In European countries, the reuse of treated wastewater must be undertaken in full compliance with the requirements of relevant EU legislation. In this regard, the reuse of treated wastewater has been highlighted within EU water policy as one possible alternative water source in water-scarce regions, which may be appropriate to consider within water-scarcity planning (COM, 2007, 414 in CIS, 2016). It was also identified as a priority in the 2012 Water Blueprint (COM, 2012, 673 in CIS, 2016) and it is also a supplementary measure Member States can adopt as part of the Programme of Measures required under Article 11(4) of the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC). It is a top priority area in the Strategic Implementation Plan of the European Innovation Partnership on Water in http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/reuse.htm). 

The European Commission has been working for years on a harmonized proposal of minimum requirements for water reuse in member countries. A Proposal for a Regulation of 18 December, 2019, followed by the Regulation of the European Parlament and of the Council of the 25 May 2020 on Minimum Requirement for Water Reuse are part of the Action Plan to promote the Circular Economy, considering that water reuse has a lower environmental impact than water transfers and desalination and that, without a doubt, will improve water availability and promote its efficient use. Currently, only 6 countries have regulations in this regard (Cyprus, Italy, France, Portugal, Greece and Spain). 

This Regulation lays down minimum requirements for water quality and monitoring, as well as provisions for risk management, for the safe use of reclaimed water in the context of integrated water resources management.