The European Union Water Framework Directive, taking European water policyinto the next millennium

The European Union is currently thoroughly restructuring its water policy. A proposal by the European Commission for a Water Framework Directive is cu rrently being negotiated at the European Parliament and the Council of Mini sters. This legislation will have the following main objectives: expanding the scope of water protection to all waters, surface waters and g roundwater achieving "good status" for all waters by a certain deadline water management based on river basins "combined approach" of emission limit values and quality standards getting the prices right getting the citizen involved more closely streamlining legislation The progress on negotiating the future European water legislation seems to indicate a final adoption in 1999. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science L td on behalf of the IAWQ. All rights reserved.