Aqua Publica Europea deeply regrets today's vote at the European Parliament in favour of a motion for resolution on the recast Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD), calling for the suspension of the implementation of quaternary treatment and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) provisions.

This decision increases uncertainty around the implementation of the Directive and ultimately delays action to address the growing challenge of pollutants in our water resources.

As a shared resource, water management inevitably involves trade-offs and difficult decisions. However, precisely because the quality and availability of water matter to every citizen and business, we are concerned that the request for a third impact assessment, to be conducted and published by the end of 2026, would not allow sufficient time for a thorough, comprehensive, and evidence-based evaluation of the consequences. Future discussions on the implementation of key legislation must be grounded in facts, robust scientific analysis, and a comprehensive assessment of impacts, beyond traditional party divisions.

Protecting water resources requires long-term vision, regulatory certainty, and constructive dialogue among all stakeholders.