1. Water/Marine Directors meeting 4-5 June 2012
Progress on Directives on Urban Waste Water, Drinking Water, Bathing Water
(Part 1, Item 3a)
Water/Marine Directors meeting 4-5 June 2012

2. Urban Waste Water Directive (91/271/EEC)
Current status
Details in latest n 6th implementation report, presented in last WD meeting (ref yr )
High level of compliance in EU 15, significant improvement in EU12
Collecting systems in place for 99% of pollution load in EU15 and 65% of total generated load in EU12
Secondary treatment in place for 96% of the load in EU15 abd 48% of load in EU12
73% of EU27 territory identified as sensitive area.
Challenges ahead
Improving compliance rates for collecting systems in EU 12
Treatment for specific agglomerations in both EU 15 and EU 12

3. Urban Waste Water Directive (91/271/EEC)
Preparation 7th implementation report
Reporting deadline expired in February 2012-By March 2012 all MS + Norway reported
Reports being processed, preliminary results expected by June 2012; summary report expected by end 2012
In parallel: legal compliance check for MS –preliminary processed national results will be provided to MS for comments, starting from July 2012.
Infringements
23 on-going ‘horizontal’ procedures in 12 of the EU 15 MS
9 of the cases are in the stage of Art. 260 TFEU cases
Procedures relate to mainly sensitive/normal areas and small agglomerations
No infringements started yet for EU 12 but significant delays in implementation noticed which require appropriate action

4. Drinking Water Directive (98/83/EC)
Current status
Large water supplies (> 1000 m³ or serving > people): compliance rates generally higher than 90%
Small water supplies (< 1000 m³ or serving < people): relatively low compliance rates (study estimates: 36 % non compliance)
Looking froward – activities scheduled
Possible amendments of annex II and III on monitoring and analysis => prepared by 2 expert groups mandated by the DWD committee, chaired by JRC
Preparation of a policy document that sets a framework for action to implement RA/RM schemes for small water supplies => prepared by expert group mandated by the DWD committee
Finalisation of the report on implementation and analysis of small water supplies asap, presentation of preliminary results in autumn 2012
Improve visualisation of data

5. Bathing Water Directive (2006/7/EC)
Current Status
The annual report 2011 shows that good results are maintained; downward trend identified last year reversed
Change from the old monitoring and assessment system to the new one
BWD has been identified as good example for access to information in the communication on implementation
Looking forward – activities to improve harmonisation:
Focus on smooth transition between old Directive (76/160/EEC) and the new Directive (2006/7/EC)
Elaborate guidance on monitoring, reporting and assessment
Link assessments for bathing water with those of the UWWD and WFD, to identify cuse-effect relations and integrate data visualisation into WISE

6. “Reducing eutrophication”
New approaches on enhancing implementation of the Urban Waste Water Directive
(Part 2, Item 5b)
Water/Marine Directors meeting 4-5 June 2012

7. Urban Waste Water Directive (91/271/EEC)
Contributes in tackling eutrophication
Urban Waste Water together with agriculture main sources for excessive nutrient discharges towards fresh/marine waters
UWWD and Nitrates Directive contributed significantly in limiting nutrient loads, however eutrophication is still a major threat to achieve GES for fresh/marine waters
Ensuring full compliance with both Directives is prerequisite for successful implementation of the WFD and MSFD => implementation of UWWD and NiD remain key priority for the Commission
Tackling Eutrophication will continue to be a key objective, also being discussed in the context of the 7th EAP.

8. Urban Waste Water Directive (91/271/EEC)
Way forward
Continuation of ongoing infringements and consideration of new infringements in situations of non compliance in EU15 and EU12 – ensure equal treatment of MS
Compliance promotion - ‘new approach’ for mainly EU 12
Complementary to legal action
Through particular assistance activities, set out in the recent Implementation Communication (COM (2012) 95) [see further slides]
UWWD will be a pilot Directive for this ‘new approach’
Aim to complete implementation of UWWD within the coming financing period ( )
The Commission will contact a few MS to volunteer in coming weeks

9. Communication on implementation (COM(2012)95)
Follows 2 earlier communications:
2007: ‘A Europe of Results’ (Com(2007)50)
2008 Communication on implementing environmental law (COM(2008)773)
Based on 2 pillars: Knowledge and Responsiveness
Adopted 7 March 2012
Helps to set the scene for the 7th environmental action plan
Implementation is one of the 3 priorities of Commissioner Potočnik

10. OVERVIEW OF COMMUNICATION - KNOWLEDGE
Improve Member State information systems
Access to Information Directive – promote active dissemination
SIIFs (Structured Implementation and Information Frameworks), SEIS (Shared Environmental Information System) – practical tools to establish good information systems
EU funding
Improve EU-level Information
Online information, score-boards, Spatial reporting formats (SEIS, INSPIRE)
Confidence in MS information
Ensure reliability of state-of-environment monitoring systems
Increased role for EEA in processing implementation information
Close certain information gaps 10

11. OVERVIEW OF COMMUNICATION - RESPONSIVENESS
Improve Inspections and surveillance
Member State level: Upgrade existing framework for inspections and surveillance
Member State level: Sector-specific measures
EU level: Explore different options
Complaint-handling and mediation
Explore an initiative on national complaint-handling
Improve access to justice
Guidance on existing ECJ case-law
Explore options for defining at EU level conditions on access to justice
Capacity-building
Network co-operation
Partnership implementation agreements 11

12. Urban Waste Water Directive (91/271/EEC)
Key elements of the ‘new approach’
Implementation plans
Indicating implementation milestones and final dates to achieve compliance
Basis for discussing ‘partnership agreements’ (see communication)
May become relevant for EU co-financing
Strengthen linkages/synergies with other processes (EU cohesion policy; Water Framework Directive)
Improved information systems
- better integration of data into WISE and linkages with other available data in WISE;
- cross links between WISE and national information systems to be made (Bathing Water system as a model)
data management should allow preparation of Commission reports and public access to data on implementation (including target dates per agglomeration, areas of (non) compliance, etc)

13. Outlook
The promotion of compliance for the three Directives will be enhanced building on the ideas presented in the Implementation Communication.
These activities will be carried out in close coordination with the work under the Water Framework Directive. Whilst the three Committees are the main bodies to work with the MS on improving implementation, the SCG and Water Directors will continue to be informed on a regular basis and will have a chance to ensure that the various implementation work programmes are coordinated and coherent.

14. Water/Marine Directors are invited to:
Take note of the information and discuss the suggestions for improving implementation
Express interest in working with the Commission on the basis of the new compliance promotion approach for the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive