In a shocking turn for Europe\u2019s environment, the European Commission has committed to reviewing and revising the Water Framework Directive by the second quarter of 2026 under the <\/b>RESourceEU Action Plan<\/b>, in order to promote \u201caccess to critical raw materials in the EU\u201d. This is an extremely worrying move, as such revision threatens to bring down European water standards.<\/b><\/p>\n
Commenting on the Commission\u2019s decision, the <\/b>Living Rivers Europe coalition<\/b><\/a>, said<\/b>:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis is a very reckless decision: it will open the floodgates to further contamination of our waters and accelerate the destruction of our rivers, wetlands and wildlife. The Water Framework Directive is not just any law, it is Europe\u2019s frontline defence for clean, safe, and resilient water for millions of people. Dismantling its safeguards guts this protection, reducing it to a set of vague promises – leaving the future of our waters and wetland ecosystems at the mercy of powerful mining industry.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n The European Commission\u2019s (EC) decision to revise the <\/span>Water Framework Directive<\/span><\/a> (WFD) is a concession to the metal and mining sectors. The Commission\u2019s <\/span>RESource EU Action Plan<\/span><\/a> states that the WFD revision will help \u201c<\/span>promote access to critical raw materials in the EU\u201d<\/span><\/i>. The timing is striking: it comes just a week after <\/span>EuroMines<\/span><\/a> (EU\u2019s biggest lobby for mining and metal industries) <\/span>called on the EC<\/span><\/a> to expand the use of derogations under the WFD and postpone deadlines.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Mining activities are no light touch on the local populations and nature. Beyond the <\/span>human rights implications<\/span><\/a>, mining leads to severe contamination of water with heavy metals from discharged mine effluent (liquid waste), which can severely harm wildlife and drinking water quality. Precious aquatic ecosystems should not suffer the consequences of industries\u2019 endless drive for profit. Weakening the WFD safeguards to facilitate mining will reverse hard-won gains in water quality across the continent.<\/span><\/p>\n This move sets yet another dangerous precedent, allowing for hasty legislative changes without proper scrutiny. The fact that the Commission is already committed to revising the WFD without proper evaluation and better regulation steps is simply unacceptable. This strikes at the heart of the European project and undermines the trust of Europeans in the Commission\u2019s commitment to protecting their future.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>The European Commission seems determined to find any possible way to derail environmental laws, almost as if on a mission. It beggars belief that the von der Leyen II Commission is deciding to do, without proper evidence, what the von der Leyen I Commission ruled out after thorough evaluation,\u201d <\/span><\/i>added the coalition.<\/i><\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Civil society organisations are urging the European Commission to properly evaluate whether the WFD needs revising, based on science and proper evidence and not on anecdotal evidence of a few polluting industries.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Notes to editors:<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n For more information, please contact:<\/b><\/p>\n Amelie Tagu, Communications Officer, Wetlands International Europe, <\/span>amelie.tagu@wetlands.org<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Alejandra Morales, Communications Manager, WWF European Policy Office <\/span>amorales@wwf.eu<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Bich Dao, Communications Officer, EEB, <\/span>bich.dao@eeb.org<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n
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