Five environmental organizations filed a complaint with the European Ombudsman, alleging mismanagement by the European Commission regarding the decision to review the Water Framework Directive (WFD).
The Water Framework Directive is Europe’s fundamental law for protecting water and one of the EU’s main defenses against rising climate extremes, according to a press release published today by the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), which brings together nearly 200 environmental organizations from more than 40 countries.
The EEB, which also signs the complaint, recalls that in December 2025 the Commission announced it would “review and amend” the WFD, citing the need to “facilitate access” to essential raw materials.
“The political decision was taken without prior assessment and consultation and was based exclusively on the demands of the mining industry, one of the sectors most responsible for polluting our waters,” the EEB said in the statement.
The EEB and the organizations “European Anglers’ Alliance,” “Surfrider Foundation Europe,” “Wetlands International Europe” and “WWF European Policy Office” argue that the Commission committed to the plan without presenting any evidence that the directive was obstructing mining operations in Europe and “before having had an inclusive and balanced consultation with stakeholders and experts.”
Moreover, they add, the WFD was evaluated a few years ago and deemed adequate.
On behalf of the organizations, Irene Duque Femenía, Director of Freshwater Policy at Wetlands International Europe, said, as cited in the communiqué, that the revision “comes out of nowhere” and “breaks with a long tradition of cooperation and formulation of coherent and evidence-based policies.”
The revision “is not supported by any public evidence, nor does it respond to any of the recommendations and promises made by the Commission itself,” she added.
The organizations are calling on the Commission to drop the plans for the revision, which they describe as “unnecessary and dangerous,” and to focus on accelerating the implementation and effective enforcement of the existing water legislation that has protected EU waters for 25 years.
