The protection and quality of Europe’s water is improving. As set out in more detail below, nearly 30 years of EU legislation together with national and international action to protect and improve the aquatic environment are bearing fruit in many areas. However there are certain issues, especially linked to agriculture, where progress is not being made. Furthermore, where progress is being achieved there can still be outstanding problems and specific geographical ‘hot spots’. It must also be stressed that there are large data gaps on some issues where the conclusions reached must be treated with some caution.