Pollution, droughts, floods. EU to the test of the “water problem”

Brussels – Record pollution in the Baltic Sea, increasingly long periods of drought in southern Italy, the very violent floods that are now hitting half of Europe. In all EU countries, in one way or another, there is a “water problem” to deal with. Ursula von der Leyen has promised a comprehensive strategy on water resilience and put Swedish Commissioner Jessika Roswall in charge of the project. In light of the reports released today (Feb. 4) by Brussels on progress made over the past six years to improve the state of water in member countries, Roswall’s will not be an easy task.

The EU Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy took stock of the implementation of three important directives: the Water Framework Directive, the Floods Directive and the Marine Strategy Directive. “We have taken water for granted for so long, and now that is no longer the case,” Roswall bitterly noted at the press conference. The reports, in addition to assessing information received from member countries on national water conditions, actions taken to improve them, and plans to reduce flood risks, provide tailored recommendations to EU capitals to advance implementation of the directives.

“I am not here to point fingers at anyone; it is a starting point for working with member states,” the commissioner clarified. But the EU executive has no choice but to use the old “carrot and stick” method—explains a source close to the dossier—alternating technical and economic assistance to achieve ambitious targets and infringement proceedings against the laziest capitals. “Our goal is not to take people to court but to have good water,” the source continues. The problem, however, is that while “since the 1990s member states have made huge improvements in water pollution, now we are at a standstill.” The question is whether the political will has failed.

However, “with more than three-quarters of Europeans supporting EU action to address water issues, we have a clear mandate to act,” Roswall stressed. Member states generally have improved knowledge and monitoring of surface and groundwater bodies, increased spending, and improved implementation of the Water Framework Directive, although there are significant regional differences. However, the average health of EU surface water bodies remains critical: only 39.5 per cent achieve good ecological status, a percentage that drops to 26.8 when looking at water with good chemical status. This is due, the European Commission admits, “mainly to widespread contamination by mercury and other toxic pollutants.”

Drought in Sicily in summer 2024 (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO / AFP)

Indeed, so far, member countries are not obliged to monitor the use of PFAS, the perfluoroalkyl substances used in many industrial and consumer products that have been present for decades in groundwater in half of Europe. In 2018, PFAS had not been included in the list of pollutants to be monitored. But now the mandatory review of the list is in the home stretch, and unless member states object, the monitoring of PFAS levels in water will become mandatory. “Not only monitoring but also compliance with a maximum value” is specified by the European Commission. Roswall also reiterated that Brussels will impose a ban on the use of PFAS in consumer products, while on use in industry, “we will have a discussion.”

Europe’s seas are not in the best of health either, or at least of political attention. According to the report on the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, only “some limited progress” has been made toward introducing and implementing measures to meet targets, particularly with regard to marine litter. And despite “considerable improvements” in flood risk management, “most” of the national plans received in Brussels had not included quantitative targets, “making it difficult to draw conclusions on the effectiveness“ of risk management.

Among its recommendations to member countries, Brussels stressed the importance of “increasing compliance with the directive, meeting pollution limits, particularly nutrient pollution from agriculture, and ensuring that wastewater discharges are properly managed to protect the environment and human health.” There is also a need to “ensure sufficient funding to fill gaps” and to “promote water reuse and increase efficiency and circularity to prevent over-exploitation of aquifers, combat illegal withdrawals, and mitigate droughts.”

At the press conference, Roswall was asked to assess the Italian case. The newly appointed commissioner diagnosed Italy with “needing to reduce nutrients in water and chemical pollution, improve reporting on water use, better address illegal extractions, and strengthen monitoring and implementation of nature-based solutions.” She added, “I look forward to working with Italy to address these shared goals and ensure sustainable management of water resources.”