Press Release: Environment: Commission takes Poland to Court over water legislation

The European Commission has referred Poland to the EU Court of Justice for failing to transpose European water legislation correctly. Polish water legislation has shortcomings in a number of areas, including the transposition of some definitions provided by the Directive and gaps in transposition of the Directive's Annexes. The Commission is particularly concerned about the absence of Annex II, which outlines the characterisation system for surface waters and groundwaters, and about omissions in the transposition of Annex III, which should provide specifications and reference points for river basin district analysis, reviews of the environmental impact of human activities on water, and the economic analysis of water use.

The monitoring of water status is also a cause for concern. Despite a number of reminders no satisfactory reply has been forthcoming. On the recommendation of Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik, the Commission is therefore calling Poland before the European Court of Justice.