1. Pilot River Basin Activity
WFD and Agriculture
Kick Off Meeting, 16 January 2008
European Commission - DG Environment
Unit D.2: Water and Marine

2. Next key priorities of the PRB-Agriculture Activity
Context of development of the river basin management plans and programmes of measures in all EU districts
Need to foster the exchange of experience and information on RBMP and PM
Key issue for all EU river basins today

3. Operational objectives of the PRB-Agriculture Activity
 Carry on the building up of the Catalogue of Measures
 Provide good examples – costs, benefits
 Assess the effectiveness of the measures
 Possibly contribute to the discussion on RDR Article 38
 Assess improved farming practices and impacts of new technologies
 Set up RBMP with the involvement of all stakeholders

4. Development of catalogue of measures
EU wide source of information on measures aimed to address agricultural pressures
Access data base with two starting points: (1) pressure based approach and (2) measure based approach
Three main groups of measures: (1) economic and regulatory instruments; (2) technical measures; (3) training and advisory services
This tool will help MS design their programmes of measures

5. Attributes Effectiveness
Pollution
Layers for each pressure:
Pollution (nitrogen, phosphorus and pesticides)
Alterations of hydrologic regimes
Hydro-morphological modification of surface water
Soil erosion
Remarks
Attributes Costs
Attributes Effectiveness
Implementation M1
Measure M2 M3

6. Attributes Effectiveness
Measure
Attributes Costs
Attributes Effectiveness
Implementation
Remarks
Description
Direct costs and references to case studies with wider economic costs and benefits
Magnitude, scale,
timing, certainty
Planned/adopted,
constraints
Synergies,
links with other
pressures,
references

7.  Timetable
 First draft catalogue to be disseminated to the SSG on
WFD and Agriculture in early February 2008
 1st trimester 2008: discussion and refinement
 May 2008: presentation to SCG
 June 2008: presentation to WD
 Iterative process with further improvement planned beyond June 2008 in light of the draft RBMP and PM

8. Core group on article 38 of RDR
 Context: forthcoming definition of article 38 implementing rules at EU level
 Challenge: ensure effective use of article 38 to help implement WFD emerging measures
 Objective of core group: organise exchange of views on future use of article 38 by MS, opportunities and identification of appropriate conditions of use – work to start in early 2008
 Participants: BE (Fl), FR, LU, PL, COPA-COGECA, ECPA, EUREAU

9. Expected added value of the PRB-Agriculture Activity
 Have an efficient network to help the selection of cost-effective measures at river basin level
 As part of the activity, explore existing funding mechanisms to support the implementation of the measures
 Collect experience on public participation

10. Expected outcomes of the PRB-Agriculture Activity
Networking on agricultural measures
2. Refinement of the catalogue of measures
3. Development of a Web Platform to exchange the outcomes of the PM and good examples

11. 1. Networking on agricultural measures
 Objective : To address key agricultural issues in a context of
RBMP and PM preparation
 Practical organisation : Setting-up of a series of workshops
Possible consideration of 2 parts – audience can go beyond the sole PRB network
Part A : contributions by PRBs on the key selected issue
Part B : possible visits or demonstrations of good examples of
measures

12. 1. Networking on agricultural measures
Location/Host
Key issue(s) to be addressed
Date/Period
AAA Pilot River Basin
Water quantity issues
Spring 2008
CCC Pilot River Basin
Nutrient pollution
Autumn 2008
YYY Pilot River Basin
Pesticides
Winter 2008
ZZZ Pilot River Basin
Physical modifications and habitat loss
Spring 2009
Other possible issue : sediments (erosion and P pollution)

13. Topics
Horizontal issues
Nutrient Pollution
Financing of measures
Pesticide Pollution
Cost-Effectiveness
of measures
Water use
and quantity
Territorial approach
for the selection
of measures
Sediments
Habitat loss and
Physical Modif.

14. 2. Refinement of the catalogue of measures
From early 2008 : PRB contributions will serve as inputs to the draft catalogue of measures
The catalogue will be updated after each event organised – in particular to have more information on costs, effectiveness and benefits of the measures

15. 3. Development of a Web Platform
Need to ensure rapid exchange of information with the wider
river basin community
PRB will be able to download reports, statements, data, etc.
Possibility to have on-line discussion groups on specific issues
for all interested parties
The Web Platform will be incorporated in the WISE web system.

16. Thank you for your attention

17. Pilot River Basin
Key issues
Period