Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2011-12-13-Speech-2-593-000"
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"en.20111213.35.2-593-000"2
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"Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, water and phosphates form a close bond. I would like to begin with water: water, in both the literal and figurative sense, is an elixir of life for us. In the European Water Framework Directive and its related directives, we have created an instrument that can ensure good quality in our waters throughout Europe. Phosphate is also a central component of life without which nothing can exist in this world. It is a finite resource, however, and high-quality sources of phosphate are beginning to dry up.
The amendment of the detergents regulation and the ban on phosphates in household cleaning agents now achieves two targets. We are reducing consumption of this valuable resource, while at the same time preventing eutrophication in our waters. Water does not recognise borders. Water quality and water hardness do vary greatly in the different Member States, however, and, as a result, our measures must be variable too.
For example, there is a major phosphate problem in the Baltic Sea and in the Danube. Other countries have phosphate levels well under control thanks to good sewage treatment plants. Phosphate is filtered out and treated for reuse. Nonetheless, the old principle still applies: prevention is better than cure. Thus, if we can do without phosphates in detergents, we should do so. In my own country, Germany, there have been no phosphates in detergents for the last twenty years. This proves that phosphates are not essential.
There is a particular need for action in switching to phosphate-free detergents in countries with a poorly developed water treatment infrastructure, particularly in Southern and Eastern Europe. For this reason, I welcome the fact that we will be able to impose an EU-wide ban on phosphates in detergents, starting in 2013.
Acting on an initiative from Parliament, the Council now also accepts Parliament’s call for a ban on phosphates in dishwasher detergents from 2017 onwards. This blanket ban increases the pressure on businesses to innovate and will oblige them to develop good, phosphate-free dishwasher detergents. There are already good alternatives available which are marketed in several Member States with soft water. Thus, the new regulation also allows Member States to introduce a ban earlier than 2017. In comparison with other impact sources, such as human waste, the impact from dishwasher detergent is very low. In the interests of a sustainable economy, however, we must avoid the use of phosphates wherever possible.
I would like to express my thanks to the rapporteur, Mr Newton Dunn, for his excellent work, to the Polish Presidency for its commitment to seeing this issue through, and, of course, to the Commission for the good model provided. We have achieved a good result and can conclude the first reading with a clear conscience."@en1
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