A recent MEDPOL (Mediterranean Pollution Programme) report left no room for doubt that 'land-based sources' such as oil refineries, industrial effluent, fertilisers etc. are constantly increasing pollution levels in the Mediterranean, which is the recipient for millions of tonnes of toxic discharges each year (from 9400 factories, refineries etc.).

The Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats endorses measures to further train farmers in state-of-the-art and targeted applications of plant protection agents, promotion of alternative concepts such as what is termed integrated crop management, harmonisation of VAT rates on plant protection agents in order to remove existing distortions of competition in the internal market, careful disposal of packaging and expert testing of agricultural machinery, for we see it as particularly important to maintain the purity of our drinking water.

Owing to the damage that is caused to European forests both by atmospheric pollution and by fires, it is in the general interest of the Community to continue and further develop the preventive and monitoring activities established by those regulations by integrating them into a new scheme called "Forest Focus".

more intensive monitoring of the extent and nature of any pollution within the body of water, and of any human alterations to the natural hydromorphological condition of the body of water;

establish a continuous pollution monitoring system.

These amendments concern, in particular, the application of the precautionary principle, the extension of the scope of the Protocol to airborne pollution of land-based origin, the regulatory system for waste discharge, the continued monitoring of pollution levels, and technical assistance to developing countries.