Recital 26

(26)Since the transboundary nature of water pollution requires cooperation between neighbouring Member States or third countries in addressing such pollution and identifying measures to tackle its source, Member States should be required to inform each other or the third country concerned if significant water pollution originating from urban wastewater discharges in one Member State or third country impacts or is likely to impact the water quality of another Member State or third country. Such information should be provided immediately in cases of incidental pollution significantly affecting downstream water bodies, and responses should be communicated in a timely manner. Where Member States have concluded previous agreements between them or with third countries on environmental water issues, cooperation through those agreements could be taken into account. The Commission should be informed of such pollution and, if necessary, participate in meetings at the request of Member States. It is also important to tackle the transboundary pollution from third countries sharing the same water bodies with some of the Member States. For the purpose of dealing with pollution coming from or arriving in third countries, the cooperation and coordination with third countries may be carried out in the framework of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes ¹⁹ or other relevant regional Conventions such as the Regional Seas or Rivers Conventions.