The General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union has issued a request for comments from the Working Party on the Environment on a Presidency compromise text aimed at amending EU water legislation on priority substances. The deadline for member states to submit their positions is Monday, 15 January 2024.
The compromise text, presented in a two-column table, proposes updates to the lists of priority substances and environmental quality standards (EQS) for surface and groundwater, based on new scientific knowledge. Key changes include the addition of PFAS and pharmaceuticals to the priority lists, and the inclusion of micro-plastics and antimicrobial resistance genes in watch lists. The text also widens the definition of 'chemical status' to cover river basin specific pollutants and introduces a repository of harmonised threshold values for groundwater pollutants.
Delegations are asked to indicate whether they agree with the Presidency compromise, prefer the original Commission text, or propose an alternative. Comments must be sent to the current and incoming Presidencies, the European Commission, and the Council Secretariat.
The document, published on 13 July 2026, follows discussions in the Working Party on the Environment on 11 December 2023. The proposed amendments would empower the Commission to adopt delegated acts to amend Annex I to Directive 2008/105/EC and Annex I to Directive 2006/118/EC.
EU water regulators and national authorities will face updated monitoring and compliance requirements for new substances. Industry sectors, particularly chemical and pharmaceutical producers, may incur additional costs for pollution control and reporting. Environmental NGOs are likely to welcome stricter standards for PFAS and micro-plastics, while consumer groups may benefit from improved water quality. The delegated powers granted to the Commission could streamline future updates but raise concerns about member state oversight.
After the 15 January deadline, the Presidency will compile member state positions and prepare a revised text for further discussion in the Working Party on the Environment, with a view to reaching a Council position before negotiations with the European Parliament.