1. European Semester: Growth and Job vs. Water Policy
Water Directors Meeting
Dublin, 30/5/2012
Jacques Delsalle
European Commission
DG Environment

2. The European Semester Cycle
Work performed so far
The European Semester Cycle
2 studies launched
WFD/FD, Water Industry/Marine
Workshop on 19/2
Raising water profile of some forthcoming country-specific recommendations
Study to be published in June (Freshwater only)
Annual Growth Survey (Dec)
Spring meeting European Council
Stability or Convergence Programmes (April)
Draft country-specific recommendations (May)
Final country-specific recommendations. (July)

3. Preliminary conclusions
Water as an economic asset
Sustainable management water resources  maintenance of income and employment opportunities in agriculture & tourism
Stabilising role of the water industry in periods of economic crisis and recession.
Cost/benefits analysis achievement of EU water policy? Cost of inaction (e.g. floods) have represented a sensible share of the countries’ GDP. Ancillary benefits
Water policy as components of economic growth strategies
selecting priority cost-effective measures;
focusing on preventive actions instead of mitigation;
Further application economic instruments: removal harmful subsidies, enable financing measures, re-allocating water to the highest value uses, take into account affordability.
Water efficiency: opportunities and challenges for green growth
Further assess overall economic gains expected from further efficiency of water use in the industrial and agricultural sector
Leakages/re-use linked to water tariffs and overall efficiency levels
More efforts needed to boost innovation in the water sector.

4. Further work and efforts needed
Awareness raising, including (or in particular) outside of the traditional water management domain.
Quantifying direct economic value of water / multiplier effects of investments for key water users and local conditions;
Translating ecosystem services benefits into wider territorial and economic development ;
Building of coherent policy packages water/energy/CC that contribute to macro-economic growth and employment;

5. What next? Dissemination results studies Filling knowledge gaps
Internal level (Secretariat general, DG ECFIN, REGIO, etc.)
Meetings between water policy and macroeconomics, at national level would be useful
Filling knowledge gaps
Role of economic analysis under WFD
Further integration water and economic modelling at EU level

6. Thank you!