MEPs called on member states this month to implement a 1991 directive which requires them to produce action plans to tackle the problem of water pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources. These nitrates can end up in drinking water leading potentially to serious health problems. These pose a particular threat to babies and can cause "blue baby syndrome".
Nitrates can also lead to eutrophication, which causes an accelerated growth of algae and other plant life to produce an imbalance in the organisms present in water. Patricia McKenna (Dublin, Greens) condemned EU governments for failing fully to implement the directive. She warned that even if the present trends towards more intensive farming use were reversed, it would take up to 30 years before Europe's surface and ground waters were healthy again. Indeed in some areas it might take up to 50 years before an ecologically sound situation was restored.
Although the 1991 directive requires member states to produce action plans for tackling the problem by the end of 1995 at the latest, by the Spring of 1998 only six countries had done so. Both Ireland and Britain had failed to do so, and a total of 13 member states were the subject of infringement proceedings for failing to implement the directive or for applying it incorrectly. Ireland, Ms McKenna warned, was trying to "define the nitrates problem away" by claiming that there were no problems. She also pointed to the worrying situation with high nitrate levels in East Anglia and other parts of southern England.
Other speakers in the debate were critical of the poor record of the member states. However, Liam Hyland (Leinster, UFE) could not accept that the Irish Government and Irish farmers were hindering environmental protection. Farmers, he declared, were the protectors of the natural environment. Nevertheless, they would require compensation for many of the measures involved.
Commissioner Neil Kinnock was also unhappy with the slow pace of implementation of the directive, which he declared to be "indefensible and completely unacceptable". Action was being taken against member states and more such cases were on the horizon if countries did not implement a directive which they themselves had adopted. Mr Kinnock was also unable to accept that further funds were needed from the Commission to help member states to implement the directive as it was a mandatory requirement.