implementation of the water framework directive in europe

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Implementation of the Implementation of the Water Framework Water Framework Directive in Europe Directive in Europe ––state of play 2011 state of play 2011

Peter GammeltoftHead of Unit, DG ENV.D.1 “Water”DG Environment, European Commission

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This presentation

• EU water policy• RBMPs across the EU• Commission’s assessment of the plans • Pressures on Europe’s water resources• Key issues for successful implementation • Conclusions


Why an EU water policy?

• All sectors and activities • depend on access to clean water• contribute to pressure on water resources

• Transboundary nature of water resources• EU Water Framework Directive (2000) established

joined up management of water resources• Objective: sufficient supply of good quality water as

needed for sustainable, balanced and equitable water use

• Growing pressure on water resources from global trends in population, and energy and food production

• Additional pressures from climate change


WFD – a framework for water policy in Europe

• The river basin management plan concept – Covering the whole catchment– Covering all impacts on waters.

• Diversity of river basins -diversity of pressures – Provides flexibility to take specific

conditions into account– Harmonises objectives but not efforts

• Objectives– Achievement of good status in all water

bodies and no deterioration of status.


RBMP adopted (20)Consultation finalised, awaiting adoption (3 –CY, DK, SI)Consultation on-going or not started (4)

• BE, ES : RBMP available part of the respective country, consultation partly ongoing and consultation partly not started depending on the region/RBD• EL, PT – no consultations have started

Status of adoption of RBMPs in Europe – still progress needed


Infringement cases

• infringement cases opened for non-reporting shortly after the deadline for reporting of the RBMPs

Reasoned opinion issued, still relevant for : CY, SI, ES Application to court (April 2011): BE, DK, EL, PT


Exemptions

• Exemptions are possible, e.g. – Time-derogation to max 2 additional cycles (2021, 2027) (Art

4.4)• Exemptions :

– are exceptions, and not the rule…– Apply to specific water bodies – Specific justifications in the RBMPs– Disproportionate costs or technical feasibility– Natural conditions

• EU wide overview of use of exemptions not yet available


Commission’s assessment of the RBMPs

• Objective: 2012 implementation report• Covering legal, technical and strategic issues• Screening of all relevant topics • 170 plans in 21 languages!• 3rd implementation report due in end 2012

(+ Annexes)

Commission Communication


Topics for WFD assessment1. Governance2. Characterisation of the RBD3. Monitoring of surface waters and groundwater4. Classification of the ecological status of surface waters5. Designation of HMWB and definition of ecological potential6. Assessment of groundwater status7. Environmental objectives and exemptions8. Chemical status of surface waters9. Programme of measures – general10. Measures related to groundwater11. Measures related to agriculture12. Measures related to chemical pollution13. Measures related to hydromorphology14. Measures related to Article 9 (water pricing policies)15. Additional measures in protected areas16. Strategy to deal with water scarcity and droughts17. Adaptation to climate change


Diversity of uses, aspirations, pressures and impacts

Nature protection

Industry

Tourism

Waste Water

Agriculture

Navigation & hydropower

Drinking water

Flood protection


Proportion of severe water stress EU river basins likely to increase from 19% today to 35% by 2070.• Areas affected by droughts will increase.•If t° rises by 2 to 3°C, water scarcity would affect 1.1 to 3.2 billion people

Southern Europe4 Eastern Central Europe

Examples of different pressures - 1 Expected impacts of climate change and economic development


Several Member States have very high population densities and high pressures from urban waste water discharges.

Examples of different pressures - 2 Population density and pressures from waster water treatment


Many Member States have developed hydropower and are expanding to meet renewable energy targets

Examples of different pressures - 3 Hydro-morphology & Artificial or Heavily modified water bodies


Examples of different pressures - 4 Comparison of the freshwater aquaculture production with the overall

freshwater resources in a number of Member States.

Aquaculture pressures


Examples of different pressures - 5Agriculture - a significant pressure in many EU countires

Regional distribution of cattle, sheep and pig livestock units per utilised agricultural area in 2000 (and change from 1990-2000) Eurostat

Nitrogen surplus, 2005. JRC(2010)


Examples of different pressures - 6• Chemical pollution – significant emissions of Lead (E-PRTR 2009)


Examples of different challenges – in conclusion

• Denmark is not the only country with significant pressures, also other MS have significant agricultural pressures

• Each MS need to address their specific and diverse set of pressures

• Implementation of basic measures are differently advanced

• Directive rewards those who have already made a lot of efforts


Some key issues for a successful implementation of WFD

1. A solid technical basis2. An effective administrative set-up3. International coordination that delivers4. Integration: get the right balance5. Smart use of economic incentives6. Active public participation7. Political support / ambition


Nature protection

Industry

Tourism

Waste Water

Agriculture

Navigation & hydropower

Drinking water

Flood protection

4. Integration: get the right balance• Starting early to work with the sectors to identify solutions

- making other policies deliver• Use the existing tools (e.g. rural development, EU funds)• Each Member State needs to address its particular key

sectors• Risks:

– RBMP development in isolation– Objectives under other policies/drivers get overriding priority


5. Smart use of economic incentives

• Getting the prices right to promote rational and efficient use of water, avoid wastage and pollution

• Target the largest users and polluters• Ensure that our natural waters that ultimately will have to

deliver our water in the future are maintained in good status and that we do not wear down the natural capital on which we all depend

• Risks:– Reducing the scope of the application to water supply and

wastewater– Failing to get political support to address the most important

users (e.g. Agriculture)


7. Political support / ambition

• Not everything can always be done before 2015 but…most of it! – High level of ambition

• Programme of measures showing determination to abandon unsustainable practices and end with long-lasting water problems (overexploitation, diffuse pollution, eutrophication, hydromorphological impacts...)

• Credible measures supported by clear financial commitments and assignment of responsibilities

• Risks:– Crisis leading to cuts in human

and financial resources

Percentage of surface water bodies in good status

0

20

40

60

80

100

NL CZ DE UK BG FR IE EE

Current2015

(based on draft plans)


Conclusion

• Each Member Sate has its specific challenges to face !

• All projections show that pressures on water bodies will increase in the future.

• Efforts to preserve water resources quality and quantity must increase, rather than decrease, to maintain water resources for the future !

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Why are the plans not finalised in 7 Member States?

• Delays in the technical work• Difficulties in getting the new river basin

authorities operational• Difficulties to agree measures regarding specific

sectors• Political conflict between regions and/or the

central government• Lack of political priority

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Phased RBMP assessment – run-up to 2012• Countries are phased in accordance with when all

reporting was complete, including electronic reporting.• Phase 1 : 1st 10 MS includes SE and FI – results

spring 2011• Phase 2 : 2nd batch expected to include Norwegian pilot

RBMPs (arrangement with ESA) – results end 2011• Phase 3 : results spring 2012• Different stages :

– Thematic assessment – RBD/MS assessment – Balance our overall assessment comparing different MS

• Bilateral clarifications with the MS in question• At this stage, no firm view can be expressed on the

result of the assessment

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Examples of different challenges

The objectives for aquatic protected areas are integrated into the classification of waters Legal obligation to implement measures where necessaryExample

Natura 2000 sites for the conservation of Freshwater Pearl Mussel populations

Integrating protected area objectives :Example Ireland


1. A solid technical basis

• Assessment methods for ecological status• Comprehensive monitoring programmes• Setting of objectives for HMWB• Multidisciplinary approach

• Risks:– Reduced monitoring programmes to cut down costs in the short

term... but can result much more expensive in the long term– Status quo as objectives for HMWB


2. An effective administrative set-up

• Effective coordination– across surface (inland/coastal) and groundwater– across administrative levels (national, regional, local)– across drivers, pressures and impacts

• Coherent approach across the river basin district

• Risks:– Trying to superimpose coordination mechanisms over existing

structures which are not fit for purpose to implement the integrated river basin approach – leading to non-delivery due to unworkable complexity


3. International coordination that delivers

• Increasing commitment– Sharing information– Pulling together national

measures– Joint identification of problems– Joint identification of solutions

• Risks:– Coordination “on paper”


6. Active public participation

• Public means all interested parties• Start early• See it as an opportunity, not a threat

• Risks:– “We know what we are doing”– Turned into a bureaucratic tick-box exercise

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2012Blueprint

ToSafeguardEU Waters

Blueprint for safeguarding EUs waters

Report on 2009River BasinManagement Plans

ReviewWater Scarcity& Droughts Strategy

Climate ChangeVulnerability& Adaptation










ReviewWater Scarcity& DroughtsStrategy

Report on 2009River BasinManagement Plans Outlook of

Sustainabilityand

Vulnerabilityof EU waterresources

« Fitness Check»

EU water policy

instruments

AssessmentPolicy

Options

Impact Assessment


Blueprint for safeguarding EUs waters

The Blueprint will:• Assess the implementation and achievements of

policies and measures in place• Look forward at the evolving vulnerability of the water

environment to assess the sufficiency of existing measures and tools, and evaluate potential new instruments

• Synthesise policy recommendations drawing from the evaluation exercise, and will be accompanied by a number of reports and new initiatives, including of a legislative nature if appropriate.

implementation of the water framework directive in europe

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