Implementation of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) and risks to the security of supply of medicines

12.6.2026 B100238/2026 }

B100240/2026 }

B100241/2026 }

B100281/2026 } RC1/Am. 1

Amendment 1

Oliver Schenk

on behalf of the PPE Group

Joint motion for a resolution

S&D, Renew, Verts/ALE, The Left

Implementation of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) and risks to the security of supply of medicines

Joint motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6

Joint motion for a resolution

Amendment

6. Calls on the Commission to produce a new independent study by the end of 2026 identifying the list of substances present in urban wastewater, verifying the costs of quaternary treatment and the attribution of responsibility to the relevant sectors under the polluter pays principle, and identifying the potential impact on the availability, affordability and accessibility of medicines, in particular generic and critical medicines and their active substances; considers that the Member States, through the Human Pharmaceutical Committee, and the European Environment Agency and the European Medicines Agency should be appropriately involved in the study, within their areas of competence; calls on the Commission to accelerate, if necessary on the basis of the study results, the evaluation of the allocation of substances, and also, if necessary, to immediately reattribute EPR obligations to the sectors identified as responsible; considers that, if the results of the study demonstrate significant risk to the affordability, availability and accessibility of medicines, in particular critical and generic medicines, the Commission should swiftly adopt safeguards to guarantee the security of supply of these medicines;

6. Calls on the Commission to produce a new independent study by the end of 2026 identifying the list of substances present in urban wastewater, verifying the costs of quaternary treatment and the attribution of responsibility to the relevant sectors under the polluter pays principle, and identifying the potential impact on the availability, affordability and accessibility of medicines, in particular generic and critical medicines and their active substances; considers that the Member States, through the Human Pharmaceutical Committee, and the European Environment Agency and the European Medicines Agency should be appropriately involved in the study, within their areas of competence; calls on the Commission to accelerate, if necessary on the basis of the study results, the evaluation of the allocation of substances, and also, if necessary, to immediately reattribute EPR obligations to the sectors identified as responsible; calls on the Commission to issue a communication by the end of July 2026 informing Member States about the independent study and the flexibilities under the directive to ensure the accessibility, availability and affordability of medicines, and to take the necessary measures to monitor the security of supply of medicines and crisis preparedness and avoid unintended consequences for the supply of medicines, including consequences arising from the EPR provisions; considers that, if the results of the study demonstrate significant risk to the affordability, availability and accessibility of medicines, in particular critical and generic medicines, the Commission should swiftly adopt safeguards to guarantee the security of supply of these medicines, including a temporary suspension of EPR obligations;

Or. en

12.6.2026 B100238/2026 }

B100240/2026 }

B100241/2026 }

B100281/2026 } RC1/Am. 2

Amendment 2

Oliver Schenk

on behalf of the PPE Group

Joint motion for a resolution

S&D, Renew, Verts/ALE, The Left

Implementation of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) and risks to the security of supply of medicines

Joint motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 a (new)

Joint motion for a resolution

Amendment

6a. Calls on the Commission to make progress on the adoption of implementing acts on the scope of obligations relating to quaternary treatment, to give clarity to the Member States, wastewater operators and relevant stakeholders with regard to the associated costs;

Or. en

12.6.2026 B100238/2026 }

B100240/2026 }

B100241/2026 }

B100281/2026 } RC1/Am. 3

Amendment 3

Oliver Schenk

on behalf of the PPE Group

Joint motion for a resolution

S&D, Renew, Verts/ALE, The Left

Implementation of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) and risks to the security of supply of medicines

Joint motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10

Joint motion for a resolution

Amendment

10. Stresses that medicine shortages are already a major and growing challenge in the EU; highlights the need to safeguard EU pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity and supply chain resilience;

10. Stresses that medicine shortages are already a major and growing challenge in the EU; highlights the need to safeguard EU pharmaceutical research, development and manufacturing capacity and supply chain resilience;

Or. en