Commission calls on IRELAND and seven other EU Member States to finalise review of their water management plans

The European Commission is calling on 8 Member States (Bulgaria (INFR(2022)2189), Cyprus (INFR(2022)2190), Ireland (INFR(2022)2185), Spain (INFR(2022)2192), Malta (INFR(2022)2195), Portugal (INFR(2022)2197), Slovakia (INFR(2022)2187) and Slovenia (INFR(2022)2199) to finalise the review of their river basin management plans as required under the Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC) and/or the flood risk management plans as required under the Floods Directive (Directive 2007/60/EC). Both directives require Member States to review, update and report these plans every six years. River basin management plans include a programme of measures to ensure good status of all water bodies. Flood risk management plans are established based on maps showing the potential adverse consequences associated with flood scenarios.

In February 2023, the Commission issued letters of formal notice calling on these Member States to comply with their obligations and to finalise the review of their water plans. However, the Member States concerned are still failing to comply with their obligations under either one or both Directives. Bulgaria, Cyprus, Spain, Malta and Portugal are late in the review, adoption and reporting of the third river basin management plans and second flood risk management plans; Ireland and Slovenia are late as regards the review, adoption and reporting of the third river basin management plans; Slovakia is late as regards the review, adoption and reporting of the second flood risk management plans.

EU water legislation must be fully implemented to reach the EU's circular economy, biodiversity, zero pollution and climate change ambitions. The Commission is therefore sending a reasoned opinion to these 9 Member States, which now have two months to respond and take the necessary measures. In the absence of a satisfactory response, the Commission may decide to refer the Member States to the Court of Justice of the European Union.