By Abbas Nazil
The European Union Commission has taken action against Sweden for failing to comply with the Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC), a key piece of EU legislation aimed at safeguarding water quality across Europe.
By issuing a letter of formal notice under infringement procedure INFR(2024)2236, the Commission has brought attention to critical gaps in Sweden’s implementation of water management measures, giving the country two months to respond and rectify the identified deficiencies.
If Sweden’s response is deemed unsatisfactory, the Commission may escalate the matter by issuing a reasoned opinion, a step toward potential legal action.
The Water Framework Directive mandates EU member states to establish and maintain comprehensive river basin management plans every six years.
These plans include a programme of measures designed to ensure the good ecological and chemical status of European water bodies, such as rivers, lakes, and aquifers.
Central to these measures are periodic reviews and updates of water controls, including permits for water abstraction, impoundment, and pollution discharge, which are essential to mitigate adverse environmental impacts and protect aquatic ecosystems.
However, the Commission’s investigation has revealed significant shortcomings in Sweden’s adherence to these requirements.
The country’s national legislation does not ensure adequate periodic reviews of critical water controls.
In some cases, reviews are not conducted frequently enough to meet the Directive’s standards. For instance, many hydropower dams in Sweden continue to operate under permits issued decades ago, between 1918 and 1978, without sufficient reassessment of their impact on river biodiversity and ecosystem health.
Such outdated permits risk compromising the ecological status of Swedish rivers and waterways, contrary to the objectives of the Directive.
In addition to issues with hydropower, the Commission highlighted inadequacies in Sweden’s regulation of water abstractions.
A significant number of water abstraction activities operate without permits, even when these activities may have profound impacts on water quality and availability.
Furthermore, the country’s water abstraction registers, which are required to catalog all activities significantly affecting water resources, are incomplete.
These gaps make it challenging to monitor and manage the cumulative impacts of abstractions on Swedish water bodies, undermining the Directive’s goal of achieving sustainable water management.
Sweden’s shortcomings are part of a broader challenge across the EU, with similar infringement procedures already initiated against six other Member States, including Cyprus, the Netherlands, Austria, Slovenia, Belgium, and Finland.
However, Sweden’s case is particularly concerning given the age of its regulatory framework for hydropower and the significant ecological risks posed by unregulated or inadequately controlled water abstraction.
The European Commission emphasized the importance of full compliance with the Directive to protect human health and the environment.
Comprehensive implementation of water quality standards is critical for maintaining the ecological integrity of Europe’s waterways and ensuring their sustainable use for future generations.
Sweden now faces a critical deadline to address these issues and demonstrate its commitment to the Directive’s principles.
Failure to do so may not only result in legal consequences but could also tarnish Sweden’s reputation as a leader in environmental stewardship.
Source: Smart Water Magazine