Late last night, EU countries were supposed to have reached an agreement with the European Parliament in the negotiations on water pollutants – but that is not how things turned out. This means it will now be up to the incoming Danish EU-presidency to take over the negotiations. Danish Red-Green Alliance MEP, Per Clausen, who is the Left Group’s negotiator on the matter, is neither surprised that the negotiations did not reach a conclusion, nor does he see it as positive that Denmark will be leading the negotiations moving forward:

Since we did not reach an agreement yesterday, the ball is being kicked over to the incoming Danish EU-presidency. When you think about Denmark’s inadequate implementation of the Water Framework Directive – and the government’s mandate – it honestly worries me. I e also doubt that many people will see Denmark as a neutral negotiator

Denmark on the wrong side of water protection

It is not only Denmark’s failure to comply with the Water Framework Directive that makes Per Clausen doubt that a more environmentally friendly line can be expected from the upcoming Danish-led negotiations. He also mentions how Denmark, in February 2024, was one of the signatories to the notorious so-called non-paper on deterioration of water protection:

Unfortunately, the Danish government has from the start of these negotiations signed up to the least environmentally friendly part of the EU countries. This is why we have also seen Denmark, for example, be a signatory to the infamous non-paper that argued for a number of deteriorations. When it comes to water protection, it seems clear that the government is on the wrong side.

Per Clausen continues:

This is why we will put pressure on the government to change course, and we call on both the Danish Parliament and the environmental organizations to do the same.

Deterioration as the major point of contention

The possible deterioration of the level of protection in relation to the European Commission’s proposal has been one of the major points of contention since the beginning of the negotiations. Here, several EU countries, including Denmark, have argued for dilution and deterioration on several points, including when it comes to the controversial movement of sediments – something that is, among other things, relevant in connection with the much criticized Danish Lynetteholm project:

It is sad that, instead of discussing how we can organize the legislation in a future-proof way, we have had to fight so many battles with countries that, like Denmark, actually want to go back on the level of protection. I think that is a missed opportunity, and one that could cost us all dearly in the future – because the pollution must be dealt with.

Next steps

After the lack of breakthrough on the night between the 17th and 18th of June, the next official day of negotiations is already written into the calendar. The hopefully final, round is now set to take place on 15th July, and before then a number of technical negotiations and internal meetings among the negotiating delegations of both the EU countries and the EU Parliament are expected. Despite the gloomy outlook, Per Clausen hopes that they will achieve more than they did yesterday:

I strongly hope that we can achieve more next time and achieve fewer deteriorations. But if that happens, it will probably be more in spite of than because of the Danish government and the Danish EU-Presidency. This may mean that part of the legacy from the Presidency will be a real deterioration in environmental protection. I find that outrageous.

Per Clausen concludes by commenting on the considerations before the final negotiations in July:

From our side, it is clear that we will fight to introduce safeguards in the text that can reduce the damage caused by the Council’s mandate.

More about the negotiations

You can read more about the trilogue and reactions to it here:

• ENDS Europe, 18. June: Water pollutants talks to go down to the wire under Danish presidency
• Agence Europe, 18. June: EU Council and European Parliament fail to reach agreement in negotiations on substances to be monitored in water