MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Review of the Bathing Water Directive – E-001540/2024(ASW)

1. The Bathing Water Directive (BWD)[1] is part of the EU acquis to protect and manage Europe’s waters. Its evaluation is a comprehensive exercise, which is taking into account the ongoing evaluation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive[2], the recent revisions of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive[3], currently finalised by the co-legislators through the corrigendum procedure, and of the Industrial Emissions Directive[4], the Commission proposal[5] on the lists of pollutants regulated under the Water Framework Directive[6] via the Environment Quality Standards Directive[7], and the Groundwater Directive[8]. The timeline announced during the preparation of the evaluation was indicative. The Commission is in the process of finalising the evaluation.

2. As per the BWD review roadmap[9] the ongoing evaluation of the BWD is assessing the achieved level of health protection and whether additional pollution parameters (including chemicals) may help provide a better picture of the actual state of the water in bathing areas. The findings of this analysis will be as appropriate presented in the Commission evaluation report.

• [1] Directive 2006/7/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 February 2006 concerning the management of bathing water quality and repealing Directive 76/160/EEC, OJ L 64, 4.3.2006, p. 37-51.
• [2] Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy, OJ L 164, 25.6.2008, p. 19-40: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12898-Protecting-the-marine-environment-review-of-EU-rules_en
• [3] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/proposal-revised-urban-wastewater-treatment-directive_en
• [4] Directive (EU) 2024/1785 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 April 2024 amending Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control) and Council Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste, OJ L, 2024/1785, 15.7.2024.
• [5] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/proposal-amending-water-directives_en
• [6] Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1-73, as amended by Commission Directive 2014/101/EU of 30 October 2014, OJ L 311, 31.10.2014, p. 32-35.
• [7] Directive 2013/39/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 August 2013 amending Directives 2000/60/EC and 2008/105/EC as regards priority substances in the field of water policy, OJ L 226, 24.8.2013, p. 1-17.
• [8] Directive 2006/118/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on the protection of groundwater against pollution and deterioration, OJ L 372, 27.12.2006, p. 19-31.
• [9] Combined evaluation roadmap/Inception impact assessment: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12658-Bathing-water-quality-review-of-EU-rules_en