After 25 years of EU water legislation the European Union has just thorough
ly restructured its water policy. The European Parliament and the Council,
following a tough conciliation procedure between the two legislators, have
in summer 2000 agreed a proposal by the European Commission for a Water Fra
mework Directive. This legislation will have the following main objectives:
integrated river basin management across borders, with coordinated programm
es of measures
protection of all waters, surface waters and groundwater, in quality and qu
antity with a proper ecological dimension
emissions and discharges controlled by a "combined approach" of emission li
mit values and quality standards, plus the phasing out of particularly haza
rdous substances
introducing water pricing policies
strengthening public participation
This new Water Framework Directive adopted in September 2000 will complemen
t existing EU water legislation on nutrients reduction - the 1991 Directive
on nitrates pollution from agricultural sources and the 1991 Directive on
urban waste water treatment. These Directives will remain main pillars of E
U water policy whilst at the same time being integrated into the river basi
n management in a coherent way.