During her State of the Union address on Wednesday 16 September, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the Commission would present a “new European Water initiative”. This commitment remains vague; at this stage, it makes no mention of revising the Water Framework Directive, a move opposed by several national capitals.
The Commission president also drew a link to agriculture. “European pipes lose almost one in every four litres. Mostly through leakage”, the president noted, describing the situation as “a waste”. This prompted the announcement of a dedicated initiative, justified by both industrial needs and food security.
Ursula von der Leyen did not mention the Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC) by name, nor did she raise the possibility of revising it. The choice of the word ‘initiative’, rather than ‘revision’ or ‘legislative proposal’, leaves the door open for a non-binding instrument, such as a ‘strategy’ or ‘roadmap’ on water efficiency.
By focusing on network leaks, an angle that relates more to the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (2024/3019) and the Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184) than to the Framework Directive itself, the Commission appears to be avoiding the most sensitive subject.
Mr Clergeau calls for network investment. Regarding environmental issues, Ursula von der Leyen’s speech left Christophe Clergeau (S&D, French), a member of the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety, wanting more.
Ms von der Leyen highlighted significant network losses before addressing the need to access water for farmers and economic operators, “yet without mentioning access to water for citizens, a major issue in certain Member States”, noted the MEP when interviewed by Agence Europe on Wednesday. Mr Clergeau sees “no questioning or reopening” of existing water quality directives in the State of the Union address, a fact he considers rather reassuring.
However, he believes it is difficult, at this stage, to determine just how ambitious the future “European Water initiative” will be. For the Socialist MEP, priority must be given to “network modernisation” and guaranteeing access to water “at a fair price for all citizens, everywhere in Europe”.
The MEP warned against increased exploitation of water resources to sustain current production models. Economic models must “learn to become less resource-intensive”, he argued, deeming it unfeasible “to exacerbate conflicts over usage and draw on ever-increasing amounts of water to maintain the same agricultural production system” while the environment is changing rapidly.
It will be necessary to wait for the Commission’s work in 2027 to determine the precise scope of the announced initiative.
There remains the question of funding. Mr Clergeau doubts that any existing directive can provide the necessary framework for massive investment in network modernisation, and he questions what resources are planned for this purpose within the EU’s 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). For the Socialists, investment in water networks and their sustainable management is essential. “It certainly seems to me that this requires a new initiative”, Mr Clergeau said, noting that his stance on a potential revision of the Framework Directive would depend on the content of the Commission’s proposal.
Defending the ‘Green Deal’. Iratxe García Pérez (S&D, Spanish) advocated continuing the European Green Deal and warned that simplification must not turn into deregulation. She opposed cuts to post-2027 funding for the common agricultural policy (CAP), cohesion policy and social investment.
Terry Reintke (Greens/EFA, German) condemned attacks on the ‘Green Deal’ and called for a committee of inquiry into its implementation, a timetable for phasing out fossil fuels and a windfall tax in order to “make polluters pay rather than consumers”. She cited the revenue losses suffered by cereal growers due to the heatwave.
European water service operators (EurEau) welcomed the Commission’s announcement. EurEau believes that placing water and water security higher on the European agenda “reflects the reality” facing water services. The organisation emphasises the need for investment to reduce network leaks and awaits details of the new initiative, while noting that the EU already has a “substantial body” of legislation in this area. See the Commission’s letter of intent: https://aeur.eu/f/ngk. See Ms von der Leyen’s speech: https://aeur.eu/f/ngm (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)