EU Faces Complaint over Water Law Overhaul

Environmental organizations filed a complaint on Tuesday over the planned revision of the EU’s main rules on water protection and management, claiming that Brussels is proceeding without sufficient evidence or consultation.

The dispute is the latest involving the EU’s “omnibus” strategy to simplify and relax regulations. The bloc is responding to complaints from companies that excessive regulation is undermining their competitiveness against the United States and China.

The Commission also intends to amend the legislation this year in response to concerns raised by mining and metallurgical companies. They argue that environmental safeguards are slowing the approval of new mines for critical raw materials and other industrial projects.

The World Wildlife Fund, the European Environmental Bureau and three other organizations characterized the Commission’s actions as maladministration in a complaint to the European Ombudsman. They argue that the Commission has significantly deviated from established due process, thereby infringing on citizens’ rights. According to the organizations, the regulations are not responsible for problems with mine approvals and do not need to be changed.

The Commission said it had not yet been informed of the complaint. However, it maintains that it is conducting a transparent and inclusive dialogue and evaluating comments from stakeholders.

The Ombudsman will now decide whether to launch an investigation, a process that could take several weeks. The independent oversight body has no enforcement powers, but its recommendations could influence future legislation and increase scrutiny of the Commission.

(Reuters, bak)