Water legislation
Water Resilience Initiative: abandoned or just on hold?
The Water Resilience Initiative (WRI), previously announced by Commission President von der Leyen, has been put on hold, days before its expected publication.
EurEau is disappointed by the unexpected move which disregards the increasing pressure on this precious resource. See our reaction.
The WRI was developed as a thought starter for the next Commission to ensure that future generations have access to sufficient, quality water to sustain our societies.
Despite the news on the WRI, the EU Green Week 2024 partner events (29 May – 1 September 2024), will still be focused on water resilience. The application for partner events opened on 4 March 2024, and will last until 17 March.
UWWTD: trilogue agreement
Agreement was reached on several key topics in trilogues on 29 January and 21 February. The agreements led to several improvements that will allow for a better implementation of the directive and will keep our wastewater services fit for purpose for many years. The final agreement is expected in March (after the COREPER meeting on 1 March and the EP ENVI Committee meeting on 11 March). Due to the corrigendum procedure, the final text will not be formally approved and published before October/November.
Water and agriculture
Nitrates Directive: Evaluation launched
The Commission launched the evaluation of this 1991 Directive with a call for evidence and a public consultation, with a deadline in early March. We are preparing our reaction for the 8 March deadline.
The goal of this directive is the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources. Despite some progress over the past years, many drinking water resources still show elevated nitrate levels, requiring expensive extra treatment by drinking water suppliers.
Soil Monitoring Directive: votes upcoming
The Parliament is moving to finalise its position on the Soil Monitoring Directive, a text meant to address the fact that 60% of European soils are in an unhealthy state, often with adverse consequences on groundwater resources. MEPs face a choice between a minimalist approach focused largely on monitoring alone, or a more ambitious stance compelling Member States to act to improve soil health. The vote in the ENVI Committee is due to take place on 11 March, with the Plenary in April. We continue to keep an eye on this file.
Water and the environment
PFAS: restriction: EurEau open letter to Commission president
EurEau sent an open letter to Commission President von der Leyen calling on the Commission to maintain its support of the universal PFAS restriction in preparation by ECHA. Without a prompt and far-reaching ban, the water sector will be unable to meet its Green Deal ambitions. The persistence of these ‘forever chemicals’ means that our water resources will remain contaminated for decades to come.
Related to PFAS, Member State representatives in the REACH Committee approved the restriction of perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), but excluded industrial uses of the substance.
Nature Restauration Law: Parliament approves Trilogue deal
The Parliament’s Plenary narrowly approved the provisional agreement agreed with Member States in Trilogue.
EurEau supports this initiative, as healthy natural spaces protect and replenish our scarce water resources.
Member States still have to give their final nod on the compromise text.
Microplastics pollution: Commission proposal to prevent pellet losses
Our position paper on the Commission’s proposal to prevent pellet losses to reduce microplastics is published and circulated. EurEau welcomes and strongly supports the proposal, which will allow for a regulatory framework implementing control at source for a relevant part of microplastics unintentionally released to the environment, and it will contribute not only to protecting water resources but also to meeting the objectives of the European Green Deal, the Zero Pollution Action Plan, as well as the New Action Plan on The Circular Economy.
Meanwhile, in the Parliament, the vote in the ENVI Committee is scheduled for 19 March 2024 and the vote in Plenary for 22 April 2024.
Mercury Regulation: agreement reached
A provisional political agreement was reached in the trialogue on 8 February 2024, with a ban on the use and exportation of dental amalgam from 01 January 2025 (with the exception of some specific medical needs of the patient). EurEau welcomes the news as we have been calling for this ban for many years.
Amalgam is one of the most important sources of mercury in our surface waters. The urgency is exacerbated by the long life span of amalgam fillings meaning that mercury will leach into the environment long after the ban has entered into force.
This ban will also contribute to the circular economy.
