Water legislation
UWWTD: vote date confirmed
In the European Parliament, the Compromise Amendments
on the UWWTD are being discussed among the Rapporteur and the Shadow
Rapporteurs. The vote in the ENVI Committee is scheduled for 21 September, and
in the Plenary for 16 October.
Regarding the Council, the Spanish confirmed that the
file will be a priority during their Presidency (July-December 2023).
We attended a stakeholder meeting on the UWWTD,
organised by the Belgian Presidency, which will take up the reins in January
2024.
Bathing Water Report 2022:
now published
The annual Bathing Waters report from the European
Environment Agency was published on 9 June. The summary can be found here.
The Commission is expected to publish its Evaluation
of the Bathing Water Directive by June 2024.
Water and agriculture
Sustainable Use of Pesticides: additional
Commission impact assessment defends SUR proposal
Following a request from Member States, the Commission conducted
additional research on the impact the proposed 50% cut in pesticide use could
have on food security that the draft Sustainable Use of Plant Protection
Products Regulation (SUR) outlines. The study concludes that the impact will
vary but the reduction in pesticide use would have the largest impact on crops
that have ‘little or no impact on food security’.
EurEau calls for the better protection of drinking water resources. Too
many water bodies contain traces of pesticides and their metabolites which may
require costly extra treatment to protect the health of drinking water
consumers.
The bill is unlikely to be finalised before the end of 2023. In
particular, the EPP decided to reject to proposal altogether, complicating
negotiations in the Parliament.
Soil Monitoring Law: proposal
published
Healthy soil is paramount for groundwater and water services operators.
EurEau welcomes the introduction of a Soil
Monitoring Law as published on 5 July and calls for a strong
link between soil and ground- and surface water - quality. Read more.
Nutrient Management Action Plan: proposal
imminent
The Commission’s long-awaited Nutrient Management Action Plan, initially
expected to be published simultaneously with the Soil Monitoring Law on 5 July
2023, has not been unveiled so far. EurEau expects that this plan, together
with the Soil Monitoring Law, will lead to the better protection of our
groundwater resources while facilitating the recycling of nutrients from
wastewater streams and the reuse of treated wastewater for irrigation purposes.
Water and the environment
Environmental Quality Standards:
EP votes to reinforce
control at source and Polluter Pays Principles
The European
Parliament’s ENVI Committee has adopted its position on a new
law amending environmental quality standards (EQS) for surface water and
groundwater, with amendments that strengthen the Polluter Pays and
Control-at-Source Principles through an explicit hierarchy of measures –
something we have long called for. Read more. The Plenary vote will take place on 11 September, while in the
Council the Spanish presidency is expected to
start discussions on the text over the summer.
PFAS: ECHA agrees REACH restriction
proposal for PFAS in fire-fighting foams
The Risk Assessment and Economic and Social
Analysis Committees of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) have adopted their
REACH restriction proposal phasing out the use of ‘forever’ chemicals in
fire-fighting foams. ECHA will now finalise the restriction text and send it to
the European Commission, which will have to decide on whether to draw up a
REACH restriction proposal (annex XVII).
EurEau has actively contributed to the ECHA
work and has consistently called for a fast and full ban of all PFAS uses in
fire-fighting foams.
Industrial Emissions Directive: Plenary vote backs
water protection
The negotiating
mandate adopted on the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) by the European
Parliament on 11 July secures important safeguards for the aquatic environment
and water services, but rolls back ambitious proposals on water efficiency.
Read more here.
You can see the
full amendments adopted by the EP here.
Ahead of the vote, we co-signed a letter to urge the Parliament to introduce
vital protection for pollution victims in the IED.
Nature Restauration Law: saved in EP plenary
The Commission’s proposal to restore parts of our
natural spaces met with fierce resistance from certain political groups in the
Parliament but efforts to completely reject it failed in a decisive plenary
vote on 12 July. The text adopted by MEPs weakens the Commission proposal,
but leaves some basic ambitions intact, as does the Council’s General Approach.
Member States were facing equally difficult discussions but finally succeeded
in adopting a common position on the draft law.
EurEau supports the Commission proposal since healthy
natural spaces are a prerequisite for healthy water cycles.
Taxonomy: proposal published
The Commission
published the Sustainable Finance Package (13 June). It includes:
· EU
Taxonomy Environmental Delegated Act, which sets the criteria for economic activities
making a substantial contribution to one or more of the non-climate
environmental objectives, namely sustainable use and protection of water and
marine resources, transition to a circular economy, pollution prevention and
control, and, protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems), as
well as the amendments to the Taxonomy Climate Delegated Act.
· Proposal
for a Regulation on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) rating
activities.
· The
Commission’s recommendation on facilitating finance for the transition to a
sustainable economy.
