1. Environmental Objectives and Exemptions
Water Directors’ meeting - Dresden
Progress Report and Discussion
Environmental Objectives and Exemptions
18 June 2007
Marieke van Nood

2. Environmental Objectives and Exemptions
Background
Earlier policy papers:
Policy Paper on Env Objectives - June 2005
Paper on Article December 2006
Mandate:
-Common understanding of end of 2007
-Comprehensive guidance document end 2008
DK/COM co-lead
40 members
Meetings in January, April and 5 July
Notes for the Speaker:
More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.

3. Environmental Objectives and Exemptions
Draft Policy Paper
-Part A: general questions
General approaches for the use 4.4, 4.5 & 4.6
Questions of scale
Transboundary context
Depth of the analysis
Management of uncertainties
Technical unfeasibility
Common understanding of different notions (temporary deterioration, natural conditions, natural cause, extreme floods, prolonged droughts)
-Part B: assessment of disproportionality
Notes for the Speaker:
More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.

4. Environmental Objectives and Exemptions
State of Play Drafting Group:
-Discussion and first agreement on certain key messages. Further elaboration in next months.
-Open points identified.
-Continue work on draft policy paper.
-Today’s discussion paper: document for orientation debate on disproportionality.
Notes for the Speaker:
More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.

5. Environmental Objectives and Exemptions
Disproportionality
-Ultimately political decision based on economic information
-Different levels of information to be used: qualitative or quantitative, different types of costs and benefits
-The margin by which costs exceed benefits should be appreciable and have a high level of confidence
-Decision on disproportionality should be transparent
Notes for the Speaker:
More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.

6. Environmental Objectives and Exemptions
Disproportionality - open issues
-Importance of ability to pay?
-Ability to pay for a MS/RBD
Recent investments give regions with timely implementation a disadvantage?
-Ability to pay for a certain sector
Adequate contribution of the different water uses?
-Different issues for EU12 MS?
Notes for the Speaker:
More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.

7. Environmental Objectives and Exemptions
Today
Take note of the key messages in the discussion paper
Discuss open issues on disproportionality
Agree if this is a good basis for continuation of the activity
Notes for the Speaker:
More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.