1. Activity on environmental objectives and exemptions
Common Implementation Strategy of the WFD
European Commission - DG Environment
Unit D.2: Water and Marine

2.  Leaders of the activity: DK, EC
 Background
Guidance document on economics and environment
 first interpretation of relevant concepts for the use of exemptions
June Endorsement by the WD of a paper on WFD environmental objectives
 clarification of issues related to the place of articles 4.4 (extension of deadlines) and 4.5 (less stringent objectives)
November Endorsement by the WD of a paper on the provisions of 4.7 (new modifications)

3. Latest developments
June 2006 – WD agreed to complete the work with a comprehensive activity covering all exemption cases.
 Objectives
The outcomes are aimed at helping MS in the preparation of their RBMP.
Step 1 – development of common understanding of the provisions of articles 4.4, 4.5 and 4.6
 description of the key concepts, answers to practical questions, description of a stepwise approach
Step 2 – development of a comprehensive guidance on WFD environmental objectives and exemptions
Step 3 – further exchange of information on the use of exemptions, through the organisation of two workshops

4. Timetable of the activity on environmental objectives and exemptions
2007
2008
2009
Actions 1 2 3 4
Scoping phase X
Step 1
Step 2
Workshop 1 (W1)
Workshop 2 (W2)
Deliverables
Analytical paper on 4§4, 4§5, 4§6
Comprehensive guidance document
W 1 summary report
W 2 summary report

5. Paper still in progress within the drafting group
The group will discuss an updated version on 5 July
The document will contain two parts:
1. General principles 2. Disproportionality
Progress in the activity will be reported to SCG (May) and Water Directors (June) with discussion points
Still on track to deliver paper end of year
Next phase is then consolidating all available info (art. 4.7, env. objectives paper and this paper) in 2008.