1. Working Group A ECOSTAT progress report on Intercalibration Presented by Wouter van de Bund Joint Research Centre Institute for Environment and Sustainability

2. General Progress
Intercalibration Decision Guidelines
Technical Report
Draft work programme

3. Intercalibration status May 2007 green – results in draft Decision; yellow – results to be reported to ECOSTAT 15 June; red – not completed in current exercise

4. Intercalibration status November 2007 green – finalised results; shaded green – finalised results with DGENV reservation; red – not completed in current exercise

5. General progress
ECOSTAT meetings in July and October 2007 mostly dedicated to finalisation off intercalibration results
Technical work completed – agreement on which results are considered final
Discussions on letter DGENV to WD on comparability of results (27 September)
MS sharing the same method: reasons/explanations to be provided by MS/GIGs
Harmonisation of ‘Option 3’ comparability criteria: recognised that it is feasible to harmonise, GIGs will carry out analysis applying agreed calculation method

6. Guidelines
“Guidelines to translate the intercalibration results into the national classification systems and to derive reference conditions”
Discussed over the three 2007 ECOSTAT meetings
Version 4.2 (23 October 2007) taking into account comments from ECOSTAT
No major open issues identified by ECOSTAT

7. Guidelines - outline Introduction
Scope/limitations of the IC exercise
Translation of intercalibration results into national classification systems
Application to national types
Specific guidelines for results at quality element level
Specific guidelines for results at parameter level
Setting of reference conditions

8. Intercalibration technical report
Work on technical report ungoing
Final draft expected early 2007 (with Commission Decision)
Based on GIG reports
Contains all relevant background information
Analysis of limitations of exercise
Analysis of confidence and precision of results

9. Draft work programme for intercalibration exercise 2008-11
Intercalibration should ensure comparable and WFD consistent class boundaries for all biological quality elements
Gaps in current results:
Lack of MS methods for some BQE
Lack of data for some BQE
Purpose of draft work programme: fill gaps of the IC exercise in time for second river basin management plans

10. Main gaps in current exercise
Quality elements:
Transitional waters
Fish
Large rivers
Eastern Continental lakes
Mediterranean natural lakes
Lakes: macroinvertebrates, phytobenthos
Rivers: macrophytes
General issues:
Coverage of QE, types, pressures
Coverage of countries
Definition of types
Criteria for setting reference conditions
GIG specific issues (Annex B)

11. General timetable
Aim to complete the process as quickly as possible (within the timeframe)
Fluent continuation of the process
This will help MS to finalise methods for all BQE
Use of expertise and human potential established in the first IC period
Expert networks are in good progress and foresee to produce additional results for the next 2-3 years

12. General timetable

13. Organisation and coordination
Keep current organisational structure
Work carried out under WGA ECOSTAT
Steering group
Practical work carried out mostly at GIG level, but in some cases at water category level where appropriate

14. Organisation and coordination
Each GIG/other group is coordinated by a Member State
Preliminary list of coordinators in draft work plan – to be confirmed
Active participation of MS is essential!