Joint letter to Danish EU Presidency: Swift and ambitious actions needed for the update of EU water pollution standards

This joint letter, addressed to Søren Jacobsen, Danish Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to Coreper I, urges swift and ambitious adoption of updated EU water pollution standards. Civil society groups, health professionals, and industry stakeholders express deep concern over increasing chemical pollution – especially from PFAS, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals – and the ongoing weakening of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). They highlight alarming data from the European Environment Agency, call for immediate regulatory clarity to support upcoming River Basin Management Plans (2028–2033), and oppose new legal exemptions that could undermine water protection. Key recommendations include timely incorporation of new pollutants into national plans, strengthened groundwater protection, mandatory effect-based monitoring, and the use of advanced scientific approaches to assess chemical mixtures. The letter calls for preserving the integrity of the WFD to ensure long-term water quality and security in Europe.