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Water protection and management

Some 70% of the Earth's surface is covered by seas and oceans, and these produce almost three quarters of the oxygen we breathe. We can use directly only 1% of this water, however, and many forms of human activity put water resources under considerable pressure.

Polluted water, whatever the source of the pollution, flows one way or another back into our natural surroundings – into the sea or water tables – from where it can have a harmful effect on human health and the environment.

One of the most important pieces of legislation in this area is the Water Framework Directive.

• Legislative instruments
• Preparatory acts
• Other acts

Legislative instruments

• 32000L0060
  

  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

  Official Journal L 327 , 22/12/2000 P. 0001 - 0073

• 31998L0083
  

  Council Directive 98/83/EC of 3 November 1998 on the quality of water intended for human consumption

  Official Journal L 330 , 05/12/1998 P. 0032 - 0054

• 32001H0928
  

  Commission Recommendation of 20 December 2001 on the protection of the public against exposure to radon in drinking water supplies (notified under document number C(2001) 4580)

  Official Journal L 344 , 28/12/2001 P. 0085 - 0088

• 32009L0054
  

  Directive 2009/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2009 on the exploitation and marketing of natural mineral waters (Recast) (Text with EEA relevance)

  Official Journal L 164 , 26/06/2009 P. 0045 - 0058

• 32006L0007
  

  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

  Official Journal L 064 , 04/03/2006 P. 0037 - 0051

• 31992D0446
  

  92/446/EEC: Commission Decision of 27 July 1992 concerning questionnaires relating to Directives in the water sector

  Official Journal L 247 , 27/08/1992 P. 0010 - 0036

• 31991L0271
  

  Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste-water treatment

  Official Journal L 135 , 30/05/1991 P. 0040 - 0052

• 32007L0060
  

  Directive 2007/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 on the assessment and management of flood risks (Text with EEA relevance)

  Official Journal L 288 , 06/11/2007 P. 0027 - 0034

• 32002R0178
  

  Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety

  Official Journal L 031 , 01/02/2002 P. 0001 - 0024

• 32008L0032
  

  Directive 2008/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2008 amending Directive 2000/60/EC establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, as regards the implementing powers conferred on the Commission

  Official Journal L 081 , 20/03/2008 P. 0060 - 0061

• 31991L0676
  

  Council Directive 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991 concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources

  Official Journal L 375 , 31/12/1991 P. 0001 - 0008

• 32006L0044
  

  Directive 2006/44/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 September 2006 on the quality of fresh waters needing protection or improvement in order to support fish life (Text with EEA relevance)

  Official Journal L 264 , 25/09/2006 P. 0020 - 0031

• 32006L0113
  

  Directive 2006/113/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on the quality required of shellfish waters (codified version)

  Official Journal L 376 , 27/12/2006 P. 0014 - 0020

• 32008L0056
  

  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 (Marine Strategy Framework Directive) (Text with EEA relevance)

  Official Journal L 164 , 25/06/2008 P. 0019 - 0040

• 32005L0035
  

  Directive 2005/35/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on ship-source pollution and on the introduction of penalties for infringements

  Official Journal L 255 , 30/09/2005 P. 0011 - 0021

• 32003R0782
  

  Regulation (EC) No 782/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 April 2003 on the prohibition of organotin compounds on ships

  Official Journal L 115 , 09/05/2003 P. 0001 - 0011

• 32002D0762
  

  2002/762/EC: Council Decision of 19 September 2002 authorising the Member States, in the interest of the Community, to sign, ratify or accede to the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001 (the Bunkers Convention)

  Official Journal L 256 , 25/09/2002 P. 0007 - 0008

• 32010L0075
  

  Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control) Text with EEA relevance

  Official Journal L 334 , 17/12/2010 P. 0017 - 0119

• 32008L0105
  

  Directive 2008/105/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on environmental quality standards in the field of water policy, amending and subsequently repealing Council Directives 82/176/EEC, 83/513/EEC, 84/156/EEC, 84/491/EEC, 86/280/EEC and amending Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council

  Official Journal L 348 , 24/12/2008 P. 0084 - 0097

• 32006L0011
  

  Directive 2006/11/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 February 2006 on pollution caused by certain dangerous substances discharged into the aquatic environment of the Community (Codified version) (Text with EEA relevance)

  Official Journal L 064 , 04/03/2006 P. 0052 - 0059

• 32006L0118
  

  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

  Official Journal L 372 , 27/12/2006 P. 0019 - 0031

• 32004R0648
  

  Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 on detergents (Text with EEA relevance)

  Official Journal L 104 , 08/04/2004 P. 0001 - 0035

• 32004L0017
  

  Directive 2004/17/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 coordinating the procurement procedures of entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors

  Official Journal L 134 , 30/04/2004 P. 0001 - 0113

• 32011M6105
  

  Commission Decision of 24/01/2011 declaring a concentration to be compatible with the common market (Case No COMP/M.6105 - VEOLIA / EDF / SOCIETE D'ENERGIE ET D'EAU DU GABON) according to Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (Only the French text is authentic)

Preparatory acts

• 52007DC0128
  

  Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council - Towards sustainable water management in the European Union - First stage in the implementation of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC – [SEC(2007) 362] [SEC(2007) 363]

• 52009DC0156
  

  Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council in accordance with article 18.3 of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC on programmes for monitoring of water status {SEC(2009)415}

• 52000DC0477
  

  Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee - Pricing policies for enhancing the sustainability of water resources

• 52007DC0414
  

  Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council - Addressing the challenge of water scarcity and droughts in the European Union {SEC(2007) 993} {SEC(2007) 996}

• 52000DC0860
  

  COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL - Developing a New Bathing Water Policy

• 52000PC0802(02)
  

  Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of a fund for the compensation of oil pollution damage in European waters and related measures

  Official Journal 120 E , 24/04/2001 P. 0079 - 0082

• 52005DC0020
  

  Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament - Community Strategy Concerning Mercury {SEC(2005) 101}

• 52011DC0133
  

  REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL Third Follow up Report to the Communication on water scarcity and droughts in the European Union COM (2007) 414 final

Other acts

• 52011XC0329(04)
  

  List of natural mineral waters recognised by Member States Text with EEA relevance

  Official Journal C 097 , 29/03/2011 P. 0001 - 0072

• 52010SA0009
  

  Special Report No 9/2010 ‘Is EU Structural Measures spending on the supply of water for domestic consumption used to best effect?’

• 62009J0251C(01)
  

  Case C-251/09: Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 17 February 2011 — European Commission v Republic of Cyprus (Public works contracts and supply contracts — Water, energy, transport and telecommunications sectors — Directive 93/38/EEC — Contract notice — Award criteria — Equal treatment of tenderers — Principle of transparency — Directive 92/13/EEC — Review procedure — Requirement to state reasons for a decision to eliminate a tenderer)

  Official Journal C 103 , 02/04/2011 P. 0004 - 0004

• 62008J0206
  

  Judgment of the Court (Third Chamber) of 10 September 2009.

  Wasser- und Abwasserzweckverband Gotha und Landkreisgemeinden (WAZV Gotha) v Eurawasser Aufbereitungs- und Entsorgungsgesellschaft mbH.

  Reference for a preliminary ruling: Thüringer Oberlandesgericht - Germany.

  Procurement procedures of entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors - Public service for the distribution of drinking water and the treatment of sewage - Service concession - Definition - Transfer to the supplier of the risk connected with operating the service in question.

  Case C-206/08.

  European Court reports 2009 Page I-08377

• 92003E1250
  

  WRITTEN QUESTION P-1250/03 by Herman Schmid (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. GATS — Liberalisation of drinking water.

  Official Journal 268 E , 07/11/2003 P. 0181 - 0182

• 92002E1075
  

  WRITTEN QUESTION E-1075/02 by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Increase in malformations in babies as a result of drinking water from rivers contaminated with the female hormone oestrogen.

  Official Journal 301 E , 05/12/2002 P. 0086 - 0088