B3-1499/93

Resolution on measures to deal with the consequences of the protracted drought in Athens

The European Parliament,

A.having regard to its resolution of 11 February 1993 on combating the prolonged drought affecting central Greece and water suppplies in Athens,

B.whereas the problem of an imminent water shortage in certain regions of the Community was raised at a meeting of the European Council,

C.having regard to the bleak long-term forecasts concerning available water reserves in the Mediterranean set out in recent reports by the UNEP, the Stockholm Environmental Institute and the German Government's committee of experts, owing to climatological changes due to the 'greenhouse effect',

D.having regard to the desperate water shortage in Athens owing to the protracted drought in Greece which has led to a lack of water in the Marathon, Iliki and Morno Reservoirs,

E.whereas the water currently available in these reservoirs represents only 36 days' supply for Athens,

F.whereas certain water-boring projects are now providing Athens with approximately 400 million cubic metres of water a day, which may alleviate the problem of drought but poses a threat to the water table in large areas of central Greece as water supplies are being exhausted,

G.noting that owing to the priority given to supplying urban areas, agricultural production in large areas of irrigated land is being destroyed, notably in regions in which the new water boring projects have been carried out,

H.noting that owing to the priority given to ensuring the water supply for the population rather than irrigation the very few remaining areas of green in Athens have been left without water throughout the summer so that the y have withered, leading to a dramatic decline in the local climatological and ecological conditions,

1.Calls on the Commission to notify the European Parliament of the outcome of the immediate assessment of the drought in Athens and of the progress achieved in cooperation between the Commission and the Governments of the Member States of the south of the Community on the launching of an integrated policy for the rational use of water supplies and the modernization of irrigation and water supply networks as called for in its above-mentioned resolution;

2.Calls on the Commission, in conjunction with the Greek Government, to ensure that any projects taken to deal with the drought in Athens form part of a broader, long-term approach, preferably as part of the second Delors package, and that ad hoc and expensive solutions which would tie down substantial resources are avoided;

3.Calls on the Commission, in conjunction with the Greek Government, to ensure that specific programmes are drawn up incorporating projects to deal with poor water management and, notably leaks from antiquated water supply networks and the recycling of water for industrial use;

4.Calls on the Commission, in conjunction with the Greek Government, to launch an immediate appraisal of the situation caused by the excessive practice of boring for water and to establish scientifically the maximum volume of water that may be produced in this way;

5.Calls on the Commission, in cooperation with the Greek Government, to launch an immediate programme for saving water in agriculture in those regions where the new water boring projects have been undertaken to supply Athens with water so as to prevent the disruption of agricultural production in these regions;

6.Considers that suitable measures must be taken to compensate producers in such regions for a loss of income, as provided for by the Community legal framework currently in force;

7.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the Greek Government.