1. 2. WFD implementation: state of play
Expert Group on WFD & agri
Louvain-la-Neuve, Oct. 2010
Nicolas ROUYER
European Commission
DG Environment
Water Unit

2. WFD implementation: state of play Overview presentation:
Point 2 of the agenda
WFD implementation: state of play
Overview presentation:
1. Implementation in the Member-States
2. Current issues
3. Our Expert Group
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3. 1. Implementation in Member-States
GREEN - River Basin Management Plans adopted
YELLOW - consultations finalised, but awaiting adoption. RED - consultation have not started or ongoing.
* Norway is implementing the Water Framework Directive as part of the European Economic Area Agreement, with specific timetable agreed.
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4. 1. Implementation in Member-States
 Published (16) : AT, BG, CZ, DE, EE, FI, FR, HU, IE, IT, LU, LV, NL, SE, SK, UK + NO
 Not yet adopted or published (2): PL, RO
 Consultation status (9) :
Member States consultations still ongoing : DK, SI, LT, MT, CY.
Partial consultation : BE, ES
Not yet started: EL, PT
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5. 1. Implementation in Member-States
Status infringements :
: 12 Letter formal notices sent and 11 still open : BE, CY, DK, EL, ES, LT, MT, PL, PT, RO, SI.
(IE has since reported plans)
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6. Compliance checking of RBMP:
2. Current issues
Compliance checking of RBMP:
Member States report river basin management plans (Art. 15.1) by 22 March 2010
Commission prepares assessment report (Art. 18) by 2012, containing in particular:
(a) review of progress in the implementation of the Directive;
(b) a review of the status of surface water and groundwater in coordination with the European Environment Agency;
(c) a survey of the river basin management plans submitted in accordance with Article 15, including suggestions for the improvement of future plans
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7. Overall approach to compliance checking:

8. Main steps for compliance checking:
Completeness check
covers the RBMP obligations and other related information
based on WISE electronic delivery (+RBMP as necessary)
Screening
based on simple questions and compliance indicators
In-depth assessment
covers a selection of key topics
based on WISE electronic delivery, the RBMPs and additional background documents (as necessary) 8

9. Compliance checking of RBMP:
2. Current issues
Compliance checking of RBMP:
The assessment will start in autumn (2010)
COM will give feedback along 2011, through the CIS process and bilaterally
Final step: presentation to the European Parliament before December 2012 => part of the “blueprint for water”
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10. Review of priority substances:
2. Current issues
Review of priority substances:
• Environmental Quality Standards Directive lays down the EQS in water for 33 priority substances and 8 other pollutants => assessment of the chemical status of surface water bodies
• the review of the priority substances list shall be completed by 13 January 2011 (Article 8 of the EQSD) => new Directive under discussion
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11. Addressing Water & biodiversity:
2. Current issues
Addressing Water & biodiversity:
2010 is the year of biodiversity and also important for water.
70 % of protected habitats and species are aquatic or water-dependent.
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12. 2. Current issues Addressing Water & biodiversity:
Interlinkages btw WFD and Birds & Habitats Directive (BHD)
The WFD contains clear obligations for MS that support the achievement of the BHD. WFD good ecological status constitutes an important and quantifiable contribution to the biodiversity targets.
More generally, a coherent implementation of WFD and BHD can provide important synergies.
However the understanding on how both policies work together is not always easy and MS and stakeholders have raised a number of questions and concerns on their implementation.
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13. 2. Current issues Addressing Water & biodiversity:
CIS Activity on biodiversity and water
Water Directors Meeting in Brno in May 2009: recognised the need to better integrate the implementation of WFD and nature directives => idea to launch an ad hoc activity
Kick-off the activity with a workshop (June 2010)
“Frequently Asked Questions” Paper on the links between WFD and the Birds and the Habitats Directives:

14. Workshop on WFD economic issues
2. Current issues
Workshop on WFD economic issues
19-20 October in Liège (Belgium)
Focus on economic issues which are not covered by other CIS activities such as art 9 implementation and cost-effectiveness analysis
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15. Why do we have this group?
3. Our Expert Group
Why do we have this group?
The Common Implementation Strategy
of the WFD
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16. Common Implementation Strategy
1. Our Expert Group
Common Implementation Strategy
DV ENV
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17. 5 general objectives identified in the mandate:
3. Our Expert Group
5 general objectives identified in the mandate:
To support the implementation of agricultural aspects in the context of the WFD
To identify obstacles and constraints related to agricultural issues in the context of the WFD
To address the identified obstacles and constraints by developing solutions
To provide input to the CAP reform
To provide a link to farmers organizations and other interest groups
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18. 3. Our Expert Group Achievements in 2010:
First identification of agricultural measures in the dRBMP
Final report by Ecologic delivered in May with EG members inputs
Available on the Internet:
quantity/pdf/summary pdf
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19. 3. Our Expert Group Achievements in 2010:
Preparation of a new mandate for the River Basin Network
Technical sub-group of the Expert Group
To clarify the links with the EG
To assess the agri measures in the RBMP
To create a data base shared on web plateform
Endorsed by the Water Directors
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20. 3. Our Expert Group Achievements in 2010:
Handbook of ideas for administrations on integrating water issues in farm advisory services
Final version endorsed in Seville thanks to EG members input
Translated by COM & put on CIRCA
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21. Start of a study on water pricing in agriculture
3. Our Expert Group
Achievements in 2010:
Start of a study on water pricing in agriculture
2010 is the year of water pricing for the WFD
Water pricing is a major point in the EG mandate
EG is planning a conference or workshop in Sept/Oct 2011
EG and RBN will be closely associated to the study
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22. Start of a study on water saving in agriculture
3. Our Expert Group
Achievements in 2010:
Start of a study on water saving in agriculture
Many existing studies on the issue
Objective is to gather the relevant findings to prepare suggestions for selected European river basins suffering from water scarcity & droughts
EG and RBN will be closely associated to the study
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23. Discussion on buffer zones
3. Our Expert Group
Achievements in 2010:
Discussion on buffer zones
Feedback from a WssTP conference
Point of our agenda in LLN (NL)
Point discussed in the conference in LLN (DG AGRI – session III)
May be the top measure assessed by the River Basin Network
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24. 3. Our Expert Group Achievements in 2010: Discussion on Article 38
Implementing rules endorsed in February 2010
Presentation by DG AGRI in Sevilla
Discussion with the EG tomorrow
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25. Input to the preparation of the CAP post 2013
3. Our Expert Group
Achievements in 2010:
Input to the preparation of the CAP post 2013
Set up of a drafting group afer the meeting in Seville
Preparation of a keynote in just a few weeks!
Preparation now of a more comprehensive paper
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26. 3. Our Expert Group Achievements in 2010:
Conference on the « application of
EU water related policies at farm level »
Statement on controls to be prepared
Will be included in EG contribution to CAP reform
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27. Some issues for next year:
3. Our Expert Group
Some issues for next year:
First compliance checking feedbacks
Efficiency of the measures in the RBMP: first elements
Water pricing & water saving studies / input from the EG
Distortion of competition issue
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