See question(s): E-000827/2022
EN
E-000827/2022
Answer given by Mr Sinkevičius on behalf of the European Commission
(21.4.2022)
In the overall context of the European Green Deal 1 , EU policy on water scarcity and droughts is implemented through the EU water acquis 2. Under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) 3, Member States are required to ensure good ecological and chemical status of water bodies at the latest by 2027, unless duly justified in accordance with the WFD. For groundwaters, good quantitative and chemical status must be ensured by the same deadline, including in Brandenburg.
Furthermore, Member States are required to prepare river basin management plans and drought management plans, where relevant, in order to ensure a sufficient amount of good quality water for all users and the environment. The Commission assesses them and issues a report with recommendations 4. The 3rd generation of river basin management plans is due to be reported by 22 March 2022. Given the increasing impacts of climate change on water resources in Europe and growing demands for water supply, the Commission will carefully assess Member States’ approach to address increasing water scarcity, as well as climate adaptation measures. This will include Brandenburg.
Any economic activity having a potential impact on the status of water bodies, including the Tesla factory in Brandenburg, must be subject to an appropriate assessment and a permit for the use of water resources must be issued, including necessary mitigation measures. The permitting procedure falls under the remit of Member States’ competence. The Commission is in the process of assessing the functioning of national compliance assurance systems, including in respect of permitting procedures for water abstraction, and will define appropriate actions accordingly.
1 https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en
2 https://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/index_en.htm
3 Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a
framework for Community action in the field of water policy, OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1–73, as amended by
Commission Directive 2014/101/EU of 30 October 2014, OJ L 311, 31.10.2014, p. 32–35.
4 The 5th Implementation report on the 2nd RBMPs https://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:bee2c9d9-
39d2-11e9-8d04-01aa75ed71a1.0005.02/DOC_1&format=PDF
Source: Answer to a written question – Brandenburg Tesla factory and water supply – E-000827/2022(ASW)
© European Union, 2022 – EP