LIFE and the implementation of the Water Framework Directive Michael Oliver (European Commission, DG Environment, Unit D1 – LIFE)

Relevance of LIFE for the implementation of the WFD Project examples Summary What is LIFE? Relevance of LIFE for the implementation of the WFD Project examples Accessing information on LIFE projects Inviting feedback Contact details

LIFE – the financial instrument for the environment Financial instrument supporting the EU’s environmental policy and legislation Co-finances projects in three areas: LIFE-Nature aimed at conservation of natural habitats and wild fauna and flora LIFE-Environment enables demonstration and development of innovative methods for environmental protection LIFE-Third Countries concerns technical assistance activities for promoting sustainable development in third countries

LIFE – the financial instrument for the environment Calls for projects are issued every year (not just water). All legal entities (individuals, companies, local authorities, NGOs, etc.) of EU member states, some accession countries and countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea and Baltic Sea can apply. Since 1992, LIFE has supported 2267 projects. The current total budget (2000-2004) amounts to 640 million €. For EU projects can be supported with up to 50% of their eligible costs.

LIFE and the Water Framework Directive (WFD) Approx. 38% of LIFE projects address water management issues LIFE projects have collected an array of experience and developed tools for implementing legislation on the ground (in the context of the WFD, but also other Directives: e.g. Urban Waste Water Treatment, Nitrates, etc.) Cross-border co-operation and stakeholder participation have figured in many LIFE projects LIFE supports the dissemination of these experiences

Project example: Bothnian Bay (Finland/Sweden) Objectives: Assess state of the Bay and factors affecting it Improve information exchange Develop guidelines for integrated management and monitoring Anticipated outcomes: Support European strategy for Integrated Coastal Zone Management Provide tools + examples for implementation of the WFD: monitoring, database, quality model, information exchange, cross-border cooperation, awareness raising [Project website: http://www.vyh.fi/perameri/welcome.htm ]

Project example: Karjaanjoki catchment (Finland) Objectives: Restore good ecological status or potential Involve agriculture, forestry + land- use planning in evaluation of impacts and remedies Anticipated outcomes: Balance nutrient status of lakes inc. bio-manipulation Demonstrate ‘hydrology-friendly’ forestry techniques Monitoring of watercourses re-organised to correspond with requirements of WFD [Project website: http://www.kaupunki.lohja.fi/klife/ ]

Project example: Wise use of Floodplains (UK/IRL/F) Objectives: Establish methods to appraise economic, social and environmental effects of flood- plain wetland management Determine effects of policy on use of floodplain wetlands Gain stakeholder participation Outcomes: Dissemination of guidelines and results across Europe to facilitate implementation of WFD especially in the context of floodplain restoration Assessment of strengths + weaknesses of European and national policies; recommendations produced [Project website: http://www.floodplains.org/ ]

Accessing information on LIFE projects LIFE website: Search facility of past and ongoing projects: database contains background information, objectives and contact details for each project CIRCA website: Electronic forum for water-related projects (2004): NEW - abstracts of LIFE projects; categorised according to the themes of the Working Groups and Expert Fora elaborating the implementation strategy of the WFD; customised for different user groups

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Contact details Email: Michael.Oliver@cec.eu.int Websites: LIFE: http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/life/home.htm Project search engine: http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/life/project/Projects/index.cfm?fuseaction=SEARCH.SEARCHPAGE&area=0 CIRCA: http://forum.europa.eu.int/Public/irc/env/wfd/home