EU Water Policy

In the European Union (EU) almost all environmental compartments are now governed by Community law. In the internal EU harmonization of targets, policies and actions of the EU Germany is often the engine for the development of ambitious European environmental standards.

In EU environmental law of water protection and water policy now include several instruments:

• EU Water Directive
• Directive on Groundwater
• Directive on Flood-risk management
• Directive on Environmental quality standards
• Directive on the Strategy for the marine environment
• Directive on Urban wastewater treatment
• Directive on Bathing waters
• Directive on drinking water
• Directive on nitrates

Other priorities include:

• Adapting to climate change (PDF extern, 86KB)
• Droughts and water scarcity in the EU
• Pricing and long-term management of water