1. SIIF pilot support group Meeting 17 Apr 2013
Structured Implementation and Information Frameworks
European Commission
Directorate General for the Environment
unit D.2 - Marine Environment & Water Industry

2. Implementation Communication (COM(2012)95)
Background
Implementation Communication (COM(2012)95)
“Improving the delivery of benefits from EU env. measures - Building confidence through better knowledge and responsiveness”
Part I: Knowledge on implementation (incl. Structured Implementation and Information Frameworks - SIIF)
Part II: Responsiveness at national, regional and local level (incl. Partnership Implementation Agreements - PIAs)

3. 7th Environmental Action Programme (COM(2012)710)
Background – 7EAP
7th Environmental Action Programme (COM(2012)710)
Priority objective 4: To maximise the benefits of EU environment legislation
The 7th EAP shall ensure that by 2020:
(a) EU citizens have access to clear information showing how EU environment law is being implemented.
(b) The implementation of specific environment legislation is improved.
This requires, in particular:
(a) Establishing systems at national level which actively disseminate information about how EU environment legislation is being implemented, coupled with an EU-level overview of individual Member States’ performance.
(see Impact Assessment – Annex 6 – page 107 for more detail)
(b) Drawing up partnership implementation agreements between Member States and the Commission. (see Impact Assessment – Annex 6 – page 107 and Council fact sheet for more detail)

4. Background – SEIS
Shared Environment Information System – Implementation Outlook (CSW(2013)18)
The SEIS Implementation Outlook states priority action 3:
"Piloting the development of structured implementation and information frameworks (SIIFs) for selected thematic areas, linking these location-based information systems to EU level e-Reporting systems in order to make reported information usable in various contexts and at different geographic scales. The SIIFs as they have been set out in the Implementation Communication should, on the one hand, identify how EU environment law is implemented on the ground, and, on the other, determine good examples and best practices of information systems at local, regional and cross-border levels. As a pilot activity, the Commission services are already developing a concept for the reporting and dissemination requirements of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. Based on the lessons learned from the first SIIF, the Commission services will consider ways for expanding the concept and structure of the SIIFs to other environment policy areas. The EEA shall be closely involved."

5. Background – Water Blueprint
Blueprint for European Freshwater (COM(2012)xxx)
The Blueprint announces the following actions on Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive:
Improve compliance rates on waste water treatment through long-term investment planning (including EU funds and EIB loans) by preparing implementation plans for UWW by 2014
Improving the knowledge base and improving governance: Developing the Water Information System for Europe (WISE) to ensure, through its successive implementation plans, its full interoperability with the information systems used at Member State and European level with a view to improving our understanding of the aquatic ecosystems.
Finally, the Commission is about to adopt the 7th Report on the implementation of the UWW Directive which presents the advancement in implementation and describes the new approach in compliance promotion and information management.

6. Current deficiencies - UWWTD
Reporting inefficient: Long timescales and intensive human resources needs on MS and EU level
Different information not linked - compliance, infringements, implementation plans, financing (cohesion-related information)
Limited transparency of reporting and assessment process
Limited use of information on the status of implementation; no transposition of experience gained for EU-15 into the situation of EU-12
Focus on past problems, rather than future solutions
No easy access of compliance information to the public

7. SIIF principles - UWWTD
For national level:
Change from reporting to information management (SEIS)
Ensure transparency and public access (also 2003/4/EC)
Keep information regularly updated
Forward looking – solution oriented perspective
Reduce administrative burden for best performers
SEIS principles apply in addition (e.g. “Report once, use many”)

8. DG Environment, Unit D.2 Marine Environment and Water Industry
SIIF components
National Information Systems
on compliance
2) Link of national Systems to EU (WISE, SEIS-INSPIRE)
Develop Partnership Implementation
Agreements “PIA” (link to funding)

9. SIIF EU SIIF national INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT
Reference data
SIIF national

10. DG Environment, Unit D.2 Marine Environment and Water Industry
Seven SIIF tasks / actions
Task 1: Compiling overview on existing national systems (done)
Task 2: Analysing directive and reporting guidelines
Task 4: Identify additional information needs on actions taken by MS to address these compliance gaps by remedial action – develop data template
Task 5: Launch test cases / pilot MS
Task 3: Recommendations for national SIIFs (Guidelines)
Task 6: Link national and EU-level SIIF (SIIF project)
(Task 7: Develop Partnership Implementation Agreements (with ENV A, REGIO))

11. SIIF modular system Public NATIONAL up-to-date details EU WISE
overview
link to national
INTERNAL
infringem.
financing
Public

12. User needs input data – data template available data
presentation of information – visualisation
demo version visualisation (EU / national)
output formats
agglos
treatment
water bodies
Reference
installations
performance
Art. 15 reports
Compliance
planning
investment
timelines
Solution
competent authorities
contact
Governance
infringements
EU financing
Internal

13. DG Environment, Unit D.2 Marine Environment and Water Industry
The SIIF pilot so far
2012
Apr/May: SIIF discussion document with initial UWWD workplan
June: Water Directors, interest from CY, LT, ...
Nov: Bilateral meeting with CY
Dec: UWWD Committee, 1st SIIF Workshop, SIIF project started
2013
Jan: workshop in LT, kick off project, expression of interest from other MS
Feb/Mar: detailed work planning 2013 incl. EEA
July/Sept: 2nd SIIF Workshop - first results

14. DG Environment, Unit D.2 Marine Environment and Water Industry
Issues for discussion
Impact of SIIF on reporting (reduction of burden for MS?)
SIIF / PIA on UWW is not for all MS - categories (EU12, EU15 infringement, EU15 compliant)
SIIF / PIA and infringements?
What do we (COM) have to offer? High scepticism of MS? (“carrot” on financing or “no infringement” not clear to MS – working with REGIO (!) and Dir A)
Form and process for PIA?

15. DG Environment, Unit D.2 Marine Environment and Water Industry
Pilot Support Group
SIIF pilot countries
Support project defining user needs and IT framework
Role of EEA
Perspective for PIAs