It ensures that in the Region of Murcia, among other autonomies, additional measures should be adopted since those established so far have been insufficient to achieve the objectives of the Directive
The European Commission decides to refer Spain to the Court of Justice of the European Union for not having taken sufficient measures against nitrate pollution. The aim of the European Green Deal is for the EU to achieve zero pollution, which will benefit public health, the environment and climate neutrality.
Under the Nitrates Directive (Council Directive 91/676 / EEC), Member States must monitor their waters and identify those affected or likely to be affected by pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources. They are also obliged to classify the surfaces whose runoff flows into these waters as areas vulnerable to nitrates and to establish appropriate action programs to prevent and reduce pollution from this cause.
The Commission sent a letter of formal notice to Spain in November 2018 and a reasoned opinion in June 2020 in which it pointed out that Spain did not comply with the provisions of the Nitrates Directive.
Despite some limited progress, Spain has yet to adopt additional measures to prevent eutrophication throughout the country, as those established to date have failed to achieve the Directive’s objectives. In addition, it should review and continue to designate zones vulnerable to nitrates in seven regions (Castilla y León, Extremadura, Galicia, Baleares, Canarias, Madrid and Comunidad Valenciana), include all the mandatory elements necessary in the action programs of five regions (Aragon , Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, Extremadura and Madrid) and adopt additional measures in the four regions in which the established measures have been insufficient to achieve the objectives of the Nitrates Directive (Aragón, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León and Murcia).
The Commission considers that, to date, the efforts made by the Spanish authorities have been unsatisfactory and insufficient, which is why it has decided to refer Spain to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Context
The Nitrates Directive (Council Directive 91/676 / EEC) aims to protect water quality throughout Europe by preventing contamination of ground and surface water from agricultural sources and promoting the use of good agricultural practices . Excessive nitrate levels can damage freshwater and the marine environment through a process known as ‘eutrophication’, by stimulating the overgrowth of algae that suffocate other life forms and kill fish in lakes and rivers.
Removing excess nitrates from drinking water is also a very expensive process. The Nitrates Directive contributes to achieving the objectives of the Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60 / EC) and is one of the key instruments in protecting water from agricultural pressures.
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