Today, the Commission has launched an online public
consultation to seek views on the upcoming review of the
lists of pollutants occurring in surface and ground waters and
corresponding regulatory standards.
This initiative is particularly important for implementing the
recently adopted Zero Pollution Action
Plan as part of the European Green Deal,
and wider efforts to secure the more efficient and safer use of
water. The public consultation is open for feedback until
1 November 2021.
Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries
Virginijus Sinkevičius said:
All Europeans should benefit from clean water. Ensuring good
quality of surface and groundwater in Europe is paramount for
human health and for the environment. Pollution caused by
pesticides, PFAS or from residues of pharmaceuticals must be
avoided as much as possible. We want to hear your views on how
this can best be achieved.
A recent ‘fitness check’ (evaluation) in December 2019, found
EU water legislation to be
broadly fit for purpose. However, improvement is needed on
aspects such as investment, implementing rules, integrating water
objectives into other policies, chemical pollution,
administrative simplification and digitalisation. This revision
aims to address some of the shortcomings in relation to chemical
pollution and the legal obligation to regularly review the lists
of pollutants. It also seeks to address the need to accelerate
implementation (including through use of digital tools) and
support EU countries in addressing issues with polluting
substances that prevent them from meeting the legal obligations
and achieving environmental objectives.
This initiative also contributes to the implementation of the
European Union Strategic
Approach to Pharmaceuticals in the Environment and
complements the planned Strategies on Chemicals for
Sustainability and Pharmaceuticals as
well as the parallel impact assessments for improving the
Urban Waste Water
Treatment Directive, the Industrial Emissions
Directive and the implementation of the new
Drinking Water Directive.
Background
Since 2000, the Water Framework Directive has been the main legal
instrument to protect Europe’s water, aiming to clean polluted
waters and keep clean waters clean. Alongside the Environmental Quality
Standards Directive (EQSD), the Groundwater Directive
(GWD), it applies to fresh, coastal and transitional waters
as well as groundwaters. It ensures an integrated approach to
water management, respecting the integrity of whole ecosystems,
including by regulating individual pollutants and setting
corresponding regulatory standards.
More Information
EU Water legislation
EU Water legislation -
Fitness Check
Public consultation on EU
rules protecting the marine environment – taking place in
parallel
