Is the EU complying with the Water Framework Directive? Analysis of the state of water in Europe

Water sampling in the Lozoya river, Spain. Credit: González-Cebrián/SWM.

Water is an essential resource for life, the economy and ecological balance, but its management in the European Union continues to face major challenges. This is confirmed by the European Commission's latest report on the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the third river basin management plans (RBMPs) (2022-2027), which highlights the progress and shortcomings of water management on the continent.

The document provides a detailed analysis of the state of water resources in the EU, the impact of environmental pressures and the challenges faced by Member States in meeting the WFD objectives by 2027. Although some progress has been made, the data show a worrying reality: water quality in the EU is not improving at the necessary pace and most countries will not achieve a “good ecological status” by the deadline.

Delays in the implementation of the Water Framework Directive

One of the main problems highlighted by the European Commission is the delay in the submission and adoption of the third river basin management plans. Although Member States were supposed to submit them by March 2022, many have not done so on time. As a result, the Commission has initiated legal proceedings against several countries (Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Slovenia, Ireland and Portugal) that have not yet submitted their documents. In Spain, although most of the river basin management plans have been submitted, the Canary Islands have not sent the corresponding information, which affects the overall assessment of the country.

Ecological status or potential of EU average surface water bodies. Source: European Commission.

Surface water status

According to the report, only 39.5% of surface water bodies in the EU have achieved a good ecological status, a similar percentage as in the previous cycle (2016-2021). Moreover, in some countries the situation has worsened: Poland (-22.9%), Lithuania (-15.5%), Slovakia (-14.9%), Croatia (-9.1%) and Estonia (-7.6%) have recorded a significant reduction in their water quality.

The main pressures affecting surface water bodies are:

- Diffuse pollution from agriculture (nitrates and pesticides).

- Urban and industrial wastewater discharges.

- Hydro-morphological changes (reservoirs, canalisations, dredging).

Water quality in the EU is not improving at the necessary pace and most countries will not achieve a “good ecological status” by the 2027 deadline

In terms of chemical status, one of the most worrying findings of the report is that only 26.8% of EU surface waters meet chemical quality standards, down from 33.5% in 2015. The main cause of this deterioration is the presence of “ubiquitous, persistent , bioaccumulative and toxic substances” (uPBTs), including:

- Mercury.

- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

- Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), used in plastics and textiles.

Change in the chemical status assessment of EU surface water bodies from the first, second and third RBMPs (all substances, including uPBTs). Source: WISE freshwater and PDF data mining.

Without these compounds, the percentage of water bodies achieving good chemical status would be 81%, indicating that the problem lies with legacy pollution and current industrial emissions.

Change in the chemical status assessment of EU surface water bodies from the second and third RBMPs (without uPBTs). Source: WISE freshwater and PDF data mining.

Groundwater: slight improvements, but persistent threats

For groundwater bodies, 86% were in good chemical status, an improvement from 82.2% in 2015. However, nitrate pollution remains the main problem in most of Europe. In this respect, only Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania do not report that nitrates prevent them from achieving good groundwater chemical status.

Pesticides and their metabolites are responsible for the failure to achieve good chemical status in nine Member States (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands). Phosphate and ammonium, which also originate mainly from intensive agriculture and livestock farming, also lead to poor chemical status and have a particular impact in countries such as Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Change in the chemical status assessment of EU groundwater bodies from the first, second and third RBMPs. Source: WISE freshwater and PDF data mining.

Regarding the quantitative status of groundwater, the report indicates that 95% of groundwater bodies were in good quantitative status, a slight improvement from 92.4% in the previous cycle. However, concerns about overexploitation persist in some regions, especially those with high agricultural and urban pressure.

The main causes of deterioration in quantitative status include:

- Over-abstraction of water for agricultural and industrial demand.

- Saline intrusion into coastal aquifers due to overexploitation.

- Impact of climate change on aquifer recharge.

Change in the quantitative status assessment of EU’s groundwater bodies from the first, second and third RBMPs. Source: WISE freshwater and PDF data mining.

Why is the EU still far from achieving the WFD objectives?

Despite efforts and regulations, the EU is still far from meeting the WFD objectives. Among the main reasons are:

Lack of policy integration: there are conflicts between the WFD and other sectoral policies, such as the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which continues to promote agricultural practices that contribute to water pollution.
Slow adoption of measures: Member States have been slow to implement the actions needed to improve water status.
Economic and social pressures: Sectors such as agriculture, industry and tourism exert great pressure on water resources, making it difficult to manage them sustainably.
Climate change and extreme events: Droughts and floods have increased in frequency and intensity, aggravating water availability and quality problems.

The main reasons the EU is still far from achieving EU objectives are lack of policy integration, slow adoption of measures, economic and social pressures, and climate change and extreme events

The report also highlights the reasons why many Member States have not implemented the necessary measures to reduce pressures on water resources. The main obstacles include:

Lack of financing (mentioned by 86% of the countries assessed).
Delays in implementing measures (81%).
Lack of adequate national mechanisms, such as regulations or other measures not adopted (70%).
Governance problems (57%).

What needs to change by 2027?

The European Commission recognises that, despite progress, the EU will fail to meet the objectives of the Water Framework Directive by 2027 without a drastic change in the implementation of measures. To reverse this trend, the report recommends:

Strengthening the monitoring and control of pollutants.
Stricter restrictions on the use of fertilisers and pesticides.
Securing the necessary funding for water infrastructure.
Strengthen the integration of water policy with other sectoral strategies.

The report is a clear call to action for governments and water managers in Europe. Without real commitment, aquatic ecosystems will continue to degrade and access to quality water will become increasingly uncertain.