Environmental Omnibus

Since the new European Commission (EC) took office in December 2024, the European Union (EU) has placed greater emphasis on competitiveness, reducing administrative burdens, and simplifying legislation. This also applies to water and environmental policy. In December 2025, the EC presented a simplification package in the environmental domain, the so-called Environmental Omnibus. This package includes proposals concerning, among other things, the Industrial Emissions Directive, environmental assessments, and the INSPIRE Directive.

Vewin acknowledges that administrative simplification may be necessary, but expresses concerns about the potential increase in risks to the environment and water quality. Vewin stresses that the proposals could negatively affect the quality, availability, and protection of drinking water resources, as well as drinking water infrastructure. Below is an overview of the proposals and Vewin’s position.

Industrial Emissions Directive

Most of the proposals in the Environmental Omnibus relate to the Industrial Emissions Directive. These include several relaxations of reporting obligations for industry. Currently, producers are required to report SCIP data (Substances of Concern in Products), particularly with a focus on recycling. The EC proposes to remove this obligation, which would reduce visibility into Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) in waste streams.

In addition, it is proposed to abolish reporting requirements for livestock farms and aquaculture companies regarding their use of water, energy, and raw materials. Environmental Management Systems (EMS) would also be simplified, with elements such as the obligation to conduct substitution analyses being removed.

Vewin is concerned about these proposals. Mandatory periodic and transparent reporting on the use of Substances of Very High Concern, along with requirements to consider substitution, are key drivers for effectively reducing emissions and ensuring accountability.

Maintain preventive instruments and reporting obligations within the Industrial Emissions Directive, particularly those related to Environmental Management Systems (EMS) and SCIP data.

Regulation on Accelerating Environmental Assessments

Within the Environmental Omnibus, the EC proposes a regulation aimed at accelerating environmental permitting procedures for strategic sectors. The objective is to create simpler and faster procedures, supported by a ‘single point of contact’ to coordinate complex processes.

The proposal also calls for improved cross-border cooperation between authorities, increased digitalization, sufficient administrative capacity, and financial support for administrative costs.

The drinking water sector also experiences delays in permitting procedures. It is therefore important that this sector is recognized as a strategic sector. At the same time, any acceleration of permitting procedures must remain subject to environmental and water quality standards, including those under the Water Framework Directive. These standards must not be weakened.

• Recognize the drinking water sector as a strategic sector to accelerate permitting.
• Do not weaken environmental and water quality standards when speeding up permitting procedures.

INSPIRE Directive

The EC proposes to simplify the INSPIRE Directive (Infrastructure for Spatial Information). Under this directive, there is currently an option to restrict public access to information if disclosure could endanger public safety (Article 13).

In the Netherlands, the drinking water sector uses this exemption to protect critical infrastructure. Vewin supports the EC’s intention not to amend this article.

Leave Article 13 of the INSPIRE Directive unchanged to safeguard critical drinking water infrastructure.

Nitrates Directive

The Nitrates Directive is currently under evaluation. A public consultation has already taken place, to which Vewin has responded. In the Environmental Omnibus, the EC states that it will publish the results of this evaluation, likely in 2026.

Based on the findings, the EC will determine whether further action is needed and whether the directive should be revised. The Nitrates Directive aims to reduce and prevent nitrate pollution from agricultural sources, ensuring good water quality across the EU. It is therefore essential for protecting drinking water resources.

The drinking water sector continues to face nitrate pollution issues in many Dutch groundwater abstraction areas used for drinking water production. Stronger protection of groundwater used for drinking water is necessary.

Vewin emphasizes that revising the directive is unnecessary. Instead, efforts should focus on improved implementation and enforcement.

Do not revise the Nitrates Directive; prioritize better implementation and enforcement.

Water Framework Directive

In both the Environmental Omnibus and the ReSourceEU Action Plan, the EC announced an evaluation and potential revision of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). This initiative is driven by the EC’s ambition to improve access to critical raw materials within the EU. According to the EC, existing environmental legislation, including the WFD, may hinder this objective.

In the first quarter of 2026, guidance will be published to clarify, simplify, and harmonize the implementation of the WFD for the mining sector. This will be followed by an evaluation and possible revision in the second quarter.

Vewin is very concerned about this intention, given the potential risks for the protection, quality, and availability of drinking water resources.

See Vewin’s detailed position on the revision of the Water Framework Directive, here.