DWD: secondary legislation published on materials in contact with drinking water
The delegated and implementing acts setting requirements for materials in contact with drinking water were published in the Official Journal of the EU on 23 April, and will apply from the end of 2026.
Water and agriculture
CAP: Parliament votes to weaken environmental protection measures
The European Parliament’s plenary approved a Commission proposal to ‘simplify certain CAP rules’ amid farmers’ protests in many EU countries.
The measure will weaken or make voluntary several ‘Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions’ (GAECs) under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Furthermore, Member States no longer need to align CAP strategic plans with the latest environmental policies.
We regret this decision, which will further weaken the protection of drinking water resources from agricultural pollution. We find it unacceptable that the Commission proposal was put forward without any impact assessment
Nitrates Directive: consultation launched
The Commission launched a consultation (deadline 17 May) on a draft act to amend Annex III of the Nitrates Directive, which would increase the limit of nitrates from RENURE (recovered nitrogen from Manure) fertilisers in nitrates-vulnerable zones.
Soil Monitoring Directive: Plenary vote falls short on improvement ambitions
The position adopted by the European Parliament this week on the proposed Soil Monitoring & Resilience Directive stripped the text of key tools to improve the condition of EU soils. The resulting first-reading position provides a decent basis for monitoring and assessing soil health but we are disappointed that it fails to take the extra steps needed to trigger concrete change.
Read EurEau’s full reaction here.
Water and the environment
Environmental Quality Standards (WFD/GWD/EQSD revision): EP adopts resolution
While the Belgian presidency aims to finalise the Council’s general approach to the revision of water pollutant rules by the end of June, the Parliament formally adopted a Legislative Resolution on the text on 24 April. While no changes were made to the contents of the Parliament’s position, the move aims to make it more difficult for the next legislature to change its mind after the elections.
Microplastics pollution: Commission proposal to prevent pellet losses to reduce microplastics
The European Parliament Plenary debated the Commission’s proposal to prevent pellet losses to reduce microplastics on 22 April and voted and adopted the first reading on 23 April.
We strongly support the European Commission’s proposal, which will allow for a regulatory framework implementing control at source for a relevant part of microplastics unintentionally released into the environment, and it will contribute to protecting water resources.
The Council is currently discussing it.
Ecodesign for textiles: comments submitted
The Commission tasked the Joint Research Centre (JRC) with the development of potential ecodesign (later: ecolabel and green public procurement) criteria for apparel.
Textiles are a major source of hazardous substances such as PFAS and biocides, as well as microplastics in wastewater. In our comments on the JRC draft report, we insist that these harmful chemicals are phased out and the need to minimise microplastic release.
Mercury Regulation: dental amalgam
The European Parliament’s Plenary voted and adopted the file on 10 April. Due to the corrigendum procedure, the final text will most likely not be formally approved and published before autumn. We are very pleased that the EU will ban the use of mercury in dental amalgam from January 2025. This ban will also contribute to the circular economy as reduced amounts of mercury in treated urban wastewater will lead to greater potential for water reuse in agricultural irrigation and for sludge from wastewater treatment.
Pharmaceuticals Legislation: adopted
MEPs have voted to enshrine pollution prevention into the EU’s revised pharmaceutical rulebook in a Plenary vote last week which sealed its first-reading position on the proposed legislative package. The Reports of MEPs Pernille Weiss and Tiemo Wölken, endorsed by the ENVI committee last month, were adopted without changes.
Read EurEau’s full reaction here.
Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) & IEPR: OJ publication imminent
The final versions of the revised Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) and Portal Regulation (IEPR) were signed in late April, bringing the legislative process to an end. The IEPR was published in the Official Journal on 2 May and the IED is expected to follow suit shortly. Member States will then have 22 months to transpose it into national law. The IEPR will apply from 1 January 2028.
