1. Fitness Check: Water Framework Directive, its daughter Directives and the Floods Directive
SCG meeting
8 November 2018

2. Water Framework Directive Floods Directive
Pharmaceuticals in the environment
Fitness Check
Plastics Strategy (microplastics)
Environmental Quality Standards Directive
Groundwater Directive
Water re-use COM proposal
Water Framework Directive
Floods Directive
Birds Directve
Evaluation
Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive
Bathing Water Directive
Habitats Directive
Nitrates Directive
Marine Strategy Framework Directive
Drinking Water Directive
Plant Protection Products Directive
Environmental Impact Assessment Directive
Industrial Emmissions Directive
Sewage Sludge Directive
Seveso Directive

3. Water acquis evaluations

4. Methodology -Exemplary Evaluation questions
Efficiency
Effectiveness
Relevance
Coherence
EU-added value
The evaluation questions address all the obligatory evaluation criteria.
Fitness Check water law: the Terms of Reference for the support studies for the evaluation includes questions, both general and more detailed, for the different five criteria. These questions are being further developed by the contractor, and in particular to take into account the synergies and the specificities of the different 4 Directives subject of the Fitness Check.
In the case of the UWWTD evaluation, the Roadmap included a number of questions for each criteria, which have been further developed (support study):
- Effectiveness check will investigate the following: In how far have the set objectives been achieved and to what extent is the intervention logic of the Directive still appropriate? To what extent are the provisions of the Directive translated into concrete, appropriate and clear requirements? What are the main barriers to full implementation? To what extent are the main targeted pollutants collected and treated in an effective way? To what extent is the Directive achieving the polluter pays principle? How well does the Directive promote a sustainable approach, for example for phosphorus and nitrogen recycling, for treatment plants to be neutral from energy/GHG emissions? To what extent are the main pollutants released by urban areas collected and treated?
- Elements reflecting on the efficiency will consider several angles: Has the Directive achieved the expected results in an efficient manner, at MS and EU level? What are the costs and benefits associated with the implementation of the UWWTD and how proportionate are these costs and benefits? What are the main financing, investment and management issues, also with regards to EU funding for implementation? How does compliance with the Directive impact on the affordability of water services? To what extent is the administrative burden incurred by Member States and the Commission through monitoring and reporting mechanisms proportionate?
- The relevance aspect of the evaluation will focus on the following aspects: To what extent is the UWWTD still relevant to achieve its objectives of the protection of the environment from the adverse effects of waste water discharges? To what extent are the limit values for pollutants still valid? To what extent does the directive encourage/facilitate innovation and adaptation? How are emerging pollutants covered by the Directive? To what extent is the Directive relevant to achieve a circular economy in the EU? How relevant is the Directive in the light of the changing international contexts, such as the Sustainable Development Goals in 2030?
- The evaluation of coherence focuses on questions such as: How coherent is the Directive – internally (across its articles); with related EU water legislation; with downstream legislation such as the Sewage Sludge Directive (86/278/EEC) and/or the Bathing water Directive (76/160EEC)?
- The EU-added value will be evaluated by investigating the extent to which an EU-level approach is needed to reach the objectives of the Directive and whether the issues addressed by the Directive continue to require action at EU level.

5. Ongoing / recent studies
Methodology
Literature review
Stakeholder consultation
Ongoing / recent studies
Public Consultation
Literature review:
Results and follow-up of the 2012 Blueprint
2 cycles of RBMPs
1 cycle of FRMPs
CIS deliverables and guidance documents
On-going and planned studies, such as:
Integrated assessment (drivers, pressures, state, impacts, resources – and how policy areas interact)
Economic study (BLUE2)
ECA performance audit on floods (conclusion Q4 2018) and European Court of Auditor reports on UWWTD implementation
OECD study “water investment needs and financing capacities in the 28 EU MSs”), mainly for the UWWTD and the Floods Directiv
Storm water overflows, COD
Scientific literature
Stakeholder input
Targeted consultation covering a wide range of relevant stakeholders, including Member States at national and regional level – surveys, validation interviews
Open public consultations:
Fitness Check - Open online public consultation: to be launched in September 2018 (all official languages)
UWWTD - Open online public consultation: to be launched in July 2018 (all official languages)
Workshops for different topics – possible joint workshop for both Fitness Check water law and UWWTD evaluation
European Water Conference September 2018 in Vienna
Modelling
Fitness Check: JRC modelling of pressures at EU level
Historic construction 1990, 2005 and today
Full implementation
Storm water overflows
Individual appropriate systems
OECD study
Investment needs and financing strategies

6. Existing information EU water legislation: WFD (2000)
Groundwater (2006)
EQSD (2008)
Floods Directive (2007)
Information via reporting by Member States:
WFD (RBMPs) and Floods Directive (FRMPs) – WISE reporting
Common Implementation Strategy – guidance documents and other deliverables, input from working groups and workshops on all aspects of implementation
Many infringement cases in the past and ongoing
Information through Court of Auditor reports
- Performance audit on the Floods Directive
- EU-funding of Urban Waste Water Treatment plants in the Danube river basin
- Combating eutrophication in the Baltic Sea
- Water quality in the Danube river basin

7. Fitness Check Some important issues to be raised during the evaluation
Apparent insufficient progress on achieving WFD objectives
One-out-all-out principle
Governance
Non-deterioration obligation
Definition of 2 different status - chemical and ecological
Flexibility through exemptions
2027 final deadline for application of exemptions
Quantification of costs and benefits
Reporting tools (WISE)
Policy coherence (agriculture, energy, transport)
Climate change and water quantity / water quality
Water pricing, and polluter pays principle
Floods Directive – overarching progress indicator
Duration of the RBMPs cycles, and reporting cycles of other related law
Integration of the objectives of protected areas within the RBMPs
Link drivers- pressures-measures

8. 1st Workshop on methodology and preliminary findings – 10 October 2018
Over 60 participants
From many MS competent authorities
And various stakeholders
Objective of the workshop
Assist in locating where the study should focus its attention, through garnering information from stakeholders
Presentation of:
Intervention logic
Consultation methods and timing for stakeholders' involvement
Preliminary findings and gaps (from literature review)
Evaluation matrix / questions
Main topics raised (not exhaustive):
Quantification of costs and benefits
Cost recovery and resource and environmental costs
Public participation, governance, and transboundary implementation
Difficulty for Directives tackle diffuse pollution
Importance of correct application of exemptions
Link to the protected areas for drinking water
Coherence with other EU environmental and sectoral legislation/policies

9. Implementation of WFD (RBMPs) and measures under UWWTD
Joint workshop with UWWTD evaluation – pollutants of emerging concern – 24 October 2018
50 participating
Experts representing all stakeholders (i.e. Member States competent authorities, industry, NGOs, academia)
Pharmaceuticals
What actions are being taken to capture pharmaceuticals in the waste water treatment plants?
Microplastics
Massive amounts of microplastics and microfibers are being found in waste water
No available techniques
Transferring the problem with the sludge
Coherence
Implementation of WFD (RBMPs) and measures under UWWTD

10. Timetable Publication of roadmap Finalisation of ToR October 2017
Launch support study – Fitness Check
April 2018
Launch of public consultation – until 4 March 2019
Launch of targeted consultation and experts workshops
September 2018
Targeted consultation with relevant stakeholders (starting now)
First 2 workshop – October 2018
Next workshops on validation of findings (March/May 2019)
Q2/Q3 2019
Finalisation of support studies
Commission report on Fitness Check
October 2018 –March 2019
Cooperation Fitness Check - UWWTD evaluation

11. UWWTD Evaluation
Assessment of the functioning of the directive in the past:
Effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, EU-added value and coherence
Cooperation with WFD and Floods Directive Fitness Check ongoing
Joint consultation strategy
Consultation activities
Public Consultation
Expert work-shops in Q3/4 2018; Topics: storm water overflows and individual appropriate systems, emerging pollutants, cost and benefits of the UWWTD.
Stakeholder conference - 16 Nov 2018: Presentation of preliminary findings
Publication of the roadmap
Q4 '17
Start of open public consultation
14 weeks
13 July '18
Stakeholder conference
16 Nov '18
Finalization of study and publication of SWD
Q3 '19
Launch evaluative study
Q1 '18
Expert workshops
Q3/4 '18

12. Thank you.