Activity on environmental objectives and exemptions Common Implementation Strategy of the WFD European Commission - DG Environment Unit D.2: Water and Marine

 Leaders of the activity: DK, EC  Background 2003 - Guidance document on economics and environment  first interpretation of relevant concepts for the use of exemptions June 2005 - Endorsement by the WD of a paper on WFD environmental objectives  clarification of issues related to the place of articles 4.4 (extension of deadlines) and 4.5 (less stringent objectives) November 2006 - Endorsement by the WD of a paper on the provisions of 4.7 (new modifications)

Latest developments June 2006 – WD agreed to complete the work with a comprehensive activity covering all exemption cases.  Objectives The outcomes are aimed at helping MS in the preparation of their RBMP. Step 1 – development of common understanding of the provisions of articles 4.4, 4.5 and 4.6  description of the key concepts, answers to practical questions, description of a stepwise approach Step 2 – development of a comprehensive guidance on WFD environmental objectives and exemptions Step 3 – further exchange of information on the use of exemptions, through the organisation of two workshops

Timetable of the activity on environmental objectives and exemptions 2007 2008 2009 Actions 1 2 3 4 Scoping phase X Step 1 Step 2 Workshop 1 (W1) Workshop 2 (W2) Deliverables Analytical paper on 4§4, 4§5, 4§6 Comprehensive guidance document W 1 summary report W 2 summary report

Paper still in progress within the drafting group The group will discuss an updated version on 5 July The document will contain two parts: 1. General principles 2. Disproportionality Progress in the activity will be reported to SCG (May) and Water Directors (June) with discussion points Still on track to deliver paper end of year Next phase is then consolidating all available info (art. 4.7, env. objectives paper and this paper) in 2008.