1. EU Water Framework Directive
Eutrophication assessment
Guidance Document
SCG meeting
Brussels, October 2005
Jorge Rodriguez Romero
European Commission, DG Environment
Unit D.2 – Water and Marine, WFD Team

2. Contents Eutrophication Guidance
Technical chapters on understanding of Eutrophication
Across water categories (Chapter 2)
In the context of WFD ecological status (Chapter 4)
Read across directives and policies on eutrophication assessment (Chapter 3)
Current assessment methods (Chapter 5)
Towards harmonisation of classification criteria (Chapter 6)
Monitoring (Chapter 7)
Case Studies (Chapter 8)
Next steps (Chapter 9)

3. Process
First Steering Group meeting February 2004
Mandate endorsed WD Dublin June 2004
Workshop Ispra September 2004
Consultation first 4 chapters March 2005
Workshop Brussels September 2005
Last Steering Group meeting (7th) October 2005

4. Deadline for written comments 9 November
Calendar
Circulation of version 10 to the SCG, Ecostat and Eutrophication experts on 24 October
Deadline for written comments 9 November
Please one set of comments per MS or Organisation!
SCG October
Circulation of final draft on 16 November
Water Directors meeting November

5. Conclusions Very useful document
Conceptual framework
Read-across directives
Understanding of eutrophication in the context of ecological status
Monitoring
Case studies
Limited information on assessment methods and harmonisation due to ongoing processes
Intercalibration
Marine conventions
Design of national classification systems

6. Proposal for the Water Directors
Endorse the contents of the guidance
Revisit the assessment criteria and harmonisation after some time
Keep the Steering Group activities
Case studies
Monitor the processes that have an impact on eutrophication assessment methods
Propose to start the review as soon as possible