1. A Blueprint to safeguard Europe’s waters
Discussion at Water Directors meeting
Warsaw, 8-9/12/2011

2. What is the Blueprint?
The Blueprint to Safeguard Europe's Water Resources will present the policy response to the challenges presented in the State of Water Report, with the long-term aim to ensure sufficient availability of good quality water for sustainable and equitable water use.
The Blueprint is closely related to the EU 2020 Strategy and in particular to the recent Resource Efficiency Roadmap. The Blueprint will be the water milestone on that Roadmap. However, the analysis underpinning the Blueprint will in fact cover a longer time span up to

3. The Blueprint will have 3 main objectives:
First, improving the implementation of current EU water policy by making full use of the opportunities provided by the current framework;
Second, fostering the integration of water and other policies by managing trade-offs through a better understanding of the costs and benefits of both economic activities and water resources management; and
When necessary, seeking the completion of the current policy framework, especially in relation to water efficiency and adaptation to climate change.

4. Synthesis of policy recommendations building on on-going assessments
Impact Assessment
« Fitness Check»
EU water
policy
instruments
Outlook of sustainability and vulnerability of EU water resources
Policy
Options
Nov 2012
Blueprint To
Safeguard
EU Waters
Report on 2009
River Basin
Management Plans
Report on 2009
River Basin
Management
Plans
Report on 2009
River Basin
Management Plans
Report on 2009
River Basin
Management Plans
Report on 2009
River Basin
Management Plans
Report on 2009
River Basin
Management Plans
Review
Water Scarcity
& Droughts Strategy
Review
Water Scarcity
& Droughts Strategy
Review
Water Scarcity
& Droughts
Strategy
Review
Water Scarcity
& Droughts Strategy
Review
Water Scarcity
& Droughts Strategy
Climate Change
Vulnerability
& Adaptation
Climate Change
Vulnerability
& Adaptation
Climate Change
Vulnerability
& Adaptation
the ongoing assessment of the River Basin Management Plans under the Water Framework Directive; the Fitness Check of EU water policy; the review of the policy on water scarcity and drought; and the review of the vulnerability of water resources to climate change and other man made pressures. The Blueprint, in line with the current approach of water policy, will propose EU action where it offers added value and will take fully into account the very significant differences between and within Member States in terms of water availability, quality, quantity, efficiency etc. Therefore, it will not put forward a one size fit all straight jacket but rather try to put in place the tool box that Member States can rely upon to improve water management at national, regional and river basin level. In previous discussion papers, the Commission identified 7 policy areas to be covered by the Blueprint.[1] For the sake of simplicity and to take into account the overlaps between those 7 areas, the following sections will address the same policy areas in 5 blocks covering policy scenarios, promising measures, economic incentives, governance, and knowledge base & innovation.

5. The presentation today
EEA SoW Report
Policy Scenarios
WSD Gap Analysis
Assessment RBMP & Pressures & Measures
Measures
Fitness Check
Economics
Governance
Knowledge Base
Policy Options for the Blueprint

6. Policy scenarios for safeguarding Europe’s water resources
Water resource balances (quantity, quality) for relevant European river basins - SEEAW framework - monthly resolution - ECRINS reference system
Disaggregated information on the use of water for the base year by the different economic activities, including estimates on its environmental impact.
optimisation model, maximization of net social benefits from the use of water by economic sectors
baseline scenario / sensitivity analysis
Selection of measures
Blueprint Specific Objectives
indicative targets at EU level for reducing the vulnerability of water resources
Information on technical, non technical or structural measures affecting water availability and water use by the different economic activities, including estimates on their environmental impact.
natural water retention,
water savings,
reuse/recycling
water quality
Environmental,
Social,
Economic
constraints
Scenarios for land-use changes, hydrological parameters and use of water by the different economic activities
Water resource balances (quantity, quality) for relevant European river basins within the SEEAW framework at the monthly resolution under ECRINS reference system (as a result of a parallel call for tender [1])
Disaggregated information on the use of water for the base year by the different economic activities, including estimates on the impact on ecological and chemical status, as well as energy consumption, pollutant and greenhouse gases emissions.
Information on technical, non technical or structural measures affecting water availability and water use by the different economic activities, including estimates on the impact on biological, chemical and morphological status, as well as energy consumption, pollutant and greenhouse gases emissions.
Scenarios for land-use changes, hydrological parameters and use of water by the different economic activities (produced by the JRC Land Use Modelling Platform: EU Clue Scanner / LISFLOOD) including the issues of structural changes in Member States e.g. in the structure and location of population and economic activity.
[1] See information on on-going contracts and calls for tender supporting the Blueprint on

7. Example of ClimWatAdapt results: Summer Water Exploitation Index (excl cooling water)
FP6 SCENES Scenario «Economy First» 2050
FP6 SCENES Scenario «Sustainability Eventually» 2050
Low stress (WEI < 20%)
Medium stress (20% < WEI < 40%
High stress (WEI > 40%)
Source: DG Environment, ClimWatAdapt database, 2011
The main message from this bold exploratory scenario exercise is that despite strong improvements in water efficiency in all sectors, water stress would remain a problem in numerous EU catchments, including in central and western Europe. This pleads for a more integrated analysis of the potential of increasing water availability, water retention and water savings taking fully into account the uncertainties linked to economic developments in various sectors and climate change.

8. Scenarios and Indicative Targets (“Lot 1”)
Work undertaken in co-operation with JRC
Consistent approach with Water & Ecosystem Accounts
Refined land-use and water use scenarios
Assessment impact of technical measures affecting water availability and water use
Integration of water quantity and quality concerns
Building of an optimisation tool.
Set of indicative targets at EU level
A tool to help defining a common level of ambition and agreeing a common strategy
Help identifying key socio-cultural and legislative barriers.
First results will be presented in May 2012 at the 3rd EU Water Conference.

9. Areas x Policy Options (1/4)
Better integration quantitative water management needs in the River Basin Management plans
EU-wide tool <> similar tools at national or river basin scale
assessment of the baseline scenarios and effectiveness of the programmes of measures
Need for a wider perspective (water – energy – food nexus, virtual water flows)
Relevant indicators for water scarcity, droughts and water efficiency
more concrete and operational definition of environmental flows
Sectoral level:
Voluntary certification standards for business
coherence with SCP related schemes
such as ecolabel, ecodesign and green public procurements.

10. Question to Water Directors (1/4)
Do you agree that factoring in water policy the water impacts from related policy areas is essential to achieve water policy objectives?
Do you think that water efficiency targets, developed by the Member States at river basin level, would be an effective tool to ensure that all sectors stay within 'sustainability thresholds'?

11. “Unlocking” the most promising measures
Managing water demand
Managing water demand
Managing water demand
Improving availability of clean water
Improving availability of clean water
Protecting the water ecosystems
Protecting the water ecosystems
Protecting the water ecosystems

12. Overview of measures Managing water demand
efficiency measures at the buildings level
water efficient products
Improvement of irrigation systems and management
Distribution networks
Water reuse & recycling
Reducing water pollution at source
Crop management
Restoring longitudinal continuity
Water storage
Soil management
Treatment of brackish or sea water
Restoring the riparian area of water courses
Restoring lateral connectivity
Transfers
Protecting the water ecosystems
Improving availability of clean water

13. Areas x Policy Options (2/4)
To support water efficiency (but not only…)
Link to metering
Link to pricing and/or targets to avoid rebound effect.
Tackle illegal abstraction
Link to environmental flows
Cost-effectiveness…
Further integration with Agriculture, Health, Industrial and Energy policy instruments
Importance of guidance and end-user information activities.
Thorough evaluation of environmental, economic and social impacts

14. Questions for Water Directors (2/4)
What are the key barriers for a wider application of the above measures in your river basin plans?
Do you think that water using sectors should consider importing virtual water when sustainability thresholds in the EU have been reached?
Do you think that working for the preservation of water resources outside the EU is also a way to preserve our internal resources?

15. Economic incentives for a more efficient water resources management
Analysis current water pricing level and structure:
lack of incentives for a more efficient water resources management
the lack of internalisation of external costs
Financing needs for measures
Estimate the right balance between tariffs, taxes and transfers
demonstrating the impacts of the measures in terms of jobs and prosperity
ensuring buying-in (public and private financing)
Pricing structure need to reflect the social costs associated with the use of water.
fixed costs for the maintenance of the infrastructure
pollution costs not fully linked to the volume of water abstracted or consumed.
Quantification of environmental and resource costs
Often linked to ecosystem services
could also allow for the further development of 'Payment for Ecosystem Services schemes‘

16. Areas for policy options (3/4)
Already mentioned:
Tackling metering, illegal abstraction
Better understanding of costs (i.e. ecosystem-based approaches) and benefits (i.e. ecosystem services)
Need for more concrete methodological support for actual implementation of economic analysis and pricing
Need for frameworks for inter-sectoral or transboundary financing (i.e. payment for ecosystem services)

17. Questions for Water Directors (3/4)
Do you agree that more concrete CIS guidance and methodological support is needed for the proper understanding of the costs and benefits and of how they should be reflected into the pricing scheme?
Do you agree in particular on the need to better understand, quantify and monetise as far as possible the provision of ecosystem services?
Do you consider the current public finance context in your contry is a barrier for the implementation of the priority measures?
What should be the top priorities then?
How to ensure private money for projects?

18. Governance and Knowledge Base

19. Preliminary assessment / Areas for policy options (4/4)
Improving the governance system stemming from EU water policy
effective coordination at the river basin scale between the various administrations responsible for water.
Better targeting of international river basins agreements towards WFD implementation
monitoring networks
programmes of measures, funding)
Integration with other policies
Ensuring the knowledge base for current and emerging challenges
Improved set of shared indicators
More focused reporting and statistic requirements
Better exploit the potential of WISE
improve the relevance of research for practical water policy
European Innovation Partnership (EIP) on Water
Identify the key barriers to water related innovations
Support the development of multi disciplinary innovations
Provide a more dynamic vision of ecosystem functioning and a better understanding of the link between pressures and impacts on ecosystems
Focus on the quantification of pressures on water resources, providing high sectoral, geographical and seasonal level of detail, contributing to the building of water accounts at catchment level
Provide policy-relevant indicators of sustainability/vulnerability of water resources and information on policy responses for river basin and local managers
ensure effective and timely communication of research results to policy makers at all levels.
Put water on the top of the agenda for next research programming period

20. Questions to Water Directors (4/4)
What measures/action would you suggest to improve coordination at river basin scale for both national and international river basins?
What would you suggest to improve access to EU funds (Cohesion/Regional/Rural Development) for water policy?
Do you agree with the need to establish a comprehensive knowledge base, including the identification of data and assessment to be performed at EU, national, RB and local levels, starting from the knowledge needs and identifying the most efficient channel?
Do you agree that the EU level should focus on needs linked with trans-boundary basins, implementation of EU policies and support to national and local administrations with lower technical or financial capacity?

21. Calendar & milestones
The target date for adoption of the Blueprint is mid-November 2012
Most relevant milestones:
6 December February 2012: Public consultation on Fitness Check
9-10 February 2012: 2nd Stakeholder meeting for the Fitness Check
12-16 March 2012: 6th World Water Forum (Marseille)
March-May Public consultation on draft objectives and policy options for the Blueprint.
21-25 May 2012: Green Week focusing on water and 3rd EU Water Conference (24-25 may)
7 July 2012: CY presidency: Informal Council discussing inputs to Blueprint
26-27 November 2012: CY presidency High-level conference for the launch of the Blueprint, back-to-back with Water Directors meeting
Member States are invited to further contribute to the Blueprint also through meetings of CIS groups, or e.g. through the ad-hoc group on modeling scenarios & targets.