Proposal for a Directive concerning urban wastewater treatment (recast)

Summary:

Legislative initiative - tabled by the European Commission on 26 October 2022 - recasting the legislative framework concerning urban wastewater treatment. This is a text with EEA relevance.

Further information:

Council Directive 91/271/EEC - also known as the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) - was adopted in 1991. Its objective was to protect the environment from adverse effects of wastewater discharges from urban sources and specific industries. A REFIT assessment of the Directive was concluded in 2019 and confirmed that implementation led to a significant reduction of pollutant releases. However, it also identified some challenges, namely the remaining pollution from urban sources, the alignment of the Directive with the European Green Deal, the insufficient and uneven level of governance.

The draft law revising the Directive aims to address the above-mentioned challenges in a cost-effective way while keeping the Directive as simple as possible to ensure proper implementation and enforcement of its requirements. It is one of the deliverables of the Zero Pollution Action Plan adopted in 2021. The initiative was adopted by the European Commission on 26 October 2022 as part of a so-called Zero Pollution Package of legislative initiatives.

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Commentary and Analysis

Politico: Opinion, 26/10/2022: Sanitation of wastewater: the European Union paves the way https://www.politico.eu/sponsored-content/sanitation-of-wastewater-the-european-union-paves-the-way/

European Environment Bureau (EEB): Press Release, 26/10/2022: European Commission makes steps to tackle water pollution but falls short on chemical mixtures https://eeb.org/european-commission-makes-steps-to-tackle-water-pollution-but-falls-short-on-chemical-mixtures/

Water Europe: News, 31/10/2022: The reduction of water pollutants: a crucial part for health and environment https://watereurope.eu/the-reduction-of-water-pollutants-a-crucial-part-for-health-and-environment/

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News

EUObserver, 26/10/2022: EU proposes stricter rules against air and water pollution https://euobserver.com/green-economy/156343

The Guardian, 26/10/2022: EU plans tighter controls on pollution as doctors call for urgent action https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/26/eu-plans-tighter-controls-on-pollution-as-doctors-call-for-urgent-action

EurActiv, 27/10/2022: EU lays out plan for ‘zero pollution’ in air and water by 2050 https://www.euractiv.com/section/air-pollution/news/eu-lays-out-plan-for-zero-pollution-in-air-and-water-by-2050/

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Official

EUR-LEX: SWD(2022)541: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Impact Assessment Report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2022:541:FIN

EUR-LEX: SWD(2022)544: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Executive Summary of the Impact Assessment Report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2022:544:FIN

European Commission: DG Environment: Urban wastewater https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/water/urban-wastewater_en

European Commission: Press Release, 26/10/2022: European Green Deal: Commission proposes rules for cleaner air and water https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_6278

European Commission: Questions and Answers on the new EU rules on treating urban wastewater (26 October 2022) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_22_6281

European Commission: Executive Vice-President Timmermans' and Commissioner Sinkevičius' remarks on the new legislative proposals: the Zero Pollution Package (26 October 2022) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_22_6412

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European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA): Press Release, 26/10/2022: Proposals on wastewater treatment will jeopardise patient access to medicines without helping green transition https://www.efpia.eu/news-events/the-efpia-view/statements-press-releases/proposals-on-wastewater-treatment-will-jeopardise-patient-access-to-medicines-without-helping-green-transition/

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