It is European Water NOW.

It is European Water NOW.    15.2.2014.  
Dredging those waterways over the years was done for a purpose.  All in those Houses of Parliament now know exactly why they were dredged regularly.  Yet they seem to have rejected their British instincts and turned to foreigners in the EU Parliament who apparently “know what is better” for our Country.
Recorded in Hansard 20th November 2003. Watercourses (Silt Removal) HC Deb 20 November 2003 vol 413 cc942-4  Andrew Selous asked, “What her policy is regarding the removal of silt from watercourses in respect of the (a) European waste framework directive and (b) nitrate directive.
The Minister for the Environment (Mr Elliot Morley) answered, “ Neither the waste framework directive nor the nitrates directive applies to the removal of silt from watercourses. However, the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994 control the application of dredged material to land and the Government have made use of their discretion under article 11 of the waste framework directive to provide licensing exemptions for dredging from inland waters.
Andrew Selous,  “Flooding is a real concern to many of my constituents in their towns and villages. What advice would the Minister give to the Bedford group of drainage boards, among others, who wrote to me recently, as they believed that an increased risk of flooding would result from reduced dredging, which they think will happen when silt removed from watercourses cannot be sent to approved landfill sites after 2006?
Mr Morley: “In my experience, it is rare for a drainage board to send dredging to landfill sites, so that should not have an effect. There has been some concern about whether traditional dredging methods, which leave spoil and vegetation along the side of dykes will be restricted in some way. That will not be restricted. The regulations will prevent spoil from going to landfill, but the hon. Gentleman will find that that is a very unusual procedure in drainage. If there is a major problem, I shall be happy to speak to him and to look into it in further detail”.   End of quotes, although he does not answer fully the main question, the rest-which is not too long- is on,
http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/2003/nov/20/watercourses-silt-removal
"Then 20 years ago the Environment Agency decided to stop spending money on river maintenance and now this winter we've seen what has happened as a result." http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/Money-heart-crisis/story-20634392-detail/story.html
The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) came into force in December 2000 and became part of UK law in December 2003. It provides an opportunity to plan and deliver a better water environment, focussing on ecology. http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/planning/33362.aspx
Farmers outraged as Agency prepared to auction dredging kit. http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/Farmers-outraged-Agency-prepared-auction-dredging/story-20634505-detail/story.html
With the fiasco that is on going at present-was it worth turning out to vote for anyone here in the UK House of Commons?    Did they REALLY not dredge because of EU Legislation as reported in one Newspaper? 
Let us see Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy".  Oh! And by the way, it is "European Union WATER" now and apparently has been for some time. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32000L0060:EN:NOT    WHICH ALSO READS "(10) The Council on 25 June 1996, the Committee of the Regions on 19 September 1996, the Economic and Social Committee on 26 September 1996, and the European Parliament on 23 October 1996 all requested the Commission to come forward with a proposal for a Council Directive establishing a framework for a European water policy."
HAVE ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: Article 1.  Purpose. "The purpose of this Directive is to establish a framework for the protection of inland surface waters, transitional waters, coastal waters and groundwater which: 
(a) prevents further deterioration and protects and enhances the status of aquatic ecosystems and, with regard to their water needs, terrestrial ecosystems and wetlands directly depending on the aquatic ecosystems.
From Directive L. 288/27 6.11.2007, at point (5) reads. "The Commission Communication of 12 July 2004 to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee of the regions, 'Flood Risk Management   ... Flood prevention, protection and mitigation sets out its analysis and approach to managing flood risks at Community level, and states that concerted and coordinated action at Community level would bring considerable added value and improve the overall level of flood protection." 
Dredging those waterways over the years was done for a purpose. All in that Houses of Parliament now know exactly why they were dredged regularly. Where did that money go to that we “SAVED” by not dredging?  Did they REALLY not dredge because of EU Legislation as reported in one Newspaper?  A NEW EU Floods Directive. Directive 2007/60/EC on the assessment and management of flood risks entered into force on 26 November 2007. This Directive now requires Member States to assess if all water courses and coast lines are at risk from flooding, to map the flood extent and assets and humans at risk in these areas and to take adequate and coordinated measures to reduce this flood risk. With this Directive also reinforces the rights of the public to access this information and to have a say in the planning process.  ETC on http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/flood_risk/
(1) “Floods have the potential to cause fatalities, displacement of people and damage to the environment, to severely compromise economic development and to undermine the economic activities of the Community”.   Sadly, this has come to be.
(14) Flood risk management plans should focus on prevention, protection and preparedness. With a view to giving rivers more space, they should consider where possible the maintenance and/or restoration of floodplains, as well as measures to prevent and reduce damage to human health, the environment, cultural heritage and economic activity. The elements of flood risk management plans should be periodically reviewed and if necessary updated, taking into account the likely impacts of climate change on the occurrence of floods. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32007L0060:EN:NOT
See also. NEWISH.  The EU Water Framework Directive - integrated river basin management for Europe  http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-framework/  This more or less tells you much of what you want to know.
 I wonder what is in the WASTE water in people’s Houses at present?  Some halfway up the Ground floors.  I hope some of our present MP’s share the pain of those poor people we have seen on TV.  I do, I really do, maybe they may realize that they are in Parliament to GOVERN this Country according to our Constitution-not to those treaties THEY have signed-without ever letting the people have a say. 
Perhaps the people will have a say in 2015 and only vote for any Organisation or Political Party that wants OUT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION-FOREVER.
The EU Website proudly states “WATER IS FOR LIFE”.  Sadly, if water is not managed correctly and professionally, it can also “ TAKE LIFE” as we have witnessed so very recently in February 2014. 
Anne Palmer.