European Commission’s reckless move risks derailing water protections

European Commission’s decision

In a shocking turn for Europe's environment, the European Commission has committed to reviewing and revising the Water Framework Directive by the second quarter of 2026 under the RESourceEU Action Plan, with the stated goal of improving “access to critical raw materials in the EU”. This step is described as extremely worrying, because opening up the directive in this way risks weakening the standards that currently safeguard European waters.

Threat to water protections

The move is portrayed as putting the interests of the mining industry ahead of environmental protection and public interest. Critics warn that revising the directive in this context could undermine long-standing rules designed to protect rivers, lakes, groundwater, and coastal waters from pollution and over‑exploitation.

Role of the Water Framework Directive

Adopted 25 years ago, the Water Framework Directive became the cornerstone of EU water protection policy. It sets legally binding requirements to prevent the deterioration of water bodies and to restore them to good status within clear deadlines.

Concerns of civil society

Civil society organisations call on the European Commission to assess objectively whether the directive needs any revision at all. They insist that any evaluation must rely on scientific evidence and comprehensive data, not on anecdotal claims from a limited number of polluting industries.

Key quote

Adopted 25 years ago, the Water Framework Directive became the cornerstone of EU water protection. It sets legally binding standards to safeguard rivers, lakes, groundwater, and coastal waters.

Author’s summary: The planned review of the Water Framework Directive risks diluting core EU water safeguards in favour of raw‑materials access, prompting strong concern from environmental and civil society groups.

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European Environmental Bureau European Environmental Bureau — 2025-12-05

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