Water and marine

EU water policy is one of the cornerstones of environmental protection in the EU. The rules protect water resources, fresh and saltwater ecosystems, and drinking and bathing waters. The Water Framework Directive provides the main framework and the objectives for water policy in Europe.

This subtopic contains the following guidance on EU level rules governing water quality standards and flooding:

•EU environment tracker 2025—water—this tracker tool covers key new and upcoming EU legislation and consultations linked to the protection, conservation, and restoration of water resources and freshwater and marine ecosystems. Key tracked initiatives include proposals for revisions to the Water Framework Directive, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, and a new regulation to tackle pollution from microplastics. To review developments from 2024, see Practice Note EU environment tracker 2024—water [Archived].•EU Water Framework Directive—snapshot—provides a snapshot of the key aspects of Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October ...