On Wednesday 4 February 2026, Luxembourgish nature conservation NGO natur&ëmwelt issued a statement in reference to the European Commission’s decision to initiate infringement proceedings against Luxembourg for failing to correctly implement key provisions of the EU Water Framework Directive.
Natur&ëmwelt noted that the Commission had criticised the fact that many permits for the abstraction of groundwater and surface water are not regularly reviewed, with some even being valid indefinitely. The NGO said this placed Luxembourg in breach of European environmental law and jeopardised the sustainable protection of its water resources.
Natur&ëmwelt said: “If the country does not finally take effective measures to protect its water resources, it risks not only European sanctions, but also the loss of this vital resource. Natur&ëmwelt will closely monitor the process to bring Luxembourg into line with the Water Framework Directive and is calling for a comprehensive review of all existing water rights in light of the climate crisis, water scarcity and water protection.”
According to the NGO, water quality in Luxembourg remains a cause for concern and, currently, not a single surface water body is in good ecological condition. The situation is also critical for groundwater: while the quantitative status is rated as 'good', only 21% of groundwater bodies have a good chemical quality rating.
Natur&ëmwelt highlighted that these figures demonstrated that Luxembourg is far from achieving the objectives of the European Water Framework Directive. Although significant progress has been made in recent years, including the designation of protected areas covering 72.3% of drinking water sources and substantial investment in wastewater treatment, Luxembourg lags far behind in critical areas such as the ecological restoration of waterways and climate change adaptation. To date, only approximately 2% of the planned measures have been implemented. The contribution to water protection in the agricultural sector remains insufficient, even though nitrate and plant protection product pollution remains high.
The NGO said: “Protecting our water is inextricably linked to safeguarding the environment and health in Europe. Through the 'Hands off Nature' petition, natur&ëmwelt and its European partners are taking a clear stand against the weakening of European environmental legislation. Currently, powerful economic interests are attempting to weaken fundamental protection standards for water, air, nature and health, which would have serious consequences for current and future generations. By signing the following petition, all citizens can send a strong message in less than a minute, making it clear that their health and the environment are non-negotiable.”
The petition can be accessed at www.naturemweltasbl.lu/de/participez-a-la-campagne-handsoffnature.
