Joint letter calling for safeguarding Europe’s water resilience
On Friday, 21 November, Aqua Publica Europea together with four water sector organisations, sent a letter to European Commission Vice-President Teresa Ribera, Commissioner Jessika Roswall, Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis and Commission Secretary-General Ilze Juhansone calling them to safeguard Europe´s Water Resilience – ensure legal security and effective implementation of the water acquis.
Aqua Publica Europea, together with four water sector organisations (European Water Association, EurEau, Water Europe and AquaFed), has signed a joint letter calling for safeguarding Europe’s water resilience by ensuring legal security and effective implementation of the EU water acquis.
The signatories urge the European Commission not to include water-related legislative provisions in the forthcoming Environmental Omnibus package, in particular those linked to the Water Framework Directive (WFD), the recast Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) and the water-related provisions of the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED).
Europe faces unprecedented water challenges—from scarcity and droughts to floods and increasing pollution—requiring stability and clarity in the legal framework. Modifying pieces of legislation that are key to achieving the objectives of the Water Resilience Strategy and that are still in the process of implementation would create uncertainty, undermine investments, and weaken progress toward resilience and sustainability. In particular, any delays for the implementation of the extended producer responsibility schemes in the UWWTD would jeopardise investments in quaternary treatment.
The signatories support efforts to simplify and digitalise permitting and data processes to reduce administrative burdens, provided that such measures do not compromise environmental objectives. These improvements should take place within the existing legislative framework to avoid disrupting implementation. Achieving water resilience will depend on enhanced implementation of the comprehensive EU water acquis.
The signatories call on the European Commission to:
- Exclude the UWWTD, the WFD and the water efficiency provision of the IED from the upcoming and any subsequent Environmental Omnibus regulations.
- Focus on supporting implementation of current directives and the Water Resilience Strategy.
- Safeguard progress by ensuring a clear, predictable regulatory environment.
