{"id":119686,"date":"2026-02-17T13:43:43","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T12:43:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/?p=119686"},"modified":"2026-02-17T13:46:44","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T12:46:44","slug":"eu-council-adopts-improved-water-quality-standards-but-weakens-cornerstone-eu-law-to-protect-water","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/hu\/eu-council-adopts-improved-water-quality-standards-but-weakens-cornerstone-eu-law-to-protect-water\/","title":{"rendered":"EU Council adopts improved water quality standards \u2013 but weakens cornerstone EU law to protect water"},"content":{"rendered":"

Brussels,\u00a017 February\u00a02026\u00a0<\/span><\/i>\u2013 Today, EU Member States\u00a0rubber-stamped\u00a0the agreement on updating the list of priority\u00a0water pollutants regulated\u00a0under\u00a0the Water Framework Directive,\u00a0the Environmental Quality Standards Directive (EQSD)\u00a0and the Groundwater Directive\u00a0\u2013 an overdue\u00a0key step towards stronger and more effective monitoring\u00a0and\u00a0prevention\u00a0of the\u00a0toxic chemicals in Europe\u2019s surface and groundwater.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The EEB welcomes the addition of major pollutants, among them PFAS (\u2018\u2019forever chemicals\u201d) including TFA (a highly persistent and mobile PFAS) in surface water, that pharmaceuticals are listed for the first time, the designation of Bisphenol-A as a priority hazardous substance, and the introduction of effect-based monitoring to detect harmful chemical mixtures.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sara Johansson, Senior Policy Officer for Water,\u00a0EEB,\u00a0said:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

After<\/span>\u00a0more\u00a0<\/span>than<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>three<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>years<\/span>\u00a0of\u00a0<\/span>negotiations<\/span>, the EU\u00a0<\/span>is<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>edging<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>towards<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>updated<\/span>\u00a0water pollution standards \u2013 a\u00a0<\/span>necessary<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>step<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>forward<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>But this progress is severely undermined by the excessive timelines Member States gave themselves to limit pollution in EU waters.\u00a0<\/span>This weakens the Water Framework Directive\u2019s potential as a tool for prevention.<\/span>\u00a0Member States must now include concrete measures to stop further pollution in the 4th River Basin Management Plans.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Robust monitoring of\u00a0Europe\u2019s\u00a0rivers, lakes and groundwater is essential for protecting ecosystems, public health and long-term water\u00a0resilience\u00a0as\u00a0the results\u00a0form the basis for\u00a0measures to\u00a0prevent\u00a0harmful substances\u00a0from\u00a0polluting\u00a0Europe\u2019s waters and reaching\u00a0people\u2019s bodies.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Update\u00a0hijacked\u00a0to\u00a0attack\u00a0wider\u00a0water protections<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, serious concerns\u00a0remain\u00a0about two new exemptions introduced to the non-deterioration principle of the Water Framework Directive (WFD), the\u00a0law at the\u00a0foundation of all EU water protections. The exemptions allow short term temporary deterioration of water bodies and the relocation of pollution\u00a0from one water body to another.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite these added\u00a0flexibilities, powerful agribusiness and mining interests continue to\u00a0complain\u00a0that the\u00a0WFD\u00a0is\u00a0\u2018too rigid\u2019.\u00a0The reality is that\u00a0it was\u00a0declared \u201cfit for purpose\u201d back in 2019. It is one of the EU\u2019s most flexible\u00a0\u2013 and successful \u2013 pieces of legislation, accommodating the varying hydrological landscapes and realities across Member States, which has for over two decades ensured rivers and lakes are clean, groundwater ecosystems are healthy, and our drinking water is safe.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This attack on rules that protect people and nature follows a now-familiar pattern of sustained lobby pressure\u00a0from\u00a0the biggest\u00a0polluters to create loopholes that reduce scrutiny and\u00a0prioritise\u00a0profit over water,\u00a0nature\u00a0and health\u00a0protections.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The\u00a0rubber-stamping\u00a0of the deal also comes amid deeply concerning signals that the European Commission intends to revise the\u00a0WFD\u00a0to allow increased pollution from mining activities. In this context, Member States have a responsibility to defend the public interest and resist self-serving corporate lobbying.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Commenting on the Commission\u2019s decision\u00a0to revise the WFD, Sergiy Moroz said<\/span><\/b>:<\/span>\u00a0<\/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,\u00a0wetlands\u00a0and wildlife. The Water Framework Directive is not just any\u00a0law,\u00a0it is Europe\u2019s frontline\u00a0defence\u00a0for clean, safe, and resilient water for millions of people. Dismantling its safeguards guts this protection, reducing it to a set of vague promises \u2013 leaving the future of our waters and wetland ecosystems at the mercy of powerful mining industry.\u201d<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

While Member States\u00a0are required to\u00a0comply with\u00a0the new standards\u00a0only\u00a0by 2039, this\u00a0remains\u00a0a long timeline given the scale of Europe\u2019s water pollution challenges. Defending and strengthening the\u00a0WFD\u00a0must remain a priority. Preventing pollution\u00a0at source\u00a0is essential, because the health of people, ecosystems and the natural world\u00a0depends\u00a0on clean water.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The deal still needs to be rubber stamped by\u00a0European\u00a0Parliament. The EC is still to outline more specific plans on why and how it plans to revise the WFD that has just been simplified through this update.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

ENDS<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Notes\u00a0to editor:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n