On the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2000/60/EC establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, Directive 2006/118/EC on the protection of groundwater against pollution and deterioration and Directive 2008/105/EC on environmental quality standards in the field of water policy
AGRI-AD-745250
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development · Rapporteur: Martin Häusling
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The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development proposes amendments to the Commission's water directives revision, focusing on agriculture's role in water quality and quantity, and calling for better implementation, monitoring, and support for farmers.¶¶¶ Amendments address drought, pollution from agriculture, antimicrobial resistance, and the need for flexibility and funding, while ensuring food security and sustainable water use.¶¶¶
Committee position. The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development proposes targeted amendments to the proposed directive, focusing on agricultural concerns, water availability, and implementation, while supporting the overall revision.¶¶
Key points
- Calls for overcoming lack of implementation and updating pollutant lists in line with latest science, improving monitoring of chemical mixtures and data transparency.¶¶
- Highlights climate change impacts on water availability and agriculture, and stresses the need for international cooperation as seen in the Oder river incident.¶¶
- Supports including antimicrobial resistance genes in watch lists and draws attention to slaughterhouse wastewater as a source.¶¶
- Urges Member States to respect groundwater quality standards and ensure efficient, sustainable water use in agriculture, with controls on abstraction not excluding agricultural use.¶¶¶
- Proposes that environmental quality standards be defined using effect-based methods combined with chemical analysis and best available science.¶
- Requires immediate information and cooperation on exceptional circumstances like floods, fires, and droughts affecting downstream Member States.¶
- Amends Article 12 to require Member States to notify issues that might affect other Member States, and the Commission to respond within six months.¶¶
- Deletes the deletion of Articles 16 and 17 of Directive 2000/60/EC, preserving provisions for risk assessment and stakeholder involvement.¶¶
- Requires Member States to inform residents of river basin districts about threshold value changes and to base updates on scientific data and national monitoring.¶¶
- Limits watch list to five substances, avoids excessive costs and administrative burden, and includes microplastics and antimicrobial resistance genes when methods are ready.¶¶
- Asks the Commission to consider adding non-relevant metabolites of pesticides to watch lists, as drinking water standards do not set limit values for them.¶¶
- Calls for support for research and innovation in water management, including digitalisation, precision agriculture, and treated wastewater reuse, and for integrating water in CAP strategic plans.¶¶
Who is affected
- Farmers and agriculture: face water constraints and pollution, but also benefit from proposed incentives and support for sustainable practices.¶¶¶
- Member States: must improve implementation, monitoring, and cooperation, and ensure water quality standards are respected.¶¶¶
- Slaughterhouses: their wastewater is identified as containing antimicrobial resistance genes, potentially subject to monitoring.¶¶
- European Commission: to respond to notifications within six months and consider adding substances to watch lists.¶¶¶
Figures and deadlines
- 28% of all water consumed is used in agriculture, according to EEA statistics.¶
- Reduction of phytosanitary contamination by 14% compared to 2015-2017, and 26% for most harmful pollutants.¶
- Reduction of antibiotic burden in agriculture by 35% in the period 2011-2018.¶
- Watch list shall contain a maximum of five substances or groups of substances.¶