On 12 June 2026, the European Parliament's EPP group tabled amendments to a joint resolution on the implementation of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD), calling for a new independent study before finalising cost attribution for quaternary treatment. The amendments aim to assess the impact of the polluter-pays principle on the security of supply, affordability, and accessibility of medicines, particularly generics, reflecting concerns that shifting costs to pharmaceutical producers could lead to shortages or price increases.
The joint resolution, co-tabled by S&D, Renew, Verts/ALE, and The Left, broadly supports the UWWTD's environmental objectives, including the removal of micropollutants. The EPP's amendments introduce two key changes. First, Amendment 1 requests a new independent study by end of 2026 to identify substances in wastewater, assess quaternary treatment costs, and evaluate the impact on medicine availability. Second, Amendment 2 urges the Commission to advance implementing acts defining the scope of quaternary treatment obligations to provide legal and financial certainty to Member States and wastewater operators.
No other political group tabled amendments, suggesting broad satisfaction with the original text. The EPP's cautious approach highlights a cleavage between environmental protection and industrial competitiveness, specifically the risk that stringent micropollutant removal rules could undermine Europe's pharmaceutical supply chain. The amendments effectively pause the political process of assigning financial responsibility until economic and supply-side risks are quantified.
Pharmaceutical producers, especially generic manufacturers, face potential cost increases if the polluter-pays principle is applied, which could reduce margins or lead to market exits. EU consumers may experience higher medicine prices or shortages if supply is disrupted. Wastewater operators gain regulatory clarity on quaternary treatment obligations but may face delayed investment decisions pending the study. EU regulatory bodies (Commission, Member States) must balance environmental targets with industrial policy, potentially slowing implementation.
The amendments will be debated in plenary, with a vote on the joint resolution expected later in the session. The Council's position on UWWTD implementation remains to be seen, and trilogue negotiations may follow if the Parliament adopts a revised text.