Pressure on Germany to finally fully comply with the directives is increasing, but the German states blocked this again last week.
Germany has not complied with European rules against nitrate pollution of groundwater and drinking water for more than thirty years. The new German four-year report on nitrate pollution in German surface waters reveals that in more than a quarter of the measurements, pollution still exceeds EU standards.
The European Commission has taken legal action against Germany multiple times for failing to comply with the EU Nitrate Directive. This directive, introduced in 1991, requires EU countries to take measures to limit nitrate pollution from agricultural sources.
However, Germany has again failed to fully implement this directive. This is partly because legal competencies in this area are partially regional competencies, while Brussels can only make agreements with national governments (and not with states and regional administrations).
Last week, a majority of the sixteen states rejected a new manure law that had already been adopted by the national parliament in Berlin. Because of the resistance from the states, a time-consuming consultation and recovery process between the government and the states must now begin.
There is a strong chance that the European Commission will not accept this and will still collect the previously imposed multi-million euro fines. Berlin has been able to hold this off until now due to the promise of stricter rules in a new manure law. But the German states (still) do not want to cooperate with stricter laws.
Germany still faces high nitrate concentrations, especially in areas with intensive livestock farming and agriculture. Fertilization of farmland with natural manure and artificial fertilizers leads to excess nitrate, which then ends up in the groundwater.
Environmental organizations and water authorities are urging stricter measures and effective enforcement of existing rules. They emphasize that the pollution is not only an environmental problem but also poses a threat to public health.