Mandate and working principles Prep-SCG 13 September 2013 CIS-SPI 2013-2015 Mandate and working principles Prep-SCG 13 September 2013 Christos FRAGAKIS European Commission DG Research and Innovation Frédérique MARTINI ONEMA

CIS-SPI: Outcomes from previous phase Prioritised research needs identified by the CIS groups, inventory of existing knowledge and research activities, further gaps, recommendation for policy briefs – user friendly template Communication and dissemination to SCG, water Directors and CIS groups, DG RTD, JPI water, EIP water + CIRCABC Three annual SPI events to improve dialogue between the science and policy; Reports have been published and are available Report for entire activity under publication Prep-SCG Meeting, Brussels, 13 September 2013

CIS-SPI: Lessons learnt from previous activity Detailed list of lessons and recommendations in the final report. In summary: The need to continue and further improve SPI activities within WFD CIS should be formally acknowledged in the revised mandate not to be overlooked; Make SPI a regular agenda item in the CIS WGs and assign dedicated SPI correspondents for each WG to organise and mainstream SPI into group’s core activities - WG’s core activites hand-in-hand with SPI Extent SPI outreach to involve implementers at river basin level to further enhance uptake of researchg results; Prep-SCG Meeting, Brussels, 13 September 2013

Expected added-value of SPI activity in the CIS Ensure CIS "deliverables" and RBP based on "state-of-the-art" knowledge and scientific evidence; 500 Mio € annually on water research at EU and national level. More obligation to the European society to make optimal use of the outcomes of this investment and return benefits to society; Continuous streamlining knowledge gaps identified by CIS WGs into research policy agendas of funding "bodies" (EC, JPI, EIP etc.); Hence ensure Policy-relevant Research Sharing of "experiences" among WGs; test and improve methods and operational tools to enhance effectiveness of SPI; Learning by doing Prep-SCG Meeting, Brussels, 13 September 2013

A new CIS-SPI mandate – Working principles SPI should serve WGs' in carrying out their mandate without adding unecessary workload and "bureaucracy; Secure WGs’ buy-in into the process; Each WG should be responsible for its SPI strategy and its implementation (a "decentralised" approach) to secure "customised" support to the group's activities and better use of resources; Secure ownership of the process; Prep-SCG Meeting, Brussels, 13 September 2013

Way forward-Open Questions To secure a "client"-driven SPI activity, the WGs themselves must define: How can scientific evidence be communicated to river basin within the revised CIS framework? Actors? Mechanisms? …… What are their SPI needs in support of their mandated activities; Operational modalities to streamline SPI into their "core" activities; Identify possible needs for cross-WGs co-ordination to address cross-cutting/transversal WFD and SPI-relevant issues; Identify specific needs, if any, that can better be dealt with through an over-arching CIS-SPI activity? Prep-SCG Meeting, Brussels, 13 September 2013

Way forward Questions to address at the next CIS WGs meetings Feedback to CIS-SPI contact points Depending on the outcome of this "scoping exercise", the needs, definition of tasks and assignment of roles will become clearer; If requested to do so, DG RTD will be happy to continue its engagement in the CIS-SPI process, provided that its role and tasks are well defined; This will enable us to assess whether we can cope with the « implications » in terms of staff and budget; Need to assess the situation before commiting ourselves; Prep-SCG Meeting, Brussels, 13 September 2013

Thank you Contact points Christos Fragakis – DG RTD christos.fragakis@ec.europa.eu Frédérique Martini – ONEMA frederique.martini@onema.fr Prep-SCG Meeting, Brussels, 13 September 2013