Text tabled : A7-0192/2012

  Mario Pirillo (S&D). – (IT) Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, water is an essential and vital public good, which must be protected by means of an holistic approach to preserve it and rationalise its use.

Improving efficiency and sustainability is a duty that we must not shirk, not least in view of the challenges of climate change. The target that we have set ourselves of achieving ecological and chemical ‘good status’ for our water by 2015 is a sine qua non of Europe’s environmental policy and a commitment to be strictly monitored.

The European Union’s water legislation needs to be enforced and stricter penalty measures should be introduced. Some 20% of water in Europe is lost due to obsolete infrastructure, which it is crucial to improve if we want efficient water resource use and sustainable water management that can address the problems of water shortages and drought.