1. River basin management plans in Europe
GREEN - River Basin Management Plans adopted!
YELLOW - consultations finalised, but awaiting adoption.
RED - consultation have not started or ongoing.
Transposition of the Groundwater Directive (Deadline ) :
Notifications:
absent in CZ, DE, LU
partial in BE, EE

2. SCG news List of nominations to WGs were sent by MS
CIRCA will be restructured
Guidance documents for endorsement to WDs:
Guidance on risk assessment and the Use of Conceptual Models for Groundwater
Intercalibration guidance annexes 3 and 6
Guidance on the Sediment and Biota Monitoring
Guidance on setting of Mixing Zones

3. Agriculture – CAP reform starts this year
CAP reform – operational from 2014
Opportunity to improve integration of environmental and water protection in the CAP
DG AGRI has launched a public consultation, deadline 3 June 2010
Discussion topic in the Water Directors meeting

4. LIFE + funding
Administered by DG ENV to support environmental & nature conservation projects throughout EU
Water theme: to support the implementation of EU water policy, also to raise awareness
Smaller projects: €1 million on average
Can cover up to 75% of project costs
Last call for proposals: 4 May 2010 : €243 million for
nature and biodiversity
environment policy and governance
Information and communication
Deadline for applicants: 1/9/2010
For further information please visit:

5. Cohesion fund + DG ENV call
Three pillars of opportunities in Cohesion Funds:
Management of water resources
For: reducing leakage rates, connecting to water supply, additional supply and improving infrastructure
€8 billion total funding
Prevention of disaster
€7 billion available
Responding to disaster with the EU Solidarity Fund
The Solidarity Fund (EUSF) provides money for disaster relief in MS, although the aim is to use this money only as a last resort and to avert disasters through proper management and risk prevention measures.
There is no specific amount of money allocated each year
Further information:
Call for proposal - Pilot project on development of prevention activities to halt desertification in Europe - deadline for submission: 30 June 2010
Further information:

6. Blueprint to Safeguard European Waters
Jose Manuel Barroso: ”Europe has strong water legislation in place, and the challenge now is to see how it is working in practice. Rising demand from competing uses and the impacts of climate change are increasing the pressure on water resources. That's why we have scheduled a number of policy reviews that will help us develop – by 2012 – a blueprint to safeguard European waters.” (22 March 2010)
The Blueprint will include:
assessment of the river basin management plans – scope for a better implementation of the WFD?
review of the Strategy for Water Scarcity and Droughts
review of the vulnerability of water and environmental resources to climate impacts and man-made pressures.

7. REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION on the establishment of groundwater threshold values
Published spring 2010
Based on a questionnaire to MS in spring 2009, updated in autumn 2009
26 Member States have reported on the establishment of threshold values
Substances of Annex II GWD cause risk in a considerably high number of Member States
The ranges of threshold values established in Europe are very broad for many substances
From all the pollutants considered nitrate poses risk to and causes poor status of the highest number of the groundwater bodies in Europe
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