Ministers water down marine directive

EU countries have set themselves an aspirational objective to achieve "good environmental status" of marine waters by 2021, as part of a political agreement on a proposed marine strategy directive reached on Monday.

In its original proposal, the European commission recommended making the obligation binding on member states by the same date (EED 21/10/05).  Parliament went a step further in its first reading vote, demanding the target be met by 2017 (EED 15/11/06).  Instead, member states want the law to require only that they "aim" to achieve or maintain good environmental status of EU marine waters by 2021.