February 5, Brussels In order to effectively control flood risks and safeguard waterways, the European Commission urged for quicker progress across the EU.

Only 39.5% of EU surface water bodies have excellent ecological condition, and only 26.8% of waters are reaching good chemical status, according to the most recent study on the state of water in the EU, according to Xinhua news agency.

The Commission said that “this is mainly due to widespread contamination by mercury and other toxic pollutants,” adding that drought and water shortages are also becoming more of an issue in the majority of EU waterways.

Therefore, it suggested that states enhance wastewater discharge, boost adherence to EU water regulations to meet pollution limits, and provide enough funds to support the efficient implementation of water management measures. The Commission said that they should also encourage water reuse and address enduring environmental issues like chemical contamination.

Citing multiple significant floods that have affected numerous EU nations over the past two years, including Slovenia, Spain, Germany, Austria, Poland, Romania, and France, it further stated that member states must invest in flood prevention, which must be founded on ecosystem restoration, nature-based solutions, and early warning systems.

Additionally, the Commission suggested that member states strengthen their efforts to safeguard marine biodiversity and lessen pollution from chemicals, nutrients, and underwater noise. It said that a consultation session on the topic would be held on March 6 and that they should exchange ideas and assist in creating the future European Water Resilience Strategy.

The panel acknowledged that there is still more to be done, but that there has been a lot of progress in recent years. The research states that, in comparison to the 2015–2016 period, marine macro litter on the EU coastline decreased by 29% between 2020 and 2021. In the meanwhile, plastic bags and products connected to fishing have decreased by 20%, and single-use plastic on EU beaches has decreased by 40%.