1. WFD Expert Group on agriculture A new mandate for 2010 - 2012
Nicolas ROUYER
European Commission DG Environment / D1 unit (water)
Spain, 6 & 7 April 2010

2. Overview presentation
The WFD Expert Group on agriculture
1. 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
Meeting with the co-leaders (COM, UK & FR), the current and next EU presidencies, DG AGRI & JRC in February
Objectives of our meeting were:
To have a common understanding of the mandate endorsed by the Water 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 related to agricultural issues in the context of the WFD
to address the identified obstacles by developing solutions
to prepare the future by providing an input to the post 2013 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 the 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 agricultural measures taken for the WFD implementation are the first priority to address
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7. 1. Identified priorities in the new mandate
Identified priorities for the EG:
To assess agricultural measures in the RBMP
To assess effectiveness of the measures on social, technical and financial aspects, to exchange experiences on that
To enhance a good combination between CAP and WFD
To contribute to the next CAP reform discussion by preparing an input
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8. 1. Identified priorities in the new mandate
Issues with less priority for the EG:
Climate change
Marine Strategy Framework Directive
Policy options for water saving & water saving culture
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9. 2. Resources to achieve the objectives
Available resources:
co-leaders (DG ENV, UK and France)
DG AGRI
Pilot River Basin AGRI 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 & drafting groups
assessments led by the Commission
CIRCA
A next EC Webpage dedicated to agriculture & water
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10. 2. Resources to achieve the objectives
Co-leaders, DG AGRI & consultant 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 (mainly Emmy KORODIMAS & René L’HER)
Our consultant (Thomas DWORAK) will provide assistance.
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11. 2. Resources to achieve the objectives
Pilot River Basin AGRI 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 has been requested by the Commission in March
We request now 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 first meeting is today in Spain (Seville 6 & 7 April)
The second meeting of the year will take place in Belgium (end of September). It will be coupled with the traditional conference on agriculture & water (EU water policy enforcement in agricultural sector)
Next year conference will be organized under the Polish Presidency (the Commission would like to address water pricing in agriculture)
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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 will be discussed more with the partners: a stakeholder’s meeting will take place on 21 April in Brussels
Assessments will try to involve more the PRB network and take profit from its findings
An approach by case studies will be considered in the next assessments
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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 public information from 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
New PRB network mandate (with a new name?)
achievement of the farm advisory handbook on water protection
discussion over the next EC assessment on water pricing in agriculture
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18. 3. Work programme for 2010
discussion on the assessment on water saving options in agriculture
feedback from the conference on buffer strips
debate on CAP reform and ideas to consider for water protection
conference in Belgium on EU policy enforcement in the agricultural sector
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19. 3. Work programme for 2010
Today meeting in Spain is coupled with the Pilot River Basin network meeting to enhance exchanges between participants
Agenda:
State of play of the WFD implementation
Work in progress: experience of two Member-States
Article 38 implementing rules
Agri-measures in dRBMP: presentation of the last assessment
Agri PRB network activity report
EEA assessment on water use for irrigation
Buffer strips conference findings
Let’s get started for the CAP reform
Presentation of the FAS handbook
PRB AGRI network: establishment of a new mandate
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20. 3. Work programme for 2010
Conference & EG meeting in Belgium (September)
 the conference will deal with EU water policy enforcement in the agricultural sector and in particular with illegal water abstraction
 EG discussion should be dominated by CAP reform.
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