EurEau newsletter - April 2025
EurEau News
Chemicals: TFA and BPA positions published
We published our position on TFA, a very persistent, very mobile member of the PFAS group of chemicals. Due to its numerous emissions pathways, TFA is now ubiquitous in the water cycle and hard to remove by conventional water treatments. The EU should recognise the urgent necessity to stop TFA emissions to the environment as a first step towards addressing this pollution. You can read our position paper on why TFA should be phased out here.
We also published our position on Bisphenol-A. BPA mainly enters the body through food, but its presence in drinking water also needs attention. While the EU ban on BPA in food contact materials is a positive step, it should be followed by a full REACH restriction. The revision of BPA limits in the Drinking Water Directive should include a realistic timeline for suppliers to comply with new standards. Read our position paper.
Speaking out
On 10 April, Martin Silič, EurEau Policy Advisor, contributed to a stakeholder workshop on REACH, organised by the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres, discussing the importance of this legislative framework on chemicals as one of the key policy tools to ensure pollution is controlled at source.
On 23 April, Oliver Loebel addressed the kick-off meeting of the MEP Group on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development.
A few days later, Oliver spoke at the final meeting of the in Brussels (29 April).
Looking ahead, on 13 May, Sébastien Mouret, EurEau Policy Advisor, will lead a roundtable on the Industrial Emissions Directive at the Global Water Summit in Paris. Sébastien will also contribute to a panel discussion on water resilience on 15 May, as part of the European Association for the Taps and Valves Industry (CEIR) annual congress in Brussels.
EU news
Water legislation
Water Resilience Strategy (WRS): EP report adopted
The European Parliament’s ENVI Committee adopted its Own Initiative Report on Water Resilience on 8 April. You can find our reaction to the vote here. The Report is set to be debated by MEPs in plenary session on 5 May, followed by a final vote the next day.
The Parliament’s Report aims to influence the Water Resilience Strategy due to be published by the Commission on 4 June.
Water Framework Directive: EurEau joins call for swift trilogue agreement
EurEau and 16 other organisations have written a joint open letter to Commissioner Roswall, the Polish Council Presidency and MEPs demanding action on EU water pollution.
Published on the day a cancelled trilogue meeting was due to take place, the letter emphasises shared deep concerns about the slow progress in adopting the proposed new EU water pollution standards, as well as proposals to weaken and delay implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). It calls on EU policymakers to stop delaying urgently needed updates of EU water pollution rules and standards.
The joint letter is available here.
Water and agriculture
Soil Monitoring Law: Trilogue agreement reached on minimalist requirements
The co-legislators agreed on a common version of the Soil Monitoring Directive in the early hours of Wednesday 9 April, following a final trilogue meeting. The text, which will be subject to a vote in Parliament and in Council, sets the scene for the monitoring of soil health across the EU but stops far short of concrete commitments to improve European soils.
We welcome the creation of a watch list of soil pollutants, including PFAS and some pesticides, but regret that this will remain only indicative. Read more here.
Water and the environment
REACH: EurEau co-signs letter calling for ambitious revision
Various associations and companies across sectors - including EurEau - have written to Ursula von der Leyen, asking the European Commission to deliver an ambitious revision of REACH that prevents harm from chemicals and avoids "circular pollution".
The signatories want a strong REACH Regulation to phase out the most harmful chemicals. This is the only way to move towards a competitive circular economy where recycled materials can be trusted.
We agree — a strong chemicals regulation drives innovation and rewards responsible companies. The EU's competitiveness must be built on future-proof chemicals and innovations — we cannot compete with yesterday’s solutions.
Read the letter here.
Flushability of products: ISO standard rejected
ISO members have rejected the draft standard on ‘Test methodologies for assessing products suitable to be flushed down a toilet and appropriate labelling’ (DIS 18671).
EurEau welcomes this vote and appreciates that ISO seems to accept our three demands:
The document is will become a Technical Specification rather than a Standard.
The scope and title will now be changed to cover only wet wipes and moist toilet paper. “Suitable to be flushed” will be replaced with “compatibility with the wastewater system”.
There will be no Suitable to Flush labelling, but compatibility with the wastewater system can be indicated if in line with national regulations.
ISO are now preparing the second ballot.
More information here.
Omnibus Simplification Package: stop-the-clock proposal adopted
Following the Parliament’s vote on 3 April in favour of the Commission’s proposal to delay the implementation of corporate sustainability reporting and due diligence rules () while negotiations on their content are ongoing, and the on the proposal given on 14 April, the text of the has been published in the Official Journal of the EU.
Plastic pellet losses: Council and Parliament agree on new rules to reduce microplastic pollution
On 8 April the Council and the European Parliament provisionally on the regulation on preventing the loss of plastic pellets into the environment. The new rules will help improve the handling of plastic pellets at all stages of the supply chain, both on land, water and sea.
Water as an essential service
Multiannual Financial Framework: Midterm review calls for water investment
The European Commission published its . The review calls on Member States and regional authorities to re-programme part of their 2021-2027 cohesion funds towards five investment priorities: competitiveness and decarbonisation; defence, security and Eastern border regions; energy transition; affordable housing; and water resilience. Investment in these areas will benefit from higher pre-financing rates and 100% financing by the EU.
Other news
Launch of the MEP Group Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development
On 23 April, the former Intergroup on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development was officially re-launched as an MEP Group with the same name. It is co-chaired by the MEPs D. Tsiodras (EPP), N. González Casares (S&D) and E. Katainen (Renew) and includes a working group dedicated to water resilience.
EurEau supports this initiative which will provide a platform for debates on the contribution of water resilience to economic and societal development.
More at .
Call for candidates for Programme Coordinator at EBC Foundation
EBC Foundation (European Benchmarking Co-operation, or EBC) is an organisation that helps water utilities in Europe and beyond to improve their drinking water and wastewater services through benchmarking and learning from each other. Annually, EBC organises benchmarking exercises for water utilities to assess their performance and to jointly identify ways to improve performance, including through knowledge-sharing activities.
The new Programme Coordinator will be responsible for coordinating EBC's annual benchmarking exercises. If you would like to know more about the position, contact Mr. Peter Dane, managing director of EBC (
Interested candidates should respond before 30 June 2025. More information about the position and how to apply is available via .
Events
11-13 June 2025 - Source Separated Sanitation Summit in Helsingborg, Swede; The growth of source-separated wastewater systems continues, yet knowledge about these systems remains relatively limited. More information and registration .
24-28 August 2025 – SIWI , Stockholm
23-25 September 2025 - , Oslo
7-8 October 2025 - - Achieving Zero Pollution of Persistent and Mobile Substances: Removal through Technical Solutions, Lesvos, Greece
5-6 November 2025 - WWT’s Drinking Water Quality Europe Conference.
- Created on .