The European Commission has announced its October infringements package, which includes several cases related to water wirectives. The Commission has opened new infringement procedures or escalated existing ones against Finland, Portugal, and Sweden, emphasizing the need for compliance with EU water directives to protect public health and the environment.
The Commission calls on Finland to comply with the Water Framework Directive
The European Commission has initiated an infringement procedure against Finland (INFR(2024)2196) for failing to comply with the Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC). This Directive requires EU Member States to create a programme of measures for each river basin district to ensure that water bodies such as rivers and lakes maintain a "good status." These measures must be incorporated into river basin management plans, which are to be reviewed and updated every six years.
Finland's infringement pertains to the insufficient periodic review of control measures for different types of water use, as laid out in the WFD. As a result, the Commission has sent a letter of formal notice, giving Finland two months to address the identified shortcomings. Should Finland fail to provide a satisfactory response, the Commission may proceed with a reasoned opinion.
The Commission calls on Portugal to ensure proper collection and treatment of urban waste water
In a similar effort to address water management issues, the European Commission has opened an infringement procedure against Portugal (INFR(2024)2193) for non-compliance with the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (Directive 91/271/EEC). This Directive mandates that urban waste water must be collected and treated before discharge to protect both human health and the environment.
The Commission has identified deficiencies in 20 agglomerations across Portugal, where urban waste water is not being adequately treated before it is released into the environment. Furthermore, three agglomerations are discharging untreated waste water into sensitive areas without implementing the required stricter treatment standards. The Commission has sent a letter of formal notice to Portugal, allowing two months to address these issues. If Portugal does not respond with adequate corrective measures, the Commission may issue a reasoned opinion as the next step in the infringement procedure.
The Commission calls on Sweden to communicate measures transposing the Drinking Water Directive
The European Commission has escalated its infringement procedure against Sweden (INFR(2023)0098) by issuing an additional reasoned opinion for failing to communicate the transposition of the recast Drinking Water Directive (Directive (EU) 2020/2184) into national law. The Directive, which aims to enhance water quality standards and tackle pollutants such as microplastics and endocrine disruptors, also includes provisions for ensuring clean tap water and improving access to drinking water.
Sweden had to transpose this Directive into national law and comply with its provisions by 12 January 2023 but failed to do so, prompting the Commission to send a letter of formal notice in March 2023 and a reasoned opinion in December 2023. Following further assessment, the Commission found additional gaps in Sweden's legislation, particularly concerning the parameters for risk assessment in domestic water distribution systems. As a result, the Commission has expanded the scope of its grievances and has given Sweden another two months to take corrective measures. If the Swedish authorities do not comply, the case may be referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
