The European Union Water Framework Directive: Taking European Water Policy into the Next Millennium†
The European Union is currently thoroughly restructuring its water policy. A proposal by the European Commission for a Water Framework Directive is currently being negotiated at the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers. This legislation will have the following main objectives: • expanding the scope of water protection to all waters, surface waters and groundwater • achieving “good status” for all waters by a certain deadline • water management based on river basins • “combined approach” of emission limit values and quality standards • getting the prices right • getting the citizen involved more closely • streamlining legislation The progress on negotiating the future European water legislation seems to indicate a final adoption in 1999.