1. Horizontal Guidance on Wetlands What happened since the last Meeting
Horizontal Guidance on Wetlands What happened since the last Meeting ? Rome, 24 March
IRBM

2. Wetland Working Group Members (WWGMs)
Austria;
Bulgaria;
Czech Republic;
Denmark;
Flanders;
France;
Germany;
Greece;
Hungary;
Ireland;
Italy (Leader)
Lithuania;
Romania,
Slovakia;
Slovenia;
Spain;
UK;
Commission;
EEB;
WWF;
Evaluwet

3. Drafting Status January 2003: Draft 1.0 circulated to WWGMs
29 January 2003: First Meeting in Brussels
WWGMs sent comments on chapters I,II&ToC
Draft 2.0
Presented to the SGC (21 Feb.)
SGC sent comments on Draft 2.0
Draft 2.1
Sent to the WWGMs (13 March)
Comments received from some WWGMs

4. Guidance document vers. 2.1
New Table of Contents
FOREWORD
1. INTRODUCTION
2. THE STATUS OF WETLANDS WITHIN THE WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE
What is a wetland?
Wetlands Values and Functions
Identification of the primary role of wetlands
Wetlands and Groundwater
What is significant damage and how should it be measured?
Surface waters and wetlands
Wetlands in relation to transitional and coastal waters
Characterisation
3. WFD REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING WETLANDS
Minimum requirements
Objectives for water bodies at High Status or Maximum Ecological Potential
Objectives for other water bodies
Monitoring and hydromorphology
Monitoring groundwater bodies and dependent ecosystems
Impacts on wetlands

5. New Table of Contents( cont.)
4. Protected Areas and the Water Framework Directive.
Which Ecosystems should be Included within the Protected Areas Register?
What Provisions Does the WFD Make for Protected Areas?
5. WETLANDS IN PROGRAMMES OF MEASURES
Basic and supplementary measures
Basic measures
Supplementary Measures and Wetlands
Community legislation
Cost Recovery
Measures safeguarding drinking water quality
Measures to address any other significant adverse impacts,
Cost Effectiveness and 'Significantly Better Environmental Options.'
Wetland Creation, Maintenance and Enhancement to Achieve WFD Objectives
Using wetlands to achieve pollution control
Using Wetlands to alleviate the impacts of floods and droughts
Using Wetlands to Achieve Sustainable Coastal Management
Using wetlands to enhance groundwater recharge
References and Bibliography
Annex I

6. The WFD refers to wetlands but does not define them or provide a size range to indicate their dimension

7. During the kick-off meeting (29/01/03) it was agreed to define a wetlands ‘description’ instead of a wetlands ‘definition’

8. wetlands are diverse, complex ecosystems;
The Ramsar definition is accepted but it includes “water bodies”;
a wetlands description is a more flexible guide for Member States to use to their own national situations

9. Wetland identification
Wetlands may be identified as water bodies at the discretion of Member States,
if their consideration is of practical relevance for the achievement of the rivers or lakes environmental objectives

10. The Guidance needs to clarify:
Environmental Objectives (Good status) have to be achieved
When a wetland is a water body
Environmental Objectives have to be achieved or measure are to be taken
When a wetland is part of a water body
When a wetland is a protected area
Protection under the the specific legislation
When a wetland is not part of a water body
Wetland could be part of the programme of measures

12. Good groundwater status; and,
Terrestrial Ecosystems
Implement programmes of measures to protect and restore their groundwater needs to the extent needed to achieve:
Good groundwater status; and,
Any relevant objectives for protected areas

13. Prevent deterioration in status Achieve good surface water status, and
Water Bodies
If identified as water bodies, implement programmes of measures to protect and restore to the extent needed to:
Prevent deterioration in status
Achieve good surface water status, and
Achieve any relevant objectives for protected areas

14. Prevent deterioration in surface water status;
Hydromorphological Quality Elements
Apply Article 11.3(i) measures and other relevant measures, to protect, enhance and restore to the extent needed to:
Prevent deterioration in surface water status;
Achieve good surface water status; and
Achieve any relevant objectives for protected areas

15. Restore or recreate wetlands as a supplementary measure designed to:
Programme of Measures
Restore or recreate wetlands as a supplementary measure designed to:
Enable the basic measures to be used with a lighter touch,where considered appropriate by the Member State;
Ensure the achievement of the Directive’s objectives where basic measures cannot do so on their own

17. Issues Requiring further clarification within the WG:
How do wetlands interact to influence the biological quality elements that make up Good Ecological Status ?
How do groundwater bodies and wetlands interact, and how can these relationships best be characterised within WFD
How will the Protected Areas Register work to ensure that wetland water needs are reflected in the River Basin Planning Process?
What role do wetlands have within the Programmes of Measures of the WFD?

18. Where we are ?

19. CIS

20. (Before Copenhagen)

21. New Working Groups (After Copenhagen)
Working Group on “Ecological Status” (Cluster WG 2A)
Working Group on “Integrated River Basin Management” (Cluster WG 2B)
Working Group on “Groundwater” (WG 2C) (after last meeting of EAF Groundwater)
EAF Reporting (Cluster WG 2D)

24. Integrated River Basin Management
IRBM Working Group
(2B)

25. Objectives

26. 3 main objectives
1) identify gaps and ensure coherence between guidance documents
2) define methodologies for the development of RBMP and programmes of measures
3) share experience and build capacity
most of the results gathered into a coherent, transversal and integrated manual on IRBM

27. Objective 1 Coherence between GD: PRB testing
Testing of key issues refering to operational aspects with application to real cases
Phase 1 a : until 3rd quarter of 2003, testing of guidance documents related to Article 5
Phase 1 b : until mid 2004, testing of GD not tested in phase 1a
Phase 2 : until end 2004, integrated testing on the development of Programmes of Measures and RBMP

28. Objective 2 Methodologies for RBMP and PM
RBMP : approaches and methods for river basin planning
Programmes of measures : identification of existing measures, content of the PM, link with the overview of significant issues, measures related to incentive pricing and economic instruments, dimensions of analysis (scale, technical, economical and social aspects)
Planning process, wetlands, economic analysis : contributions to objective 2

29. Objective 3 Share experience and build capacity
Baseline scenario, economical tools, assessment of environmental costs, …
Technical methodologies and tools for the development of RBMP and PM
Links with ongoing European research projects …
 Workshops and training products

31. The WG leaders The Plenary The Drafting Groups
Organisation
The WG leaders
The Plenary
The Drafting Groups

32. WG leaders: France and Spain
Drafting of ToR and work programme of the WG
Development of practical arrangements for a sound operation of the WG
Coordination for the definition of the ToR, work programme and activities of the  drafting groups (DG)
Development of right links between plenary and DG
Coordination with other WG inside the CIS
Coordination with the SCG and reports to SCG
Facilitation of agreements on open issues

33. The Plenary Representatives of MS, Commission, stakeholders Forum
One person designated as focal point for each MS/stakeholder
Approval of ToR and work programme of the WG
Discussion on deliverables produced by the drafting groups
Decision on open issues to be presented to the SCG
About 2 sessions / year, eventual additional meetings

34. The Drafting Groups Small teams of experts (less than 10 people)
Mandated by WG
Develop documents on specific issues
Present draft documents to the Plenary and SCG
Organise consultation with Plenary and other experts
Face to face meetings reduced to the nimimum necessary + virtual meetings, contacts
One member of the DG acting as its head, leading and coordinating the drafting works in cooperation with the WG leaders

35. Groups of experts A reservoir of expertise for the DG
Maintenance of the network of experts already implemented in the CIS (members of the former WG)

36. A Steering Group for PRB testing
Steering Group : JRC, Spain, France
Technical Secretariat : JRC
Interface with PRB leaders and DG Env.
Information exchange
Synthesis report of the results of integrated testing

37. Work programme and tasks

38. Work Programme and Priorities
Pragmatic and progressive schedule : not more than 3-4 DG at the same time
1st priority : planning process (End February)
2nd priority : wetlands (June 2003)

39. New tasks identified in the last Water Directors meeting
Preparation of RBMP and programmes of measures
Integration of economic issues in new GD (baseline scenario, scale)
Adressing economical methodological aspects (environmental costs, incentive pricing, …)

40. Provisional timetable

41. First Plenary Meeting 10-11 March 2003, Paris Provisional agenda :
- Final GD on planning process
- Draft GD on wetlands
- State of play of PRB testing and future deadlines
- Final mandate of WG, taking into account SCG comments
- Work programme and tasks
- Objectives and general guidelines for the DG

42. Synthesis of the discussions
Integrated River Basin Management Working Group
First Plenary Meeting
10th & 11th March Paris
Synthesis of the discussions

43. A new organisational approach
Reduction of work load + pragmatism
Different types of activities
 keep the process manageable
 new working methods with only a few face to face meetings (2 or 3)
 need of clear rules / procedures

44. Role of Plenary sessions
decide on activities to be done
give clear orientations for drafting groups
discuss open issues, solve special problems, deal with (new) gaps and plan how to fill them
link with and report to SCG
build common understanding and appropriation, sharing of documents
ensure integration and coordination of activities
guarantee that each WG participant is informed and can express his opinion

45. Drafting Groups
Need for flexibility, necessity to adapt working methods to each case
 workshops, consultation, face-to-face meetings, …
Need for coordination and information flow
 DG leader(s) in close contact with WG leaders
 progress report(s) to the WG when necessary

46. Generally, 3 steps for each DG product
1 – annotated outline and table of contents
2 - first draft
3 - final draft
 consultation rounds
- at each step
- at the level of the WG

47. Need for a regular information
 progress report from DG leaders to WG leaders
 progress report made by WG leaders and sent to all WG members and presented to SCG
 contacts ; consultation rounds

48. RBMP / Programmes of measures
Draft table of contents presented to the next plenary session
Beginning of activities during the second half of 2003

49. The way towards an integrated manual on IRBM
presentation of an issue paper to the next plenary meeting
proposal of the Commission taking into account inputs from WG 2B (and 2A)

50. Wetlands WG
Integration of IRBM WG leaders in the technical meetings and workshop(s)
Dissemination of the draft to IRBM WG after the 2nd wetlands meeting (i e after 24th March)
collection of comments before presentation to SCG
refine the works after June if necessary, possible testing ?

51. What changes after Paris ?
The Wetlands WG still ramain a WG (not a DG)
The Wetlands WG will work in close collaboration with the WG 2.B leadership
WG 2.B has to be consulted before the SCG meeting about the progress of the work
The Wetlands WG will produce his final draft according to the timetable, then the WG 2.B will decide to refine the guidance if necessary
Do you think that this structure could work ?