Shaping the Future of EU Water Policy: The Water Framework Directive Revision

The European Commission has officially opened a call for evidence to support a targeted revision of the Water Framework Directive (WFD), the cornerstone of European water policy. As the SOLUCIR project works to accelerate circular and decentralized water systems, this policy shift represents a pivotal opportunity for our community.

Launched under the RESourceEU Action Plan, this revision aims to strike a vital balance: maintaining high environmental and health standards while addressing regulatory bottlenecks that hinder the EU’s strategic autonomy. Specifically, the Commission seeks to simplify legislation to promote circularity and secure the supply of critical raw materials.

A core objective of SOLUCIR is to overcome the technical, financial, and regulatory barriers that currently prevent the large-scale uptake of circular water management. The Commission’s intent to “address regulatory bottlenecks” and “promote circularity” aligns perfectly with our mission to move beyond business-as-usual and strengthen water resilience across Europe’s peri-urban landscapes.

By leveraging insights from our 24 Inspirational Pilots and Pathfinding Studies, SOLUCIR is uniquely positioned to provide evidence on how decentralized systems can contribute to a water-smart economy while ensuring that our lakes, rivers, and groundwater achieve the quality status required by the WFD.

The Commission is actively inviting stakeholders, including water management companies, research institutes, and regional authorities, to provide evidence on how current provisions impact circularity and strategic project development.

The consultation is open until 14 April 2026. We encourage our partners and the wider water community to participate via the Commission’s “Have Your Say” portal.