The European Council has formally adopted the directive on updating the list of pollutants affecting surface water and groundwater, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals and PFAS. The revised rules also tighten environmental standards for several substances and strengthen monitoring across the European Union. The directive amends the water framework directive, the groundwater directive and the directive on environmental quality standards, aligning European Union water policy with the latest scientific evidence. Read more for further information here.
The European Parliament is expected to hold the final vote on the directive by the end of March 2026.