SIIF pilot support group Meeting 17 Apr 2013 Structured Implementation and Information Frameworks European Commission Directorate General for the Environment unit D.2 - Marine Environment & Water Industry

Implementation Communication (COM(2012)95) Background Implementation Communication (COM(2012)95) “Improving the delivery of benefits from EU env. measures - Building confidence through better knowledge and responsiveness” Part I: Knowledge on implementation (incl. Structured Implementation and Information Frameworks - SIIF) Part II: Responsiveness at national, regional and local level (incl. Partnership Implementation Agreements - PIAs)

7th Environmental Action Programme (COM(2012)710) Background – 7EAP 7th Environmental Action Programme (COM(2012)710) Priority objective 4: To maximise the benefits of EU environment legislation The 7th EAP shall ensure that by 2020: (a) EU citizens have access to clear information showing how EU environment law is being implemented. (b) The implementation of specific environment legislation is improved. This requires, in particular: (a) Establishing systems at national level which actively disseminate information about how EU environment legislation is being implemented, coupled with an EU-level overview of individual Member States’ performance. (see Impact Assessment – Annex 6 – page 107 for more detail) (b) Drawing up partnership implementation agreements between Member States and the Commission. (see Impact Assessment – Annex 6 – page 107 and Council fact sheet for more detail)

Background – SEIS Shared Environment Information System – Implementation Outlook (CSW(2013)18) The SEIS Implementation Outlook states priority action 3: "Piloting the development of structured implementation and information frameworks (SIIFs) for selected thematic areas, linking these location-based information systems to EU level e-Reporting systems in order to make reported information usable in various contexts and at different geographic scales. The SIIFs as they have been set out in the Implementation Communication should, on the one hand, identify how EU environment law is implemented on the ground, and, on the other, determine good examples and best practices of information systems at local, regional and cross-border levels. As a pilot activity, the Commission services are already developing a concept for the reporting and dissemination requirements of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. Based on the lessons learned from the first SIIF, the Commission services will consider ways for expanding the concept and structure of the SIIFs to other environment policy areas. The EEA shall be closely involved."

Background – Water Blueprint Blueprint for European Freshwater (COM(2012)xxx) The Blueprint announces the following actions on Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive: Improve compliance rates on waste water treatment through long-term investment planning (including EU funds and EIB loans) by preparing implementation plans for UWW by 2014 Improving the knowledge base and improving governance: Developing the Water Information System for Europe (WISE) to ensure, through its successive implementation plans, its full interoperability with the information systems used at Member State and European level with a view to improving our understanding of the aquatic ecosystems. Finally, the Commission is about to adopt the 7th Report on the implementation of the UWW Directive which presents the advancement in implementation and describes the new approach in compliance promotion and information management.

Current deficiencies - UWWTD Reporting inefficient: Long timescales and intensive human resources needs on MS and EU level Different information not linked - compliance, infringements, implementation plans, financing (cohesion-related information) Limited transparency of reporting and assessment process Limited use of information on the status of implementation; no transposition of experience gained for EU-15 into the situation of EU-12 Focus on past problems, rather than future solutions No easy access of compliance information to the public

SIIF principles - UWWTD For national level: Change from reporting to information management (SEIS) Ensure transparency and public access (also 2003/4/EC) Keep information regularly updated Forward looking – solution oriented perspective Reduce administrative burden for best performers SEIS principles apply in addition (e.g. “Report once, use many”)

DG Environment, Unit D.2 Marine Environment and Water Industry 19.09.2018 SIIF components National Information Systems on compliance 2) Link of national Systems to EU (WISE, SEIS-INSPIRE) Develop Partnership Implementation Agreements “PIA” (link to funding)

SIIF EU SIIF national INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT Reference data SIIF national

DG Environment, Unit D.2 Marine Environment and Water Industry 19.09.2018 Seven SIIF tasks / actions Task 1: Compiling overview on existing national systems (done) Task 2: Analysing directive and reporting guidelines Task 4: Identify additional information needs on actions taken by MS to address these compliance gaps by remedial action – develop data template Task 5: Launch test cases / pilot MS Task 3: Recommendations for national SIIFs (Guidelines) Task 6: Link national and EU-level SIIF (SIIF project) (Task 7: Develop Partnership Implementation Agreements (with ENV A, REGIO))

SIIF modular system Public NATIONAL up-to-date details EU WISE overview link to national INTERNAL infringem. financing Public

User needs input data – data template available data presentation of information – visualisation demo version visualisation (EU / national) output formats agglos treatment water bodies Reference installations performance Art. 15 reports Compliance planning investment timelines Solution competent authorities contact Governance infringements EU financing Internal

DG Environment, Unit D.2 Marine Environment and Water Industry 19.09.2018 The SIIF pilot so far 2012 Apr/May: SIIF discussion document with initial UWWD workplan June: Water Directors, interest from CY, LT, ... Nov: Bilateral meeting with CY Dec: UWWD Committee, 1st SIIF Workshop, SIIF project started 2013 Jan: workshop in LT, kick off project, expression of interest from other MS Feb/Mar: detailed work planning 2013 incl. EEA July/Sept: 2nd SIIF Workshop - first results

DG Environment, Unit D.2 Marine Environment and Water Industry 19.09.2018 Issues for discussion Impact of SIIF on reporting (reduction of burden for MS?) SIIF / PIA on UWW is not for all MS - categories (EU12, EU15 infringement, EU15 compliant) SIIF / PIA and infringements? What do we (COM) have to offer? High scepticism of MS? (“carrot” on financing or “no infringement” not clear to MS – working with REGIO (!) and Dir A) Form and process for PIA?

DG Environment, Unit D.2 Marine Environment and Water Industry 19.09.2018 Pilot Support Group SIIF pilot countries Support project defining user needs and IT framework Role of EEA Perspective for PIAs