Water and agriculture
CAP: Commission moves to weaken environmental protection measures
Without any impact assessment, the Commission announced a proposal to weaken or make voluntary several ‘Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions’ (GAECs) under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Furthermore, the Commission proposed that Member States no longer need to align CAP strategic plans with the latest environmental policies.
We believe this move will further weaken the protection of drinking water resources from agricultural pollution. Consumer organisation BEUC and NGOs have called on the European Parliament to oppose the Commission's proposals. If and/or when such a vote might take place is unclear.
Nitrates Directive: Evaluation underway
The Commission has launched the evaluation of this directive with a call for evidence and a public consultation. We submitted a response.
The goal of this directive is the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources.
Soil Monitoring Directive: Plenary vote coming
The European Parliament’s ENVI Committee adopted its Report in March, endorsing significant amendments to strengthen the text proposed by the Commission. In a positive move, it requires Member States to improve soil status (not just monitor it), monitor PFAS in all soils, take WFD priority substances and other water legislation into account when selecting organic contaminants for monitoring, and prioritise areas of drinking water abstraction when investigating potentially contaminated sites.
The text will be voted on in the Plenary on 10 April, where we trust MEPs will retain the changes made in ENVI.
Water and the environment
Microplastics pollution: Moving towards the prevention of plastic pellet losses
The Parliament ENVI Committee Report on the Commission Proposal to prevent pellet losses to reduce microplastics was voted on and adopted on 19 March. The vote in Plenary is scheduled for 22 April 2024
Textiles: Legislation on the move
The Commission is revising the Textile Labelling Regulation. In our reaction to the public consultation, we emphasised the need to include information on the presence of hazardous substances (PFAS, other PMT, biocides) and microfibre shedding in the labels.
Separately, the JRC is preparing a background study for setting eco-design (green public procurement, eco-label) requirements for apparel (deadline: 25.04.2024).
Nature Restoration Law: Postponed or abandoned?
Member States are unable to find a majority for the adoption of this flagship Green Deal initiative. This follows a tight vote in the European Parliament approving the Trilogue agreement that had already been substantially weakened compared to the initial Commission proposal.
Healthy natural spaces are a prerequisite for the protection of drinking water resources. We therefore regret the unwillingness of the co-legislators to restore deteriorated biotopes.
Pharmaceuticals Legislation: Plenary vote due
The European Parliament’s ENVI Committee adopted all compromise amendments tabled for their vote on 11 March. On environmental matters, the texts (Directive and Regulation) adopted by ENVI largely back the Commission’s proposal which we supported from the start.
The Plenary vote is scheduled foron 10-11 April. No amendments have been tabled relating to the environmental aspects of the file.
Industrial Emissions Directive (IED): End in sight
The European Parliament’s Plenary endorsed the Trilogue text without amendments but it was a close call, with a strong EPP faction seeking to reopen the chapter on industrial farming. The final step is a vote in the Council, probably in mid-June, following which the revised Directive can be published in the Official Journal.
Water as an essential service
INSPIRE Directive: revision initiated
The European Commission launched the revision of the INSPIRE Directive with the publication of a call for evidence.
In our reaction, we supported the overall goal but emphasised the need to exempt geospatial data on infrastructures managed by sectors covered by the CERD directive from public access.
The Commission is expected to launch the public consultation shortly.
INSPIRE provides for the development of an online portal to enable geospatial data on the environment to be shared among public authorities and other users in Europe.
