(2004/C 33 E/116)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1413/03

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(23 April 2003)

Subject:   Sewage disposal/treatment

Can the Commission comment on the extent to which the sewerage systems in Brussels and Milan comply with EU law on sewage treatment and disposal?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(23 May 2003)

Council Directive 91/271/EECof 21 May 1991 concerning urban wastewater treatment (1) requires Member States to ensure that all agglomerations with more than 2 000 inhabitant equivalents (2) are provided with urban wastewater collection and treatment systems. The deadlines for providing these systems are 31 December 1998 (tertiary treatment), 31 December 2000 and 31 December 2005, depending upon the size of the conurbation and the sensitivity of the recipient waters.

Concerning Milan, the Commission has launched an infringement procedure against Italy for failure to comply with this Directive. This is because wastewater in Milan has been discharged into the relevant catchment areas without the necessary stringent (tertiary) treatment. A judgement of 25 April 2002 by the European Court of Justice was in favour of the Commission's position.

The construction of three wastewater treatment plants in Milan is currently ongoing. The Italian Authorities have informed the Commission that they predict the installations ‘Milano Sud’ (treating 40 % of the urban wastewater of Milan) and ‘Peschiera’ (10 %) will be operational at the end of 2004. The installation ‘Nosedo’ will eventually treat 50 % of Milan's urban wastewater. The Italian Authorities have stated that this station started working at 25 % of its potential in April 2003. Full operation will be achieved by January 2005. The Commission is continuing to monitor the situation.

The Commission has also launched an infringement procedure against Belgium because of untreated wastewater discharges from Brussels. The case was brought before the Court of Justice in January 2003. According to the Belgian Authorities, they are proceeding with the investment programme for stringent (tertiary) treatment plants for Brussels. The predicted date for completion is June 2006.

Finally, a Commission report (in preparation) on the implementation of the urban wastewater Council Directive 91/271/EEC will give information on the present treatment situation across the Union. The report will be available within the coming months.

(1)  OJ L 135, 30.5.1991, as amended by Commission Directive 98/15/EC of 27 February 1998, OJ L 67, 7.3.1998.

(2)  An organic-pollution measuring unit representing the average pollution produced per person per day.