Commission activities Water Directors meeting 24-25 November 2008 Jorge Rodríguez Romero, Unit D.2, DG Environment, European Commission

Contents State of play infringement procedures Preparation of Commission Report Article 18 monitoring programmes Preparation of Commission Report threshold values Groundwater Directive Preparations of European Water Conference Towards a concept for compliance checking of WFD River Basin Management Plans (presentation Tuesday morning) Notes for the Speaker: More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.

State of play infringements Transposition including Water Services 13 launched, 2 more imminent and few more in preparation Order responds to resources issues not to importance of conformity problems Non-communication monitoring networks: 2 cases open Article 5 non-communication: all cases closed Article 3: one court ruling pending Notes for the Speaker: More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.

Preparation of Commission report article 8 monitoring networks On-going compliance checking work based on concept paper presented to Working Group Reporting – comments taken on board Technical work to be finalised by the end of 2008 Early 2009: consultation on Member States annexes, internal consultations and procedures Assessment of key issues Objectives of monitoring programmes Comprehensiveness Status of developments of methods Selection of quality elements Frequency of monitoring Notes for the Speaker: More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.

Commission report monitoring programmes – table of contents Introduction Monitoring Programmes for European waters – overview Methodology for the Compliance Check Results of the Member States (EU perspective) International river basin districts Conclusions Annex: Information on MS Monitoring Programmes (individual template for each MS) Notes for the Speaker: More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.

Groundwater threshold values GWD Article 3: MS should establish Threshold Values by 22 December 2008 Threshold values have to be published as part of the first the river basin management plans (RBMP) which means that the reporting obligation is linked to RBMP reporting by 22 March 2010 However, according to the GWD the Commission has to publish a report in 22 December 2009 Consequently reporting of TVs via the RBMP is too late for the preparation of the Commission report

Proposal for data collection An earlier data collection is needed → questionnaire from COM to be sent to Water Directors Questionnaire Overview of substances, concentrations and levels (GWB, RBD, national part of international RBD, Members State level) Summaries of the methodological approach Preparation of the questionnaire including consultation with WG C January 2009 Distribution of the questionnaire: early February 2009 Deadline for answers: end March 2009

Charlemagne building, COM, Brussels Conference 2-3 April 2008, Charlemagne building, COM, Brussels Focus on consultation process, SWMIs and draft RBMP European stakeholders feedback on draft RBMPs Discussion on strategic water management issues Distance participation via webstreaming Invitation to European stakeholders and their members, to Member States and competent auhtorities, MEPs… Exhibition First draft programme to be presented shortly Notes for the Speaker: More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.

Preparing the conference Survey to identify key documents (Work programmes, SWMIs, draft RBMP) Emails or letters to Water Directors or Strategic coordination group – depending on level of accessibility of information on the internet Survey on consultation mechanisms: Contact persons sought in each MSa and/or RBD Consultants to contact directly to ask for supplementary information Ecologic, VITO, ACTeon, University of Turku, LENOCI. Questionnaire made available in advance. Notes for the Speaker: More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.

State of play of survey (I) MS Consultation contact points Information consultation process Significant water managemetn issues AT BE No contact for Brussels No info for Brussels region No document available for Brussels region BG CY CZ No contact provided yet DE DK EE EL Consultation process on work programmes and SWMI has not taken place No documents available ES No info available for: Andalucía RBD No document available for: Júcar RBD Galicia Costa RBD Islas Canarias RBD Notes for the Speaker: More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.

State of play of survey (II) MS Consultation contact points Information consultation process Significant water managemetn issues FI No contact provided yet No info available for: Aland islands No document available for: FR IT No info found by consultant. No documents found by consultant. IE HU LT LU No document available LV MT (Note! Letter sent by WD on 29.10 on Malta’s WFD consultation process) (no official SWMI; only a note realised in a Twinning project) Notes for the Speaker: More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.

State of play of survey (III) MS Consultation contact points Information consultation process Significant water management issues NL PL No info available for: RWMA Warszawa RWMA Wroclaw No document available for: RBDs Pregolya, Swieza, Danube, Dniestr, Ucker, Elbe, Jarft, Nemunas. PT RO SI No contact provided yet SK SE UK RBD Gibraltar Tot 14 contact points given 13 contact point missing 20 information found 7 information gaps 18 information found 9 information gaps Notes for the Speaker: More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.

Preparing the conference Analysis of SWMIs Identify significant water management issues as raised by MS Discussion on strategic water management issues… First overview of draft RBMP Consultants to check key issues in the draft RBMP – exemptions, types of measures, etc However NOT a first COM opinion or comment on the draft RBMP Invite stakeholders to the conference to give their first impressions of the draft RBMP Questionnaire made available in advance. Notes for the Speaker: More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.

Conference document Consultation (14.1) How do Member States try encourage active involvement – media, meetings, questionnaires? How have views been taken on board in the consultation? Significant water management issues (14.2) Driving forces, pressures, impacts – and measures ? Key trends and conclusions drawn on strategic water management issues at European level Draft RBMP (14.3) plans and or experiences so far Key issues like use of exemptions, types of measures. Media reports Case studies – good or bad practices ? Notes for the Speaker: More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.

Flash Eurobarometer on Water To ask questions to the general public of their awareness of the process and on the perceived problems linked to water To check if MS requirement to “actively involve” interested parties and the public has worked To ask a question on the perceived impact of climate change on water – also linked to the CC Adaptation White paper To – with the Flash EB report – raise the awareness in media and public on the ongoing consultation process, with a view to increase participation

water.europa.eu/participate/ Webpages water.europa.eu/participate/ DG ENV Europa pages > downloadable posters/postcards and other campaign resources CIRCA>WFD>public library>National implementation documents > Article 14 : Links, workprogrammes, SWMIs and draft RBMP WISE static pages – update to ensure more userfriendliness Notes for the Speaker: More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.

(e-) POSTERS and (e-) POSTCARDS

Water Directors are invited to Take note of the state of play on legal action Take note of the preparation of the Commission report on monitoring programmes Take note of the preparations for the Water Conference Provide contact points for public participation issues at MS and/or RBD level if not done yet Endorse the data collection on groundwater threshold values for the preparation of Commission report