
Forever chemicals: Brussels' mission to clean up Europe's water
These were the conclusions of the European Water Resilience Strategy, adopted on Wednesday in Brussels.
In 2022, out of 1,300 monitoring sites in Europe, 59% of rivers, 35% of lakes and 73% of coastal waters exceeded the environmental quality standard for perfluorooctanesulphonic acid (PFOS), a type of PFAS, according to the European Environment Agency (EEA).
In Europe, only 37% of surface waters are in good or very good ecological health and 29% have achieved good chemical status, according to the agency.
Environmental associations, which are campaigning for a ban on PFAS at the source, are denouncing this as a "missed opportunity".
"We expected to see more ambition to reduce pollution at the source," said Angeliki Lyssimachou, head of science and policy at the Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are dubbed "forever chemicals" because they don't easily break down in the environment and accumulate in humans and animals over time.
Health costs are estimated at €52 to €84 billion a year and some of the chemicals have been classified as carcinogenic.
These chemical compounds are non-stick, waterproof and resistant to high temperatures. They are also present in many everyday items such as non-stick frying pans, fire-fighting foams and medical devices.
Jessika Roswall, the European Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resilience said she was in favour of banning PFAS in consumer products such as cosmetics and food packaging. However, she stressed that it would be difficult to ban all PFASs, as some do not yet have an effective alternative.
"The problem is that we need PFASs for many different products. For example, medical products like inhalers (...) or many things for which there is no substitution. In terms of the ecological transition, semiconductors, digitisation or the defence industry," Roswall told Euronews.
In a leaked document, the Commission's estimated range for the annual cost of PFAS decontamination in Europe was wide, at anywhere from €5 all the way to €100 billion. For the water sector alone, the cost could increase to up to €18 billion annually for drinking water treatment.
For some pollutants, such as TFA (trifluoroacetic acid, a type of PFAS), the clean-up is not so simple.
"According to the water companies, it's a very expensive process that involves extracting all the minerals from the water and adding them back. At the end of the day, you're going to lose a lot of water," says Angeliki Lyssimachou. "So you're going to consume a lot more energy.
The Commission wants to apply the "polluter pays" principle and reserve public funding for sites where it has not been possible to identify who is responsible.
The European Water Resilience Strategy aims to restore the water cycle and ensure access to clean, affordable water at a time when Europe is facing extreme weather events such as floods and droughts. 34% of the EU is affected by water shortages.
"Water is life. Water resilience is essential for our citizens, our farmers, the environment and businesses. The Commission's Water Resilience Strategy sets out the path towards a sustainable, resilient, smart and competitive water economy. We must act now to protect this resource," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a statement.
The European action plan also includes raising awareness for these issues through public debates, increasing European funding for infrastructure modernisation, supporting digitisation through the EU's Copernicus Earth observation programme, and supporting innovation.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Euronews
17-07-2025
- Euronews
Brussels targets tobacco products with a new set of eurotaxes
On Wednesday, the European Commission unveiled two major proposals: a long-awaited revision of the Tobacco Taxation Directive and a brand new measure known as the Tobacco Excise Duty Own Resource (TEDOR). The revision of the Tobacco Taxation Directive aims to raise minimum excise duty rates—taxes levied on specific goods, such as tobacco, typically at the point of production or import. Under the new rules, the scope of the directive would also be broadened to include e-cigarette liquids, chewing and nasal tobacco, nicotine pouches, other nicotine products, and raw tobacco. The TEDOR proposal, presented separately as part of the EU's new €2 trillion long-term budget framework, would introduce a fresh stream of EU revenue independent of contributions from member states. Under TEDOR, a uniform 15% call rate would apply to the quantities of manufactured tobacco and related products released for consumption, based on the minimum excise rate applicable in each country. The Commission expects TEDOR to generate approximately €11.2 billion annually. However, it remains unclear whether the revenue will be used to repay borrowing under the NextGenerationEU fund or to reduce national contributions to the EU budget for new priorities. 'Own resources have no specific dedication. They always enter the yearly budget without being earmarked,' an EU official said. The official added that the revised tobacco taxation directive is "complementary but independent" from the TEDOR proposal. First major tobacco legislative tweaks in years These two proposals mark the first significant EU tobacco taxation legislation in years. A broader update of EU tobacco rules—once anticipated during Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's previous term—has been delayed and is currently on hold. The "Europe's Beating Cancer Plan", a flagship health initiative of the von der Leyen Commission, underscored the importance of taxation in reducing tobacco use, particularly among young people. However, repeated delays have raised questions about the influence of the tobacco industry on policymaking. The revised Tobacco Excise Directive will adjust minimum excise duties for traditional tobacco products, which currently date back to 2010. Under EU law, member states must impose a minimum rate on cigarette excise duties, though they are allowed to exceed that rate based on national priorities. With the new revised rules, the Commission wants to set excise duty on cigarettes at no less than 7.5% and no more than 76.5% of the total tax burden. The revision also aims to tighten controls on raw tobacco, which is often diverted into illicit markets. Cross-border shopping—when tobacco is bought in one country but consumed in another—would now be better tracked and accounted for. The EU plans to expand the current electronic system used to monitor excise goods movement to also include raw tobacco under its monitoring. Next steps: challenging path ahead Both the revised Tobacco Taxation Directive and TEDOR face significant political hurdles. In the EU, tax legislation can only be adopted by unanimous agreement in the Council of the European Union, where all member states are represented. The European Parliament is consulted but does not have legislative power in this area. Countries such as Italy and Greece have already voiced opposition to any tax-driven price increases on tobacco products. However, momentum may be building: in March 2025, health ministers from 12 member states sent a letter to EU health Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi urging more decisive action on tobacco and novel nicotine products. Despite growing support, reaching unanimity remains a major challenge, especially for revenue-generating measures like TEDOR, which also require approval by all member states in line with their national constitutional procedures.


Euronews
10-07-2025
- Euronews
Why are EU ministers having blood tests for ‘forever chemicals'?
EU environment and climate ministers have been invited to have their blood tested for PFAS - harmful 'forever chemicals' linked to cancer and other serious health risks. The initiative, led by the Danish Ministry of Environment and Gender Equality in partnership with the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and non-profit ChemSec, aims to raise awareness of the growing PFAS pollution crisis affecting citizens and the environment across Europe. Ministers who have accepted will have their blood samples analysed for 13 PFAS substances, known for persisting in the environment and accumulating in the human body. 'It is crucial that we now take strong action against PFAS pollution' As one of the first actions of Denmark's EU Council Presidency, environment minister Magnus Heunicke launched the initiative and invited all 32 EU environment and climate ministers, as well as ministers from EFTA countries and Ukraine, to take the PFAS blood test. Heunicke has already undergone testing alongside Jessika Roswall, the European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy. 'PFAS accumulates both in the environment and in humans, and once it is present, it is very difficult to deal with,' Heunicke says. 'In humans, we know that PFAS can, among other things, cause cancer, and it can also affect aquatic environments and animals. 'It is crucial that we now take strong action against PFAS pollution, which is why measures must be taken across the EU to prevent, contain, and clean up PFAS.' How the EU plans to tackle PFAS pollution Denmark, alongside Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden, has submitted a joint proposal to the European Commission to ban the production, sale, and use of almost all PFAS under the EU's REACH regulation. This legislation addresses the production and use of chemical substances, and their potential impacts on both human health and the environment. The European Chemicals Agency's (ECHA) scientific committees are currently assessing the health, environment and socio-economic impacts of the proposal as well as the availability of safer alternatives. 'No one is immune to chemical pollution - neither people nor the environment. PFAS producers have long known the health risks - cancer, fertility issues, thyroid disease, and weakened immune system - and they're still choosing profit over people,' Patrick ten Brink, Secretary General at the EEB, says. What are PFAS exactly? PFAS are a group of over 10,000 man-made chemicals widely used in a long range of industrial processes and everyday products such as non-stick cookware, water-repellent fabrics, food packaging, and firefighting foams. Known for their extreme persistence in the environment and the human body, they are often referred to as 'forever chemicals'. Linked to cancer, infertility, thyroid disease, and immune system suppression, PFAS now contaminate the bodies of nearly all Europeans - including children, pregnant women, and adolescents. Experts warn that PFAS pollution ranks among the most serious public health threats of our time. The hidden cost of inaction against PFAS pollution Cleaning up PFAS pollution could cost the EU up to €2 trillion over the next 20 years, the EEB says, with environmental remediation alone estimated at €100 billion annually - not including the additional €52-84 billion in yearly health-related costs. Much like the tobacco and fossil fuel industries, major PFAS producers have long known about the severe health and environmental risks associated with their chemicals - yet chose to conceal the evidence, the EEB says. Despite contributing to an estimated €16 trillion in societal costs for environmental clean-up and healthcare per year, producers continue to profit with minimal accountability. 'These companies continue to lobby against regulation, obscure the science, and mislead decision-makers, all while communities across Europe are exposed to toxic chemicals,' Brink says. 'The cost of inaction is already staggering, and it's growing by the day. We urgently need to hold polluters accountable and stop this cycle of harm.' A spokesperson from EEB confirmed that ministers are undergoing testing today.


Euronews
09-07-2025
- Euronews
Prepared, not panicked: EU arms itself for the next big health crisis
The EU is embracing a 'better safe than sorry' approach in the post-COVID era, aiming to prevent the next major health crisis by strengthening its preparedness infrastructure. How? By enhancing its ability to respond to a wide range of health threats through improved access to and availability of medical countermeasures at all times. That's the core of the new EU Medical Countermeasures Strategy, unveiled today in Strasbourg. 'Today, we are reinforcing Europe's protective shield in a more unpredictable world. We are making preparedness our new way of life — the European way of life — to keep people safe, healthy and confident about the future,' said EU Commissioner for Preparedness Hadja Lahbib. Medical countermeasures refer to essential tools such as vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and personal protective equipment (PPE). 'It's basically an arsenal of products that will allow us to protect citizens in case a health emergency emerges,' explained an EU official. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed serious limitations in Europe's ability to access and distribute these tools. In response, the new strategy proposes 17 key actions to ensure equitable and timely access across the EU. These actions follow an "end-to-end" approach — from threat surveillance to the final deployment of countermeasures. 'In the next crisis, what we want is to shorten that wait as much as possible,' said Lahbib. What is Europe preparing for? The strategy addresses a broad spectrum of potential health threats, from pandemic-prone respiratory and contact-based viruses such as COVID-19 to zoonoses like avian flu, as well as emerging and re-emerging diseases, such as Ebola. The strategy also mentions the hypothetical "Disease X", a term created by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to represent a hypothetical, unknown pathogen that could one day cause a serious international epidemic or pandemic. Vector-borne viruses like dengue and West Nile, transmitted by mosquitoes and ticks, are also considered, as well as antimicrobial resistance or AMR, often called the "silent pandemic", which causes 35,000 deaths in the EU annually. Last but not least, the strategy includes security-related threats, including chemical attacks, and consequences of armed conflict, though not currently nuclear threats. The challenges ahead There are still significant hurdles. 'Medical countermeasures are especially complex to stockpile. But to stockpile a vaccine or a treatment, it first needs to exist,' Lahbib said. To address this, the Commission plans to accelerate the development of medical countermeasures. A major component of the strategy is the launch of a Medical Countermeasures Acceleration program — a one-stop shop to guide researchers and SMEs from early-stage research through to production. The EU is also rolling out a flexible stockpiling strategy, adapted to specific risks. A recent example: during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, the Commission authorised the pre-positioning of emergency medical kits, PPE, and portable detectors from the rescEU stockpiles. 'Such stocks can serve as a temporary boost to permanent national capacities, addressing the exceptional challenges posed by such events,' Lahbib noted. Information first Despite these advancements, a major challenge remains: information sharing. 'Every strategy needs a budget and, of course, preparedness doesn't come for free, but the most important thing right now is better coordination,' Lahbib pointed out. Currently, the EU lacks a comprehensive overview of which countries have what supplies, where the gaps are, and what's missing. Member states are often reluctant to share information on strategic stockpiles for national interest reasons. However, improved transparency is vital to avoid duplication and maximise efficiency. As of now, only three countries — Czechia, Finland, and Estonia — are fully engaged in centralised EU stockpiling efforts, leaving the status of the remaining 24 member states unclear.