1. Ad-hoc Activity: Biodiversity and Water Progress Report
Strategic Coordination Group Meeting
29 September 2010
Ursula Schmedtje, Jorge Rodriguez Romero and François Kremer
Water unit D.1 and Nature unit B.3
DG Environment, European Commission

2. Ad-hoc activity “Biodiversity and Water”
CIS Work Programme
Workshop to be held in spring 2010
Decision on follow-up after the workshop
If expert group is agreed, draft mandate to be presented to SCG, CGBN and WDs, NDs at their meetings in autumn 2010
Idea of joint meeting of Water and Nature Directors
Letter from DG ENV to Water and Nature Directors in November 2009
WDs agreed to decide this after the workshop

3. Workshop Biodiversity and Water – Links between WFD and nature legislation 17-18 June 2010
120 participants from MS, NGOs, stakeholders, universities, DG ENV
Joint organisation and participation of experts from water and nature administrations
Issues discussed: legal and political framework, integrated planning incl. use of exemptions, biodiversity
Key conclusions:
Good practice examples available but better cooperation needed between water and nature authorities
Update FAQ paper to include
Illustrative examples
MSFD and water-dependent terrestrial ecosystems
Additional comments
Policy summary for agreement by Water and Nature Directors
Future workshops on dedicated themes

4. Follow-up SCG is invited to discuss and agree on
Follow-up of CIS Activity
Type of activity (expert group, ad hoc meetings, information exchange through workshops, expert network)
Scope (water, marine, nature, biodiversity)
Output (guidance document / update of FAQ paper, policy summary, other (tdb))
Lead for activity
Joint Water-Marine-Nature Directors Meeting
Useful? If yes,
Timing (ad-hoc meeting or back-to-back with other WD/MD or Nature Directors’ meeting)
Issues for discussions