By Gemma Lougheed - 18th January 2006
The European parliament has today voted in favour of tougher bathing water standards for EU beaches.
MEPs approved with 584 votes in favour, 11 against and 56 abstentions, the controversial outcome of a tough conciliation agreement reached in between parliament and council on the revised directive on the quality of bathing water.
New EU bathing water laws give bathers up to date and better information about Europe’s beaches and sea quality, Dutch MEP Jules Maaten said on Wednesday.
"We have obtained a substantial reduction of the health risks to bathers. The risk of falling ill will fall from twelve per cent to eight per cent in 2015. This is good news for Europe's bathers," said Maaten.
Public information on the safety of beaches will be categorized in terms of rankings for cleanliness.
Information will be posted on websites and at bathing sites.
“I am particularly happy the bathing water information will be available at bathing sites with symbols that are the same across the EU as I rarely bring my laptop to the beach," commented Maaten.
“From now on, instead of 19 parameters for assessment, scrutiny will focus on the two parameters of most concern to public health.”
“This will save costs for local authorities and makes the directive easier to comply with," concluded Maaten.
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