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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

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Committee on Industry, Research and Energy · Rapporteur: Lina Gálvez Muñoz

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Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

The committee opinion amends the proposed directive on water pollution, prioritizing source-control measures, adding PFAS and pharmaceuticals to pollutant lists, and allowing digital monitoring technologies. It requires immediate notification of transboundary pollution incidents, sets a 20-year phase-out timeline for priority hazardous substances, and mandates EU-wide technical guidelines for online pollution monitoring. The opinion also calls for the Commission to propose reviews of pollutant lists, include at least five substances on groundwater watch lists and ten on surface water watch lists, and establish guidelines for PFAS monitoring by 2025.

Committee position. The committee proposes amendments to the directive, prioritizing source-control, adding PFAS and pharmaceuticals to pollutant lists, and allowing digital monitoring technologies.

Key points

  1. Source-control measures should be prioritized; end-of-pipe measures only if source control fails to achieve good water status.
  2. Add a subset of specific PFAS and PFAS total to groundwater and surface water pollutant lists; add pharmaceuticals to priority substances list.
  3. Member States should apply effect-based monitoring for estrogenic substances for at least two years; chemical status classification should not create disparities.
  4. The Commission should be empowered to adopt delegated acts to amend pollutant lists and quality standards, taking into account scientific progress.
  5. ECHA should have a permanent role in prioritising substances and deriving quality standards; process should be transparent and allow time for scientific evaluation.
  6. Member States may use remote sensing, earth observation, in-situ sensors, citizen science data, and AI for monitoring, respecting technological neutrality.
  7. Member States must immediately inform downstream Member States and the Commission of pollution incidents and cooperate to mitigate effects.
  8. Member States should support training and skills development for digital tools; information should be accessible in national languages.
  9. Priority hazardous substances include those under hazard classes in the Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation, where relevant to aquatic environment.
  10. Environmental quality standard definition includes trigger values from effect-based methods; measures to reduce pollution should aim to eliminate pollution at source.
  11. Member States must protect vulnerable sites like groundwater-dependent Natura 2000 sites from pollution or drainage.
  12. The Commission shall submit proposals for review of pollutant lists every six years; by 2025 establish PFAS monitoring guidelines, by 2026 set PFAS total quality standards.

Who is affected

  • Member States: must implement source-control measures, notify downstream states of pollution, and use digital monitoring technologies.
  • Drinking water and waste water operators: will have access to inventories of emissions in digital databases.
  • European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): given a permanent role in prioritising substances and deriving quality standards.
  • Commission: tasked with adopting delegated acts, establishing guidelines, and submitting review proposals.

Figures and deadlines

  • 20 years: timeline for phasing out emissions of priority hazardous substances after listing.
  • At least 5 substances on groundwater watch list.
  • At least 10 substances on surface water watch list.
  • 12 January 2025: deadline for PFAS monitoring guidelines.
  • 12 January 2026: deadline for setting PFAS total quality standards.
  • Two years: period for effect-based monitoring of estrogenic substances.