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In the autumn of 2020 or early 2021, the European Commission will provide an overview of progress on implementing measures of the second Programme of Measures. The Fitness Check Evaluation of the WFD and the Floods Directive (EC, 2019)[1] though already indicated that the main reasons, that the WFD objectives have not been fully reached yet is due to insufficient funding, slow implementation and insufficient integration of environmental objectives in sectoral policies including gaps in EU water legislation. Similarly, the evaluation of the UWWTD concluded that the UWWTD is overall fit for purpose although there is room to enhance its positive effects and to step up implementation in a number of Member States. However, the UWWTD does not adequately deal with emerging pollutants such as pharmaceuticals and microplastics (EC, 2019).[2]

It is thus expected that the measures required to tackle the European significant water management issues can be mobilised through better implementation of the existing legislative framework on water (basic measures under WFD) and the introduction of supplementary measures that further reduce key pressures.

[1] EC, 2019, Fitness check of the Water Framework Directive and Floods Directive, https://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/fitness_check_of_the_eu_water_legislation/documents/Water%20Fitness%20Check%20-%20SWD(2019)439%20-%20web.pdf

[2] EC, 2019, Evaluation of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, https://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-urbanwaste/pdf/UWWTD%20Evaluation%20SWD%20448-701%20web.pdf