Civil society and water suppliers urge the European Commission not to weaken or remove fundamental water protection rules

On February 18, a group of associations representing the three pillars of the European Water Resilience Strategy published an open letter opposing the revision of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) announced by the European Commission for the second quarter of 2026.

The signatories, including environmental NGOs and stakeholders in the water sector, warn of the risk of weakening the text, even though its implementation remains incomplete in many Member States. “Rather than revising the WFD, its implementation must be accelerated,” they argue, emphasizing its crucial role in protecting ecosystems, food security, and adaptation to climate change.

The letter warns against premature revision, which could be motivated by industrial pressure, particularly to facilitate the extraction of raw materials. The associations call on the Commission to maintain a stable legal framework and to prioritize the application of existing rules.

• read the letter : Preserving water resilience, preventing the weakening of the Water Framework Directive