The Council presidency and the European Parliament’s representatives reached a provisional political agreement on a proposed directive to review and update the lists of pollutants affecting surface waters and groundwater and corresponding regulatory standards. This agreement updates environmental quality standards for a number of pollutants and adds new ones (e.g. 24 PFAS, TFA), aligning EU water policy with the latest scientific evidence.

The provisional agreement will now be endorsed by the Council and the Parliament, before being formally adopted and entering into force. Member states will have to transpose the directive into national law by 21 December 2027 and will have until 2039 to achieve compliance with the new standards. Read more here.