Highlights - Current situation of Tagus and Ebro rivers basin: study presentation 20.06.2016 - Committee on Petitions

In conjunction with the Committee’s fact-finding visit to Spain on 8-10 February 2016 the Policy Department has commissioned the Study on River Basins and Water Management in Spain, namely on the Tagus and Ebro River Basin Districts. The study examines the current situation and the rivers’ main problems and will be presented to the Committee on 20 June.

The past River Basin Management Plans for the Ebro and Tagus rivers did not fully resolve the environmental problems that traditionally have besieged these particular basins. The EU Water Framework Directive requires the achieving of a series of environmental goals that are not compatible with the plan's regulation regarding the quality of water, the rivers' flow and the equilibrium of their protected areas for birdlife, habitats and natural sites. The study contains information that can be useful for the analysis of these particular problems and provides recommendations on compliance with the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive.