On Tuesday 23 September, the EU Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on updating the Water Framework Directive and its two daughter directives (the Groundwater Directive and the Surface Water Directive).
This revision aims to reduce groundwater and surface water pollution and improve EU water quality standards, in particular by revising the lists of pollutants to be monitored and controlled.
These lists, for which environmental quality standards apply, have been expanded. PFASs (known as “forever pollutants”), certain pharmaceuticals, industrial substances, and irrelevant pesticide metabolites have been included in the scope of the Groundwater Directive. For surface water, the list of priority substances subject to limit values will also include PFAS (including trifluoroacetic acid, known as TFA), new medicines (including Diclofenac and Ibuprofen), industrial substances (bisphenol A) and pesticides (glyphosate). A monitoring list of substances of potential concern, which may be added at a later date, will be created for groundwater.
As expected (see EUROPE 13711/7), the EU Council has obtained two exemptions to the principle of non-deterioration of watercourses (in the case of temporary pollution of watercourses and in the case of relocation of contaminated water bodies).
The deadline for compliance with the new standards has been set at 2039, with possible derogations to extend it to 2045.
“This agreement ensures that Europe’s water legislation keeps pace with science and emerging pollutants”, said Danish Minister for Environment, Magnus Heunicke.
The Council and Parliament still have to ratify the provisional agreement before it can be formally adopted. Member States will have until 21 December 2027 to transpose the Directive into national law. (Original version in French by Florent Servia)