European Parliament
Julie Girling  (ECR ).
– Mr President, I welcome this report on the implementation of the Water Framework Directive. The results of implementation across Europe are, of course, varied. I am not one of those in this place who express dismay, disgust or even surprise at this. Member States progress at different rates, in slightly different ways. That is the whole point of it being a directive, so if it were all uniform, I would be most surprised. Yes, water is a precious resource; yes, we need to make efficiency gains; yes, we should look at Member States cooperating across their borders.
There is all good stuff in this report, but let us keep it simple. Let us not complicate the issue discussing shale gas and most particularly let us not complicate the issue with amendments on soil directives. As ever, a simple report on implementation was turned into a rambling wish-list by Members of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety and, for this reason, I have had to abstain.

