1. Water Management Policy context
DEVCO-EIB meeting
Brussels, 30 June 2011
Peter Gammeltoft
Water Unit
DG Environment, European Commission

2. Content Water Framework Directive State of implementation
2012 Blueprint to safeguard EU waters 2

3. Some key principles of WFD integrated river basin management
protecting all waters, surface and groundwaters;
covering all impacts on waters;
good quality (‘good status’) to be achieved, as a rule, by 2015;
water quality comprehensively defined in terms of biology, chemistry and morphology;
water management based on river basins;
monitoring programmes for surface and groundwaters, both as a planning tool and as an assessment instrument;
economic instruments: getting the prices right - to promote prudent use of water;
mandatory public participation;
… and complemented/guided by an unprecedented cooperation on implementation. 3

4. WFD Timetable Transposition into national law Dec 2003
Administrative arrangements Dec 2003
Environmental analysis:
Analysis of characteristics
Assessment of human impacts
Economic analysis of water use Dec 2004
Monitoring programmes Dec 2006
Public Participation starts Dec 2006
Significant water management issues Dec 2007
Draft river basin management plans Dec 2008
Final river basin management plans Dec 2009
Measures implemented at the latest Dec 2012
Implementation, adjustment till 2027
Slide 4 4

5. RBMP adopted (21)
Consultation finalised, awaiting adoption (2)
Consultation on-going or not started (4)

6. 2012: A Blueprint to safeguard EU Waters
The Blueprint is the convergence of 3 assessments scheduled for 2012
Assessment of 1st river basin management plans under Water Framework Directive
Review of the Strategy for Water Scarcity and Droughts
Assessment of the vulnerability of water and environmental resources to climate impacts and man-made pressures.
The Blueprint will:
Look back and assess the implementation and achievements of policies and measures in place to ensure the protection and availability of EU water resources
Look forward at the evolving vulnerability of the water environment to assess the sufficiency of existing measures and tools, and evaluate potential new instruments to ensure a sustainable use of good quality water in the EU in the long term.
The Blueprint will synthesise policy recommendations drawing from the evaluation and impact assessment exercises, and will be accompanied by a number of reports and new initiatives, including of a legislative nature if appropriate.

7. Review Water Scarcity and Droughts Policy – WS&D (1/2)
Communication 2007 and follow-up:
Council conclusions - review & further develop WS&D policy by 2012
EP report – new initiatives incl. pilot projects preparatory actions
Annual follow up reports
Policy Review 2012:
GAP Analysis
Overview of problem & existing measures
Identification of gaps
Proposal of new measures
Assessment of Impact of new measures

8. Review Water Scarcity and Droughts Policy – WS&D (2/2) – Building Blocks
Water Efficiency
Water Supply Infrastructure
Buildings
Agriculture
Better Planning
Demand management
Integration WS&D management in RBMP
Land use planning
European Drought Observatory
European level information platform being developed by JRC
Building on National & regional data - Subsidiarity principle
Indicator development
Water exploitation index – not very informative (Annual & national average)
Development of more informative indicators for WS&D (EEA & pilot countries)

9. Vulnerability of Water & Environmental Resources and Adaptation
White Paper on Adaptation: Actions under DG ENV responsibility:
Guidelines for River Basin Management Plans (delivered in Dec 2009)
Measures to enhance water efficiency in agriculture, households and buildings
Natural water retention measures
Inclusion of climate change in the implementation of the Floods Directive
European guidelines on adaptation in coastal and marine areas
Measures to boost soil storage capacity for both carbon and water
Follow-up Green Paper on Forest Protection
Integration biodiversity loss and climate change
Guidelines for the management of Natura 2000 sites
Adaptation Guidelines for the EIA and SEA Directives
6 water (& coastal/marine) related actions.

10. 2012 Blueprint to safeguard EU Waters:
Outlook of sustainability and vulnerability of EU water resources
« Fitness Check»
EU water
policy
instruments
Policy
Options
Land-use
Resource efficiency
Economic Instruments
Governance
Knowledge Base
Nov 2012
Blueprint To
Safeguard
EU Waters
Report on 2009
River Basin
Management Plans
Report on 2009
River Basin
Management
Plans
Report on 2009
River Basin
Management Plans
Report on 2009
River Basin
Management Plans
Report on 2009
River Basin
Management Plans
Report on 2009
River Basin
Management Plans
Review
Water Scarcity
& Droughts
Strategy
Review
Water Scarcity
& Droughts Strategy
Review
Water Scarcity
& Droughts Strategy
Review
Water Scarcity
& Droughts Strategy
Review
Water Scarcity
& Droughts Strategy
Climate Change
Vulnerability
& Adaptation
Climate Change
Vulnerability
& Adaptation
Climate Change
Vulnerability
& Adaptation

11. Policy Options
Objectives: Fit EU policy to ensure good quality water in sufficient quantities for all legitimate uses.
maximize compliance with WFD objectives, to
tackle Water Scarcity and Droughts (WSD)
build a robust policy framework to address extreme weather events and the potential impacts of global changes.
7 key areas. Policy options to be selected on the basis of the IA and presented in the Blueprint.
Land Use
Economic Incentives
Quantitative water resources use targets
Governance
Knowledge Base
Innovation
Global Dimension

12. Calendar / Next steps 2011-II 2011-III 2011-IV 2012-I 2012-II 2012-III
Studies Water saving, pricing, footprint
Water Efficiency in Buildings
WSD Gap Analysis
ClimWatAdapt
Natural water Retention measures
Assessment RBMP – Pressures & Measures
IA Revision Groundwater Directive
Support to Impact Assessment
Modelling Use Water Resources
Water resource balances
Fitness Check
Pub. Cons.
FC/ WSD
Options
Events
10/5
16/9
WWF GW
Fin
Adoption
IAB
IAB
ISC
16/11

13. Thank you for your attention water.europa.eu/policy