1. WFD and Structural/Cohesion Funds (SCF)

2. A specific working group under a largest EU environment & Structural/Cohesion Funds Expert group……..
SCF are being reshaped for the period
Many opportunities to use those funds in implementing the WFD
Working group led by England and Wales Environment Protection Agency (with the participation of EC, Spain, France, Italy, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Poland, Slovenia and WWF)

3. BUT the funding means for Water Authorities and NGO’s ………
ANTICIPATION because the SCF national/regional operational programmes should be designed by 2006 (WFD programmes of measures by 2009)
ACTIVE CO-OPERATION with the national/regional authorities in charge with the design and the implementation of the operational programmes

4. Timetable for the working group
A common understanding paper by the 28th Feb
Concrete outputs by January 2006 for the latest (to be defined)

5. Common understanding paper : main heads of chapter
Generalities (purpose of the paper, the WFD, the SCF’s, interactions between both)
Procedural issues
Transnational cooperation
Eligibility and WFD proofing of projects and programmes
Coherency with other EU funding instruments
Conclusions and concrete outputs