Where the law stands, Dossier 2022/0344(COD)
Surface water and groundwater pollutants
Amending Directive 2000/60/EC establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, Directive 2006/118/EC on the protection of groundwater against pollution and deterioration and Directive 2008/105/EC on environmental quality standards in the field of water policy
Ordinary legislative procedure (COD): Parliament and the Council decide together as equals. · First reading
A proposed EU law. Parliament and the Council must agree on the same text: Parliament adopts its position, then negotiates with the Council.
Where it stands
Published as law
Completed: published in the Official Journal on 20 April 2026 and now EU law.
- Referred to committee(done) 12 March 2026
- Committee work(done) Report adopted 17 March 2026
- Tabled for plenary(done) 18 March 2026
- Plenary vote(done) Voted 26 March 2026
- Negotiations with the Council(done) Deal approved in committee 20 October 2025
- Published as law(done) 20 April 2026
Decided in plenary
26 March 2026 · decision 8
Climate & environment, New EU law
Surface water and groundwater pollutants
Approved without a vote Decided by show of hands: no count recorded.
AI summary:The draft law updates EU water rules by amending directives on water policy, groundwater protection, and environmental quality standards.
Who works on it
- Lead committee
- Environment, Climate and Food Safety
- The MEP who drafts the report and negotiates it on behalf of the committee.
- Javi López (S&D), Mep #197446 (S&D)
- An MEP who follows a report on behalf of their own group when another group holds the rapporteur.
- Mep #197616 (ID), Mep #130256 (EPP), Hildegard Bentele (EPP), Jorge Buxadé Villalba (Patriots), Pietro Fiocchi (ECR), Mep #124887 (ECR), Michal Wiezik (Renew), Mep #96776 (Renew), Ville Niinistö (Greens), Kai Tegethoff (Greens), Per Clausen (The Left), Marina Mesure (The Left)
- Committees giving an opinion
- Fisheries
- Budgets
- Agriculture and Rural Development· rapporteurMartin Häusling (Greens)
- Industry, Research and Energy· rapporteurLina Gálvez (S&D)
The text, version by version
Newest first.
Adopted by Parliament· 26 Mar 2026
AI summary:Parliament approves the Council position on a directive amending EU water legislation to address surface water and groundwater pollutants.
Adopted by Parliament· 24 Apr 2024
AI summary:Parliament's amended version of the proposed directive updates EU water law to tackle chemical pollution. It adds new pollutants to watch lists, sets quality standards, and strengthens monitoring and reporting.
Adopted by Parliament· 12 Sept 2023
AI summary:Parliament's amended version of the proposal to update EU water law adds pollutants like PFAS, glyphosate, and bisphenols to watch lists and quality standards, and strengthens monitoring and public access to justice.
Tabled for plenary· 18 Mar 2026
AI summary:Parliament approves the Council position at first reading on a directive amending EU water legislation, concluding the ordinary legislative procedure.
Tabled for plenary· 12 Jul 2023
AI summary:Parliament's amended version of the proposal to update EU water law sets stricter rules on pollutants, monitoring, and access to justice.
Committee draft· 9 Mar 2026
AI summary:The draft report recommends approving the Council position at first reading on a directive amending EU water legislation. It notes the act is adopted accordingly and instructs the President to sign it.
Committee draft· 20 Feb 2023
AI summary:The draft report proposes amendments to the Commission's proposal revising EU water legislation, covering the Water Framework Directive, Groundwater Directive, and Environmental Quality Standards Directive.
Committee opinions: Opinion (ITRE), Opinion (AGRI), Draft opinion (AGRI)
Timeline
Newest first.
Outcome 2 steps
20 April 2026
Published in the Official Journal
The act is now EU law.
30 March 2026
Signed by the Presidents of Parliament and the Council
The last step before the act is published in the Official Journal.
Plenary stage 2 steps
26 March 2026
Plenary vote
Sitting of 26 Mar 2026 Adopted text TA10-0093/2026Report A10-0063/2026
18 March 2026
Report tabled for plenary
This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.
Committee stage 3 steps
17 March 2026
Committee vote: report adopted
ENVI (Environment, Climate and Food Safety) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.
12 March 2026
Referred to the ENVI (Environment, Climate and Food Safety) committee
The lead committee prepares the report; PECH (Fisheries), BUDG (Budgets), AGRI (Agriculture and Rural Development), ITRE (Industry, Research and Energy) give an opinion.
9 March 2026
Draft report published
The rapporteur’s first text in ENVI (Environment, Climate and Food Safety). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.
Negotiations with the Council 5 steps
20 October 2025
Committee approved the deal reached with the Council
The provisional agreement from the trilogues goes to the whole Parliament for a vote.
23 September 2025
Trilogue meeting
Negotiation between Parliament, Council and Commission on a common text.
17 June 2025
Trilogue meeting
Negotiation between Parliament, Council and Commission on a common text.
20 May 2025
Trilogue meeting
Negotiation between Parliament, Council and Commission on a common text.
28 January 2025
Trilogue meeting
Negotiation between Parliament, Council and Commission on a common text.
Plenary stage 1 step
24 April 2024
Plenary vote
Sitting of 24 Apr 2024 Adopted text TA9-0358/2024Report A9-0238/2023
Negotiations with the Council 1 step
12 September 2023
Parliament opened negotiations with the Council
After its vote Parliament sent the file back to committee, so that its negotiators can seek a compromise text with the Council (in “trilogues”).
Plenary stage 3 steps
12 September 2023
Plenary vote
Sitting of 12 Sept 2023 Adopted text TA9-0302/2023Council / Commission text C9-0361/2022Report A9-0238/2023
11 September 2023
Debated in plenary
MEPs debated the text in the chamber ahead of the vote.
Sitting of 11 Sept 2023 Council / Commission text C9-0361/2022Report A9-0238/2023
12 July 2023
Report tabled for plenary
This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.
Committee stage 6 steps
27 June 2023
Committee vote: report adopted
ENVI (Environment, Climate and Food Safety) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.
12 June 2023
ITRE (Industry, Research and Energy) adopted its opinion
The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.
23 May 2023
AGRI (Agriculture and Rural Development) adopted its opinion
The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.
4 April – 5 May 2023
Amendments tabled in committee (3 batches)
Members of ENVI (Environment, Climate and Food Safety) proposed changes to the draft.
Amendments in committee (ENVI)Amendments in committee (ENVI)Amendments in committee (ITRE)
20 February 2023
Draft report published
The rapporteur’s first text in ENVI (Environment, Climate and Food Safety). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.
19 January 2023
Referred to the ENVI (Environment, Climate and Food Safety) committee
The lead committee prepares the report; PECH (Fisheries), BUDG (Budgets), AGRI (Agriculture and Rural Development), ITRE (Industry, Research and Energy) give an opinion.
Official record: Legislative Observatory, 2022/0344(COD)