Re: The importance of reaching Council agreement on EC proposal setting regulatory standards for water pollutants during the Belgian Presidency

The assessment of water bodies across the EU for the second River Basin Management cycle reported that not even a third of Europe’s water bodies are in good chemical status.3 Yet, this does not reveal the full picture, as chemical status under the Water Framework Directive is only assessed against a small, and by now outdated, set of pollutants, and does not take into account the effects of chemic. [...] Unfortunately, the work program of the Belgian Presidency does not prioritise reaching the Council’s agreement on the file during its term. [...] Freshwater species are among the most vulnerable to biodiversity loss and have seen an 84% decline globally since the 1970s.5 Scientists and conservation organisations list pollution reduction among the key priorities to halt freshwater biodiversity loss.6 The ongoing update of water pollutants provides an opportunity to bring EU water pollution standards up to date, to improve monitoring of subst. [...] The Belgian Presidency needs to build on the work commenced under the Spanish Presidency and reach the Council agreement at the June Environment Council meeting. [...] The public opinion is clear – water pollution is seen by Europeans as one of the most important environmental challenges7 where EU is expected to lead action and the Belgian Presidency needs to meet those expectations.