The European Commission published an evaluation of the Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC) on 15 July 2026, presenting detailed water quality data from 1992 to 2023 for all Member States. The evaluation, released as a Commission staff working document, provides a comprehensive analysis of nitrate concentrations in groundwater and surface water, as well as eutrophication status, across eight reporting periods from RP1 (1992-1995) through RP8 (2020-2023).
The document includes an annex with graphic evolution of nitrates concentrations for each Member State, covering the full three-decade span. For long-term trend analysis covering 2008-2023, the Commission used NUTS3 regional averages instead of individual monitoring points, citing data inconsistencies such as station turnover and changes in station names or coordinates over time. The Joint Research Centre prepared maps showing NUTS3 average annual concentration trends for groundwater and surface water, categorised as decreasing, stable, or increasing.
The evaluation notes that Netherlands data for RP5 (2008-2011) and RP6 (2012-2015) contains previous reporting errors that could not be corrected in subsequent reports, potentially affecting trend analysis for that Member State. The aggregated NUTS3 approach was adopted to overcome monitoring inconsistencies, providing both Member State-level and regional trend analysis of nitrate pollution over three decades.
The evaluation affects EU farmers and agricultural producers, who may face future regulatory adjustments based on the findings; national environmental authorities, which will need to address identified data gaps and potentially revise action programmes; EU water utilities and drinking water suppliers, which rely on accurate nitrate trend data for compliance planning; and environmental NGOs, which will use the data to advocate for stricter implementation. The evaluation does not propose new legislation but serves as a basis for potential future revisions of the directive, with the European Parliament and Council expected to consider the findings in upcoming policy discussions.