment for micro-pollutants. Opening statements by Nils TORVALDS (Renew, FI), Rapporteur and Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please cehck agaisnt delivery.

statement

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

TORVALDS, Nils (Renew, FI)

ŠUICA, Dubravka (EPP, HR, EC)

water policy (T)

Urban wastewater treatment: opening statements by Nils TORVALDS (Renew, FI), Rapporteur and Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography

SOUNDBITE (English), Nils TORVALDS (Renew, FI), Rapporteur, President. Commissioner. I would like to start by thanking my shadow rapporteurs for the Good Spirit during the negotiations. Despite the very different circumstances, we were able to bridge most of the dividing issues for the issues where we did not. I try to explain my concerns.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nils TORVALDS (Renew, FI), Rapporteur, First of all, energy neutrality. I'm more than able to understand the challenges we have in European cities, where human beings have been building structures, houses, arenas for the last 2000 to 3000 years. When you try to go in and build something in circumstances like that, you are sure to run into difficulties in the middle of a finish nowhere. It's much easier to find solutions to some of these challenges because the circumstances are so different.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nils TORVALDS (Renew, FI), Rapporteur, In some places you're just boxed in, as in the case of Brussels, between the rail trunk lines and the factory. And if you have to go to church or, of course, ordinary water treatment, in some cases you either have to go down or up. And when you go down or up, you're going to get more cost and more demanding, more energy. The biggest issue during the negotiation was the extended producer responsibility here.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nils TORVALDS (Renew, FI), Rapporteur, I personally ran into a moral conflict. In my extended family we had two cases of severe cancer. The person was given a life expectancy of three months. This is something very many people in my age and many much younger are facing every day. Today, many cases of severe cancer are treated. And what was one day seemed to be a remaining lifespan of three months is then turned into a normal life.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nils TORVALDS (Renew, FI), Rapporteur, This was also the case in my example for a fever, but looked as the end of life turned into a flowering possibility. In this understanding, the pharmaceutical industry is fulfilling a societal task, and that has to be taken into account when we divide the responsibility. This was what I tried to do, and I would very much like to see this issue being taken care of.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nils TORVALDS (Renew, FI), Rapporteur, We have similar cases in the history of COVID. The record breaking time scientists, pharma companies succeeded in finding a remedy actually saved lots of life. We don't know how many thousands or millions of lives saved, but the fact is that lives were saved.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nils TORVALDS (Renew, FI), Rapporteur, We cannot calculate it but we know for sure that this is a fact. At the same time, the pharma industry new in the European Union is under severe pressure from both U.S. and China. Therefore, we had to find a middle ground in the negotiations and I would be more than happy to see this coming to true. Thank you so much.

SOUNDBITE (English), Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography, Let me start by thanking the rapporteur, Mr. Torvalds, the shadow rapporteurs from the Entry Committee and the rapporteur of the agri committee, Mr. Hoytema, for the excellent work done to advance on this file. The report presented here today preserves both the main elements of the proposal and the spirit of the Directive.

SOUNDBITE (English), Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography, This directive is more than 30 years old. It has served Europe very well. It has clearly helped improve the quality of our rivers, lakes and seize the opportunity to revise. It comes once in a generation. It is vital that we get it right. Our task is to ensure that its scope and ambition adapted to the challenges of today and of the years to come.

SOUNDBITE (English), Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography, It needs to be strengthened. It needs to help us. Tackling the accelerating and intertwined planetary crisis addressed by the European Green Deal, the widespread eutrophication of our water bodies. To take one example, calls for a stronger approach to nutrient management. My plea is that you do not allow exemptions, especially in areas that eutrophication continues to be a major issue on energy neutrality.

SOUNDBITE (English), Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography, Let me be clear this goal can be achieved. We know this because it is already happening in several member States. Steering and accompanying the waste water sector towards the goal with financial measures if necessary, without necessarily opening the door to energy purchases from other sources has many advantages. It will also be a more cost effective path towards strategic autonomy and independence from fossil fuel sources that Europe needs. On extended producer responsibility.

SOUNDBITE (English), Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography, I remain convinced that the industry should cover the full cost of the additional treatment needed to treat the residues of their products. The studies supporting our impact assessments are clear. Applying this system will not make pharmaceuticals and cosmetics less accessible or more expensive over time. It would give producers a greater incentive to deliver greener, toxic free products while also improving the governance of the sector.

SOUNDBITE (English), Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography, This is in line with the polluter pays principle, a core principle of the European Union treaties. This is a great opportunity to apply this principle in practice, and let's take it. Dear Honourable members at a time when too little or too much. Water is becoming a major issue in all Member States. We have a chance to help tip the balance. The revision we propose will help modernise the European Union based water sector.

SOUNDBITE (English), Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography, With these proposals, we can make it a major provider of a high quality renewable water reuse, reusable water, critical raw materials, clean energy and nature based solutions for water related impacts of climate change. This is in line with the climate neutral pollution, free nature, nature, positive and circular objectives we have for the European economy and for citizens across the Union. Thank you.