1. Outcome and Perspectives Pilot River Basin Workshop
THE
PILOT RIVER BASIN
Outcome and Perspectives
Pilot River Basin Workshop
Ghent,
4-5 October 2004

2. The EU Member States, Norway and the European Commission have jointly developed a common strategy to support the implementation of the Directive 2000/60/EC
a) Establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy.
b) To allow a coherent and harmonious implementation of this Directive.
c) To limit the risks of bad application and subsequent dispute by developing a common understanding and approach.
d) To develop Guidance Documents, recommendations for operational methods and other supporting tools.

3. Further to the finalisation of the Guidance Documents, an informal and voluntary exercise was established with the aim of testing these guidance documents and report on the experience.
B, F, NL (Scheldt)
D, F, Lux (Moselle-Sarre)
France (Marne)
Ireland (Shannon)
UK (Ribble)
Denmark (Odense)
Finland (Oulujoki)
Norway (Sudalsvassdraget )
Portugal (Guadiana)
Spain (Júcar)
Greece (Pinios)
Italy (Tevere, Cecina)
H, RO (Somes-Szamos)
CZ, D, PL (Neisse)

4. A wide representation of the situation across Europe
PRBs: Overall Purpose
15 Pilot River Basins (PRBs)
18 countries
A wide representation of the situation across Europe
Wide geographical distribution
Several transboundary basins
Variety of pressures and impacts
Different level of data availability and starting points for the implementation
Different selection of Guidance Documents to be tested

5. PRBs: Timetable and Phases
Phase 1 a: Focus on testing of Key Issues related to the reporting commitments on Article 5.
Phase 1 b: During Phase 1b the GDs not included in Phase 1a were tested. This phase started in parallel with Phase 1a and it has been finalized in June 2004.

6. Phase 1a
Phase 1a was finalised at the end of Main results are summarised in the PILOT RIVER BASIN OUTCOME REPORT on the testing of Article 5 Related Guidance Documents

7. PRBs: Outcome Report for Phases 1a
A document of four Chapters
Two Annexes reporting direct answers of PRBs
A collection of case studies
Results of Thematic Workshops available in CIRCA
Individual Art. 5 PRB Reports for: Odense, Tevere, Jucar, Somos, Shannon, Suldal
PRB thematic workshops: Groundwater, Water body delineation, Economy, Mediterranean dimension
Water Directors - River basin authorities - Regional and local managers
The Report is addressed to:
Other users which are planning and facing the implementation of the WFD

8. PRBs: Outcome Report for Phases 1a
Primary objective is to inform on the GD testing, with focus on:
whether interlinkages among GDs are sufficiently developed
whether some issues require special attention for an adequate implementation of the WFD
Independent or embedded implementation

9. PRBs: Outcome Report for Phases 1a
PRBs consider the experience of high value and benefits
Art. 5 WFD can be implemented with
existing data within the PRBs
GDs have been used satisfactorily and were generally seen as efficient and helpful tools.
The methodology in the WFD appears to be utilizable, but it is very demanding in terms of data and resources.
There is a need to strengthen regional monitoring and the development/use of modeling tools.

10. PRBs: Outcome Report for Phases 1a
Most of the PRBs did not develop an active public involvement in Art. 5 reporting
Art. 5 characterisation considered as a purely technical process

11. Phase 1b
Phase 1b is going to be finalised at the end of this year when the Outcome Report on this phase will be presented (and eventually approved) to the WATER DIRECTORS in Amsterdam (end of December 2004)
Agriculture and hydropower generation are recurrent topics, despite geographical distribution;
Certain pressures seem to have a strong geographical connotation;
The implementation of the WFD will have profound implications in the management of water resources in EU.

12. Such fragmentation is also typical in the case of monitoring networks;
PRBs: Outcome Report for Phases 1b
Furthermore, the WFD calls for an integrated approach to water issues
For example, in a few countries involved in the testing ownership of hydrological data is administered by different national and/or regional authorities;
Such fragmentation is also typical in the case of monitoring networks;

13. PRBs: Outcome Report for Phases 1b
Phase 1a and 1b
have shown
practical implications in
the WFD implementation at RB level
The Pilot River Basin
Article 5 Reports
have proven to be a powerful aid
in communication.

14. Able to set up a methodology to be used in other RBs
PRBs perspectives
Able to set up a methodology to be used in other RBs
The results from Art. 5 analyses and objectives should be revised and improved after 2005, as an iterative process, to optimize the design of both the monitoring program and the program of measures
Rich diversity encountered during the exercise. PRB experience will help ensure comparability among different River Basin Districts
It is clear that the phase to test the GDs is finalized with this phase. PRB will move to support the implementation actives focusing in Key issues (Agriculture, Link with research, groundwater…)