Mr. Aurel Ciobanu-Dordea:

I will be very brief. There needs to be a fair reading of Article 9.4 in order that readers will not lure themselves into wrongful interpretations. I draw the attention of the distinguished members of the committee and those who are observing the meeting to the fact that Article 9.4 makes it clear that the concept of established practice can come into play "where this does not compromise the purposes and the achievement of the objectives of this Directive". I also draw their attention to two additional simple and clear elements of the directive. The obligation to introduce water charges was to be met by 2010. More importantly, the objectives of the directive were to be attained by 2015. I want to see future river basin management plans that will show how these objectives which have not been attained were attained two years ago. I want to see those plans. I rest my case.