Yesterday, his multi-bill was approved by a majority of votes and by roll call. Ministry of the Environment. The most important provisions about natural areas and protected areas, regulation on borders of settlements and roads. At the same time, minor interventions were made to the points concerning RAE and responsibility for water, and which were objected to by KEDE and others because they were thought to imply the privatization of water services.

The Ministry of Natural Resources submitted four “packages” of legal and technical changes to Parliament late yesterday and yesterday. They even included amendments submitted on Friday. Among them stand out:

– The RAE Water Responsibilities states that it can oversee water concession contracts with third parties. This was perceived as a harbinger of the conclusion of concession agreements in the field of water supply, which caused a reaction from the parties and departments. The Ministry of Natural Resources has changed the wording so that concession agreements are concluded not with third parties, but “between water utilities”, which, according to the bill, are public utilities for water supply and sewerage. It is worth noting that the ministry ignored criticism from the Scientific Committee of the Parliament, which clearly stated that the transfer of powers to regulate water resources to the RAE is contrary to national and Community legislation, as well as the jurisprudence of the Council of Europe. This marking prescribes the fate of a particular agreement if it is challenged in the Supreme Court for annulment. However, this is not the first time that the Ministry has ignored the Scientific Committee’s comments, as they are rarely taken into account.

Interventions on issues related to the RAE and the jurisdiction of water areas, to which KEDE responded.

– All Natura territory provisions have been withdrawn, with the exception of some minor ones. Among those withdrawn were provisions on “subzones”, changing land uses, including “real” urban and economic conditions in special environmental studies, etc. It should be noted that the abolition of this resolution was allegedly made for the second time Prime Minister (the first was last year in the summer under the same regulations). This fact in itself is worrying.

– It was possible to extend the “temporary” protection measures of the Natura territory (until the completion of a special environmental review) up to 4 years. This agreement portends a further delay in the research, which the Prime Minister promised in 2021 to complete by the end of 2022.

– The photographic provisions on the expansion of settlements and the characterization of public roads have been cancelled.