{"id":119861,"date":"2026-03-11T09:54:42","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T08:54:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/?post_type=library&p=119861"},"modified":"2026-04-07T17:29:39","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T15:29:39","slug":"briefing-paper-on-the-water-framework-directive-review-and-revision","status":"publish","type":"library","link":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/de\/library\/briefing-paper-on-the-water-framework-directive-review-and-revision\/","title":{"rendered":"Briefing paper on the Water Framework Directive review and revision"},"content":{"rendered":"

Europe\u2019s Water Framework Directive (WFD)<\/strong>, the EU\u2019s cornerstone water protection law, is increasingly facing political pressure under the banner of \u201crevision\u201d or \u201csimplification\u201d. Behind these calls lies strong lobbying from the mining sector and other extractive industries seeking fewer and weaker safeguards on how Europe\u2019s water are used. At a time of worsening water scarcity, pollution, and climate pressures, weakening the WFD would risk undermining more than two decades of progress in protecting Europe\u2019s rivers, lakes, groundwater, and coastal waters.<\/p>\n

This position paper, developed with the Living Rivers Europe<\/strong><\/a> coalition, outlines five key reasons why the WFD must be defended and strengthened:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n

    Protecting people\u2019s health and drinking water<\/strong> \u2013 The WFD safeguards clean and reliable water for communities across Europe.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. \n

    Restoring and protecting ecosystems<\/strong> \u2013 Healthy rivers, wetlands, and aquifers are essential for biodiversity and climate resilience.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  3. \n

    Preventing pollution and environmental damage<\/strong> \u2013 The Directive\u2019s precautionary approach helps avoid costly and irreversible harm.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  4. \n

    Supporting sustainable economies<\/strong> \u2013 Clean water underpins agriculture, fisheries, tourism, and local livelihoods.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  5. \n

    Ensuring accountability and good governance<\/strong> \u2013 The WFD sets clear rules that hold polluters accountable and protect the public interest.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Defending the WFD means defending Europe\u2019s water, nature, and future.<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":101190,"template":"","library_category":[441],"library_tags":[499,456,455],"class_list":["post-119861","library","type-library","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","library_category-water","library_tags-joint-publication","library_tags-position","library_tags-report"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/library\/119861","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/library"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/library"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/101190"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=119861"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"library_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/library_category?post=119861"},{"taxonomy":"library_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/library_tags?post=119861"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}