DG ENV + AGRI Taskforce on water agriculture nexus Claire MCCAMPHILL DG ENVIRONMENT Unit C1

Why a taskforce ? Current Commission priority – improve implementation of existing policy & integration across policy "silos" ENV& AGRI commissioners identified water as an issue important for both services

What's its remit ? Identify the challenges to implementation of EU law (water and agriculture (ND, WFD, CAP)) and options for improvement through enhanced cooperation & implementation of existing tools Scope: initial 3 challenges covered are nutrients, pesticides, abstraction Out of scope for now but very important to be considered in the future - hydromorphological pressures (dams, dykes, drainage, dredging) - soil erosion

Approach taken For each pressure, sets out in summary form why it is an important issue to be addressed (impacts) The tools (EU legislation and funding ) that should be used by member states to comprehensively address the pressure Gaps in implementation/implementation challenges Examples of good practice in MS in terms of optimising the existing tools

Principals to be established Sustainable agriculture – for water: no deterioration in status and achievement of good status for all waters Requires agriculture & water ministries to understand this objective and align activities toward reaching this Good practises –establish the common agreement framework - identify the gap to good - determine best mix of policy instruments to close the gap and within this maximise agricultural profit - compliance assurance strategy to track progress

Use of the TF document Once agreed by Commissioners, it will - form a basis for the development of co-operation activities between DG ENV and AGRI on water issues and for defining what sustainable agriculture means with regard to water - provide input and direction to the CIS e.g. through water and agriculture workshop to be held under SK presidency in October , 2016 and subsequent Agri and ENV director joint meetings.