1. 1. Implementation of the Water Framework Directive: notifications & infringements, RBMP assessments for the agricultural sector
Expert Group on WFD & agriculture
Brussels 3 & 4 April 2012
Nicolas ROUYER
DG Environment – Unit D1 – Protection of Water Resources

2. Why do we have a European legislation on water?
 most of the European river basins are transboundary
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3. WFD principles
Protecting all water bodies, including transitional & coastal waters
Achievement of good status in all water bodies + no deterioration
Integrated planning process at river basin scale
Comprehensive assessment of pressures, impacts and status, including the ecological perspective
Economic instruments including water pricing
Integration of water policy with other policies (agriculture, transport, energy…)
Public participation
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4. Main objectives & elements
Good status in 2015
Ecological status (surface water)
Chemical status (surface water + groundwater)
Quantitative status (groundwater)
No deterioration
Key elements
Water quality defined in terms of biology, chemistry & morphology
Objectives set in river basin management plans (RBMP)
Programme of measures to achieve objectives as part of plans
Attention paid to socio-economic impacts through a process of duly justified exemptions
Other water-related EU legislation is contributing to these objectives
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5. To sum-up: what is water good status?
Means meeting all environmental quality standards for chemicals set at EU level:
33 priority substances Directive 2008/105/EC
8 other substances previously regulated 76/464/EEC codified 2006/11/EC
LIST UNDER REVISION COM(2011)876
Means an expression of the quality of the structure and functioning of aquatic ecosystems including: biological, hydromorphological and chemical elements
Good surface water status
Good chemical status + good ecological status
Good groundwater status
Good chemical status + good quantitative status
Means meeting all standards for chemicals:
quality standards set at EU level: pesticides and nitrates
threshold values: standards set at national level
Means ensuring a long-term balance between abstraction and recharge, protecting as well associated surface waters and ecosystems.
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6. Planning process of the WFD
Implementation of measures
Programme of measures
Planning cycle
Public participation and stakeholder involvement
Setting objectives
Monitoring and assessment
Characterisation, pressure and impact and economic analysis
Transposition, RBD delineation, competent authorities, administrative set-up, coordination arrangements
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7. WFD Timetable: first cycle
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
Good status of water bodies Dec 2015
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8. Adoption of RBMP RBMP adopted (23)
Consultation on-going or not started (4)
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9. Infringements related to the WFD
Notification of the River Basin Management Plans: 4 MS (BE, ES, EL, PT) are currently at the stage of the European Court of Justice.
Definition of Water Services (WFD art 9): Reasoned Opinions have been addressed to 6 MS (BE, DE, DK, FI, IE, SE) about & additional letters of formal notice to NL, HU and EE.
Groundwater Directive / Floods Directive / EQS Directive: Conformity checks reveal shortcomings in transpositions.
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10. RBMP assessment: general findings
+ A lot of effort put into preparation of the plans
+ High uptake of the common framework & common language on water management provided by the WFD
+ Integration of ecological perspective into water management
+ Enhancement of international cooperation
+ Public participation
+ Impressive improvement in the knowledge base
+ Some very good examples in every subject
- Low ambition in many of the plans (extensive use of exemptions)
- Lack of concrete measures & expected achievements (but programme of measures needs to be operational in 2012 only)
- Lack of comparability in some issues (e.g. chemical status!)
- Dressing “business-as-usual” as WFD.
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11. Overview of agricultural pressures identified in 103 RBMP:
of 103 RBMPs
Diffuse
Point
Nitrogen leakage
91%
23%
Phosphorus
82%
21%
Pesticides
76%
16%
Other chemicals etc.
42%
17%
Between
Eutrophication
83% -
88%
Hydro-morphology
43%
70%
Soil erosion
31%
50%
Irrigation / water use
40%
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12. Overview on technical measures:

13. Overview on economic measures:
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14. Overview on other measures:
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15. Final RBMP assessment results
will feed the Blueprint to safeguard Europe’s waters at the end of the year
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16. Timetable for 2nd cycle:
Public participation starts Dec 2012
Environmental analysis: Dec 2013
- Analysis of characteristics
- Assessment of human impacts
Economic analysis of water use Dec 2013
Significant water management issues Dec 2013
Draft river basin management plans Dec 2014
Final river basin management plans Dec 2015
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