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DRAFT OPINION (COM(2022)0540 – C90361/2022 – 2022/0344(COD))

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-PA-745250

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development · Rapporteur: Martin Häusling

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The draft opinion welcomes the proposed revision of EU water legislation and suggests targeted improvements, focusing on agriculture's role in water pollution and abstraction. It calls for better implementation, updated pollutant lists, improved monitoring of chemical mixtures and antimicrobial resistance, and stronger international cooperation on transboundary water issues. Member States must ensure efficient and sustainable water use in agriculture, with no exemption for agricultural abstraction from controls.

Committee position. The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development calls on the lead committee to take into account its amendments, which aim to strengthen provisions on agricultural water use, monitoring, and cooperation.

Key points

  1. The opinion supports the revision but proposes limited improvements to address implementation gaps, pollution, and climate impacts.
  2. Calls for updating pollutant lists and aligning obligations with latest science on contaminants of emerging concern, improving monitoring of chemical mixtures and data transparency.
  3. Highlights that agriculture is both a victim and contributor to water degradation, with nitrate and pesticide pollution from certain practices.
  4. Supports including antimicrobial resistance genes in watch lists and notes slaughterhouse water contains such genes.
  5. In exceptional circumstances affecting downstream Member States, requires immediate information and cooperation to investigate causes and address consequences.
  6. Monitoring programmes for groundwater must include the impact of agricultural abstraction practices.
  7. Requires measures to ensure efficient and sustainable water use in agriculture to avoid compromising water objectives.
  8. Controls on water abstraction must not exempt agricultural use.
  9. Member States must notify issues affecting water management that cannot be resolved alone or risk impacting another Member State.
  10. Member States must fully cooperate without delay to identify sources and measures, responding within two months.
  11. The Commission must be fully and timely informed and consider further Union action to reduce transboundary impacts.
  12. Residents of affected river basin districts must be adequately and timely informed.

Who is affected

  • Farmers and agricultural producers: face stricter controls on water abstraction and requirements for sustainable water use.
  • Member States: must implement monitoring, notification, and cooperation obligations, and inform residents.
  • Slaughterhouses: their water discharges are noted as containing antimicrobial resistance genes.

Figures and deadlines

  • Response time to notifications reduced from 3 months to two months.