Commissioner Roswall, on behalf of the European Commission, has defended the EU's regulatory framework on nitrate pollution while declining to launch a new study linking nitrates to bowel cancer, in a written answer to a parliamentary question from The Left MEP Per Clausen. The answer signals the Commission's reliance on existing enforcement mechanisms and upcoming evaluations rather than new legislative or scientific initiatives.
The question, submitted on 3 March 2026, follows a lawsuit by the Danish municipality of Aalborg against the Danish government for DKK 1.1 billion over rising costs to purify drinking water contaminated by nitrates from agriculture. Clausen cited reports linking nitrate pollution to 74 annual bowel cancer diagnoses in Aalborg alone.
In her answer, Roswall reiterated that the Nitrates Directive requires Member States to implement action programmes to prevent nitrate concentrations exceeding 50 mg/l in groundwater, though Member States may set stricter standards. She noted that the Commission is finalising an evaluation of the Directive, expected later in 2026, and preparing an EU summary report based on Member State reports for 2020-2023. The Commission has also initiated infringement proceedings to ensure enforcement.
On the question of a new study on bowel cancer cases linked to nitrates, Roswall declined, stating the Commission does not conduct scientific studies on individual cancer risk factors. Instead, she pointed to existing EU initiatives under Europe's Beating Cancer Plan, including the European Code Against Cancer and the EUCanScreen joint action on screening.
The answer contains no concrete new proposals, numerical targets, or deadlines beyond the ongoing evaluation. It reaffirms the Commission's position that current tools under the Nitrates Directive and Common Agricultural Policy are sufficient, while leaving room for future adjustments based on the evaluation.
The Commission maintains a cautious, enforcement-focused approach, resisting calls for stricter EU-wide standards or new health studies. It emphasises Member State responsibility and existing EU support mechanisms.
The Nitrates Directive evaluation later in 2026 may lead to legislative proposals or revised guidelines, but the answer provides no specific timeline or commitment beyond the evaluation's publication.