Environmental campaign groups have filed a complaint with the European Ombudsman against the European Commission, alleging the EU executive is overhauling water protection laws without sufficient evidence and stakeholder consultation. The groups argue the current laws do not hinder new mine permits and do not require revision.
The complaint highlights tensions between environmental protection goals and industry demands for regulatory simplification, potentially impacting future EU environmental legislation and the Commission's adherence to due process.
Environmental campaign groups have filed a complaint with the European Ombudsman, accusing the European Commission of moving forward with an overhaul of water protection and management laws without sufficient evidence or adequate stakeholder consultation. The complaint, lodged by the World Wildlife Fund, the European Environmental Bureau, and three other groups, alleges this process amounts to maladministration and a deviation from due process.
The NGOs contend that the EU's water laws are not the reason new mines struggle to obtain permits and therefore do not require revision. This action is part of a broader EU strategy known as the "omnibus," which aims to simplify and scale back policies in response to industry concerns about competitiveness.
A spokesperson for the European Commission stated that they had not yet been notified of the complaint but affirmed their commitment to transparent and inclusive dialogue with member states and stakeholders as they prepare to revise the water laws. The Ombudsman's office will now determine whether to open an inquiry, a process that could take several weeks. While the Ombudsman does not have enforcement powers, its recommendations can influence future EU lawmaking and increase scrutiny on the Commission.
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