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Getting Europe's precious waters clean again: Protecting water from pollution is one of the biggest environmental challenges that we face. In recent decades, major disasters like the Sandoz incident in 1986 demonstrated that pollution knows no frontiers and that strong EU actions and cooperation were needed. This detailed news report looks at the ways in which Europe’s determination to protect water in all its forms is achieving results. From the European quality of the drinking water, through the treatment of waste water, to protection of its rivers, coasts and lakes – over the last few decades it has developed an effective legislative arsenal. The aim of the European Union is for all the water on its territory to by in good status by 2015. Although challenges remain, results are obvious. For example, in 2000, the EU adopted a directive promoting trans-boundary co-operation and introducing the river basin management concept where the territory of the river as a whole is taken into account. And in terms of bathing water, since 1990, the number of bathing sites fulfilling the EU standards has increased by almost 30% to an impressive 90%.
Located in Environmental topics › Water › Multimedia
The fourth assessment: Presentation of the report at the Belgrade conference: Subtitled movie of the speech hold by Executive Director of the EEA Jacqueline McGlade during the presentation of the 4th pan-European assessment at the UNECE 6th Мinisterial Conference "Environment for Europe", in Belgrade, 10th of October 2007.
Located in Environmental topics › … › Archive: the Belgrade ministerial conference › Videos and interviews
Assessing water quality in Europe using stratification techniques — Results of a prototype application using French data: Located in Publications
Prof. Jacqueline McGlade on adapting to the impacts of climate change – speech for the ESPACE initiative: In her speech, Prof. Jacqueline McGlade, Executive Director of the European Environment Agency (EEA), stresses the importance of imbedding climate change into planning systems and processes. ESPACE (European Spatial Planning: Adapting to Climate Events) is a four-year European project promoting the importance of adapting the entire planning process to the impacts of climate change.
Located in Multimedia centre
EEA Report 2/2006 - Integration of environment into EU agriculture policy - the IRENA indicator-based assessment report: This report aims to provide a fair reflection of the progress, the achievements and obstacles in the integration of environmental concerns into EU agriculture policy, based on indicators developed in the IRENA operation (see Section 1.3). It also tackles limitations to successful policy implementation at Member State level, and challenges ahead.
Located in Publications
Interview with health expert: Gabriele Schöning - EEA expert on Human Health "People might have different opinions about what are the most important environmental issues at the moment. A very important thing definitely is climate change and how this will affect the whole environment but also human health by increasing ultra-violet radiation which might lead to skin cancers. Other more up to date problems are air pollution problems - although it has become better it is still a thing which affects children's health and is causing allergies. Another point is water quality which, for instance, comes up in old cities where you still have lead water pipes in the houses and this can lead to complications for children and can reduce children's intelligence."
Located in Environmental topics › Environment and health › Multimedia
Sustainable use and management of natural resources: Located in Publications