Omnibus Environment Outcome: What It Means for Water Policy

Omnibus Environment Outcome: What It Means for Water Policy

The European Commission has unveiled its Environmental Simplification Package, designed to reduce administrative burdens and accelerate permitting processes across environmental legislation. The initiative is expected to save up to €11 billion annually, with changes affecting industrial emissions, environmental assessments, and reporting obligations.

For the water sector, the outcome is mixed. While the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) remains unchanged in the Omnibus package—preserving the integrity of its recent recast—other proposals raise concerns. While the Omnibus package aims to streamline processes, it also raises concerns. Proposals to fast-track environmental assessments and reduce reporting obligations under the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) could hinder effective monitoring and limit safeguards against potential pollution sources. Simplification is welcome—provided it does not come at the expense of environmental protection and water quality.

EWA continues to advocate for robust frameworks that support water resilience, innovation, and capacity-building—key pillars for a sustainable future.

 

The press release from the Commission is available here.

Copyright: European Union, 2025