The Council of the European Union has issued a call for comments on priority substances in water, following up on the Working Party on the Environment meeting of 3 September 2024. The request, published on 13 July 2026, seeks input from member states and stakeholders to inform the Council's position on the revision of the list of priority substances under the Water Framework Directive.
The call for comments comes after the European Parliament adopted its position on 24 April 2024, broadly supporting the Commission's proposal but with significant amendments to strengthen environmental protection, data collection, and public participation. The Parliament voted 452 in favour, 43 against, and 83 abstentions. Among the key amendments, the Parliament rejected the deletion of Article 16 and the 20-year timeline for phasing out priority hazardous substances, and called for stricter quality standards for pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and PFAS. It also proposed a revision of the pollutant list every four years instead of six, prioritised source control over end-of-pipe measures, and added provisions on access to justice, real-time monitoring, and extended producer responsibility.
The Council's request for contributions aims to gather views on the Parliament's amendments and the Commission's original proposal, as well as on technical aspects such as monitoring methods, delegated acts, and reporting formats. The outcome will shape the Council's negotiating position for trilogue discussions with the Parliament and the Commission.
The revision of the priority substances list is a key element of the EU's water policy, aiming to reduce pollution and protect aquatic ecosystems. The Commission's proposal, tabled in October 2022, updated the list of priority substances and introduced new environmental quality standards for several pollutants, including pharmaceuticals and PFAS. The Parliament's position, adopted in April 2024, went further by setting stricter limits and calling for more frequent updates and enhanced monitoring.
The revision will affect water utilities, which may face higher treatment costs to meet stricter standards; agricultural producers, particularly those using pesticides, who could see tighter restrictions; pharmaceutical companies, which may need to invest in pollution prevention; and environmental NGOs, which have pushed for stronger protections. The Parliament's amendments, if adopted, would increase compliance costs for industry but provide greater environmental and health benefits for citizens.
The Council is expected to adopt its general approach in the coming months, after which trilogue negotiations with the Parliament and the Commission will begin. The call for comments closes on 30 September 2026.