The #ProtectWater campaign was initiated on 9 October 2018 by European NGOs grouped within the Living Rivers Europe [1] coalition to save European water law. It was supported by the Tour du Valat (find out more [2]), and has just come to a successful conclusion.
In all, 375,386 citizens from the European Union took part in the public consultation to express their desire that the Water Framework Directive (WFD), threatened by pressure coming from certain Member States to undermine it, should not be weakened in 2019.
For the European environmental NGOs that make up Living Rivers Europe, the WFD is indeed ambitious and effective legislation to protect watercourses and wetlands on the continent, which, if anything, should be better applied.
For Ester Asin, Director of WWF’s European Policy Office, “375,386 citizens have spoken up for Europe’s precious rivers, lakes and wetlands, and against their ongoing destruction. They have told their governments loud and clear not to undermine the EU water law—decision-makers must now listen up and take these voices seriously. With 60% of Europe’s waters in a critical state, the need for action from Member States is urgent. They were meant to put a stop to this destruction when they signed up to the Water Framework Directive in 2000, but, instead, have spent the best part of two decades brazenly side-stepping their commitments and not implementing it. We urge them to own up to their inaction today and, instead of pushing for this law to be changed, take citizens’ views on board.”
You can read below the Living Rivers Europe press release.