WFD and Structural/Cohesion Funds (SCF)

A specific working group under a largest EU environment & Structural/Cohesion Funds Expert group…….. SCF are being reshaped for the period 2007-13 Many opportunities to use those funds in implementing the WFD and the flood-risk management action programme Working group led by England and Wales Environment Protection Agency (with the participation of EC, Spain, France, Italy, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Poland, Slovenia and WWF)

BUT the funding of water policy means ANTICIPATION Many MS have started to write their national strategies and their operational programmes for 2007-2013. What is the state of play in your country? Be ready now to negotiate with your national or regional competent authorities if you want to use SCF to fund water policy Look for synergetic effects. In some cases, WFD measures can’t be directly funded (due to eligibility or lack of funding), it means that multi-scope projects should be used (e.g. wetland restoration for biodiversity, flood prevention and ”water services”, soil cleaning for point-source pollution)

Be present for ex-ante evaluations of operational programmes Watch out the potential impacts of operational programmes on water resources Be present for ex-ante evaluations of operational programmes Use the article 5 reports as a basis for those evaluations. Was the dissemination of article 5 reports done?

Procedural issues Transnational co-operation Concrete deliverables for that working group: electronic handbook to be ready by November 2005   Procedural issues Transnational co-operation Shaping funding priority (eligibility of actions and projects- to be disseminated before the Water Directors meeting) WFD proofing of programmes and projects

Each section will content:   Definition Principles Recommendations Examples