Water Framework Directive under review: risks for Europe’s water
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Advocacy
Living Rivers Europe coalition warns that revising the WFD will lead to more pollution and nature destruction.
The European Commission has announced plans to review and revise the Water Framework Directive (WFD), as a part of its RESourceEU Action Plan. While the WFD is a cornerstone of EU environmental legislation, designed to protect rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands, groundwater, and coastal waters, there is growing concern that the proposed revision could weaken these protections.
The Water Framework Directive has been instrumental in preventing further degradation of Europe’s freshwater ecosystems and in ensuring their health for people, nature, and climate resilience. Healthy waters provide essential benefits, from supporting biodiversity and wetland ecosystems to sustaining economic activities and safeguarding communities against climate impacts.
The Living Rivers Europe coalition warns that the upcoming revision could lead to increased pollution and further destruction of natural habitats, putting at risk Europe’s water resilience and citizens’ trust in EU environmental policy. For wetlands in particular, which depend on strong water protection measures, any weakening of the WFD could have serious consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Wetlands International Europe emphasises the need to maintain, not dilute, the robust protections of the WFD to secure the health of Europe’s waters and wetlands for current and future generations.
