Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002119/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Sander Smit (PPE)
With the Initiative Report for a European Water Resilience Strategy of 7 May 2025, the European Parliament made a clear call for a revision of the Nitrates Directive by the end of 2025. The European Parliament also made a clear call for the authorisation of and investment in RENURE, citing the Joint Research Centre’s report on the safe application of processed animal manure.[1]
However, a leaked draft version of the Commission’s Water Resilience Strategy makes no mention of a revision of the Nitrates Directive.
In a recent letter dated 19 May 2025, Environment Commissioner Roswall did state that the limited authorisation of RENURE is being negotiated within the Nitrates Committee on the basis of a 2024 proposal. That proposal was explicitly presented at the time as a temporary solution, pending the now-completed evaluation and subsequent revision.[2]
- 1.Why does the draft version of the Water Resilience Strategy not reflect the European Parliament’s explicit call for a revision of the Nitrates Directive by the end of 2025?
- 2.Does the Commission intend to present a proposal to revise Directive 91/676/EEC and to align it with the wishes of a democratic majority in the European Parliament?
Submitted: 27.5.2025