On 13 July 2026, the EU Council issued a request for contributions on the Substances in Water Directive, following a Working Party on the Environment (WPE) meeting held on 12 June 2023. The document invites member states and stakeholders to submit comments on a series of compromise amendments and draft amendments ahead of the European Parliament's ENVI Committee vote scheduled for 27 June 2023. The vote will decide on 17 compromise amendments and around 340 draft amendments covering key issues such as delegated powers for the Commission to update pollutant lists, phase-out timelines for priority hazardous substances (PHS), environmental quality standards (EQS) for PFAS and bisphenols, and harmonised monitoring methods for microplastics and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs).
The request builds on earlier preparatory work. The AGRI Committee delivered its opinion on 23 May 2023, with 36 votes in favour, none against, and 10 abstentions, addressing agricultural water use, delegated acts, groundwater pesticide standards, and administrative burden. The first WPE meeting took place on 11 November 2022 under the Czech Presidency, with initial observations due by 31 December 2022 from Denmark, Italy, Finland, Portugal, and Spain. Topics raised included chemical status definition, effect-based methods (EBMs), electronic reporting, and PFAS limits.
The ENVI vote will determine the Parliament's position on several contentious elements. Delegated powers remain a point of divergence: some member states favour tighter Commission control over updating pollutant lists, while others seek to limit delegation to ensure national flexibility. The phase-out timeline for PHS is another cleavage, with environmental groups pushing for an accelerated schedule and industry cautioning against disproportionate costs. On monitoring, the comparison between EBMs and conventional analysis for estrogens reflects a split between innovation advocates and those prioritising established methods.
Stakeholder impact is significant. EU water utilities face potential new compliance costs from expanded monitoring requirements for microplastics and ARGs, while chemical producers (especially PFAS and bisphenol manufacturers) may need to reformulate products if stricter EQS are adopted. Environmental NGOs stand to gain from tighter phase-out deadlines and broader watch lists, but member states with high agricultural runoff could face increased administrative burden from groundwater pesticide standards. The AGRI opinion's call to reduce administrative burden suggests tension between farm sector interests and water protection goals.
after the ENVI vote, the Parliament will adopt its first-reading position, triggering trilogue negotiations with the Council and Commission. The Council's call for comments indicates it is still gathering input to shape its own negotiating stance. The outcome of the 27 June vote will therefore set the stage for interinstitutional bargaining on delegated powers, phase-out ambition, and monitoring harmonisation.