1. 7.e) Expert Group on agriculture
« Strategic Co-ordination Group on WFD Common Implementation Strategy »
7.e) Expert Group on agriculture
Nicolas ROUYER
European Commission, DG ENV
D1 unit (water)
Bruxelles, 23 February 2010

2. Overview presentation
The WFD Expert Group on agriculture
Identified priorities in the new mandate
2. Resources to achieve the objectives
3. Work programme for 2010: Spain & Belgium
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3. 1. Identified priorities in the new mandate
Last week meeting with the co-leaders (COM, UK & FR), the current and next EU presidencies, DG AGRI & JRC.
Objectives of our meeting were:
To have a common understanding of the mandate endorsed by the Directors
To prepare a coherent implementation over the 3 years, taking into account our limited resources
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4. 1. Identified priorities in the new mandate
4 general objectives identified in the mandate:
to have an overview on the implementation of the WFD in the agricultural sector
to identify obstacles and constraints related to agricultural issues in the context of the WFD
to address the identified obstacles and constraints by developing solutions
to prepare the future by providing an input to the next CAP reform
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5. 1. Identified priorities in the new mandate
We listed the different issues of the mandate:
agricultural measures in RBMP
water pricing in agriculture
update of the catalogue of measures
cost-effectiveness of measures
acceptance of the measures
water saving options for agriculture
combination between WFD & CAP
next CAP reform
water saving policy options & water saving culture
climate change & agriculture
Farm Advisory System & water
Marine Strategy Framework Directive & agriculture
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6. 1. Identified priorities in the new mandate
The mandate clearly shows that the agricultural measures taken for the WFD implementation are the major priority to address
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7. 1. Identified priorities in the new mandate
Identified priorities for the EG:
assessment of agricultural measures in the RBMP
assessment of the effectiveness of the measures on social, technical and financial aspects, exchange of experiences
enhancement of a good combination between CAP and WFD
contribution to the next CAP reform discussion
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8. 1. Identified priorities in the new mandate
Issues with less priority for the EG:
climate change & adaptation
Marine Strategy Framework Directive
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9. 2. Resources to achieve the objectives
Available resources:
co-leaders (DG ENV, UK and France)
DG AGRI
Agri Pilot River Basin network led by the JRC
Our consultant
EG Members (MS and stakeholders)
EU Presidencies of the Council
meetings twice a year
conferences once a year
workshops
assessments led by the Commission
CIRCA
next EC Webpage dedicated to agriculture & water
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10. 2. Resources to achieve the objectives
Co-leaders, DG AGRI & consultants are identified:
DG ENV (Nicolas ROUYER), UK (Claire Mc CAMPHILL) and France (Philippe NOUVEL) will lead the Expert Group
with the support of DG AGRI (Emmy KORODIMAS / Rene L’HER)
Our consultant (Thomas DWORAK from Ecologic) will provide assistance.
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11. 2. Resources to achieve the objectives
Agri Pilot River Basin network
(led by the JRC/Emeric ANGUIANO):
the network to become the major piece for the assessment of the effectiveness of measures and exchange on the measures
 Member-States required to include more River Basins in the network
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12. 2. Resources to achieve the objectives
EG members:
 An update of the member list would be useful with one representative from the water sector and one representative from the agricultural sector for each Member-State
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13. 2. Resources to achieve the objectives Meetings/conferences:
The next meeting will take place in Spain (Seville on 6 & 7 April 2010)
The second meeting of the year will take place in Belgium (around 29 September 2010). It will be coupled with a conference on agriculture & water.
Next year conference may be organized in Poland
Opportunity to organize workshops
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14. 2. Resources to achieve the objectives Assessments by the Commission:
The objectives of assessments led by the Commission on water & agriculture could be discussed more with the EG
Assessments will try to involve the Agri PRB network and take profit from its findings
An approach by case studies will be considered
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15. 2. Resources to achieve the objectives
CIRCA:
CIRCA platform will be the main tool for exchanging documents within the EG.
Access will be mandatory for EG members.
The uploaded files on CIRCA will be saved under the most common format
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16. 2. Resources to achieve the objectives
Next EC webpage on agriculture & water:
The aim will be to share the deliverables of the EG and any interesting information dealing with our issue.
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17. Objectives & deliverables:
3. Work programme for 2010
Objectives & deliverables:
identification of agricultural measures in the RBMP
PRB network mandate update
achievement of the farm advisory handbook on water
discussion over the next EC assessment on water pricing in agriculture
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18. 3. Work programme for 2010
discussion over the assessment on water saving options in agriculture
feedback from the conference on buffer strips
debate on the combination between RD measures & programmes of measures  paper to be edited by the EG
debate on CAP reform and ideas to consider for water protection  paper to be edited by the EG
conference in Belgium
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19. 3. Work programme for 2010
Next meeting in Spain in Seville 6 & 7 April 2010
Coupled with the Pilot River Basin network meeting to enhance exchanges between participants.
Draft agenda:
State of play of the WFD implementation
Work in progress: experience of two Member-States
Agri-measures in dRBMP: presentation of the last assessment
Article 38 implementing rules
Agri PRB network activity report
Buffer strips conference findings
Exchange on Rural Development measures for WFD implementation
Presentation of the FAS handbook
Agri PRB network: establisment of the new mandate
Assessments
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