1. Christos Fragakis (EC DG RTD) Frédérique Martini (France, Onema)
Water Science-Policy Interface (CIS-SPI) EG Water & Agriculture Edinbourg 10/10/2012
Christos Fragakis (EC DG RTD)
Frédérique Martini (France, Onema)

2. FP6 & FP7 WATER projects 2 2

3. WATER RESEARCH in EUROPE Public investment
€130 million per year at Community level
€370 million per year at National level
€500 million per year in Europe
There is a need to co-ordinate public-funded research on water and strengthen SPI activities 3 3

4. Ad-hoc activity on water Science-Policy Interface (CIS-SPI)
Set-up under CIS of the Water Framework Directive through a 3 years mandate ( ) by EU by Water Directors;
It aims to:
ensure a dynamic interface between researchers, policy makers and water managers;
support implementation of the WFD through state-of-the-art scientific information for WFD;
secure that European water research is policy-relevant and address management needs and priorities; 4

5. Common Implementation Strategy
Forum of cooperation to tackle challenges raised by the WFD implementation;
Organised around activities (working groups, expert groups, ad hoc activities)
Aims of the CIS:
coherent and harmonious implementation
common understanding and approach
Hydromorphology
Economics
Biodiversity
Ad hoc activities
Science Policy Interface

6. Ad-hoc activity on (CIS-SPI) SPI Mandate: 3 Tasks over 2010-2012
Task 1 Inventory of research and implementation needs from CIS groups
- Inventory of the needs established by each CIS group (based on a questionnaire followed by discussion within the groups)
Compilation of the needs from the different CIS groups
Task 2 Available research and research gaps
Inventory of available knowledge and research results relevant to identified research and implementation needs
Identification of research gaps within CIS group
- Communication of priority research topics to the CIS Strategic Coordination Group and relevant funding organisations (DG RTD, JPIs, ERA-NETs, others)
Task 3 Improving transfer and usability of research outputs
Organisation of yearly Water Science meets Policy events
2010: research needs
2011: ecosystem services approach in WFD
2012: setting up structures, mechanisms and processes to communicate results from RTD projects to policy (i.e. “Policy Briefs” posted on website and CIRCA)
Demonstrate and promote application of selected modalities 6

7. CIS-SPI Operational structure
Co-lead by EC (DG RTD) and ONEMA (FR);
Working closely with CIS groups through their designated SPI correspondent;
Under monitoring and guidance by SCG and WD;
Reporting to every SCG meeting and regularly to water Directors solliciting further guidance;
Networking with project coordinators, experts, stakeholders, policy-makers from EU Member States and officials from EU institutions;

8. Role of CIS groups in CIS SPI
All CIS WG/EG recognised the importance of SPI activity and each group nominated an SPI correspondent;
They have played a pivotal role in the identification and prioritisation of research needs;
Contributed to identification of research gaps;
Some CIS groups maintain direct interactions with ongoing research projects and CIS members participate in their Advisory Boards;
Participation of CIS groups experts in preparation of events;
SPI session back-to-back with SCG meeting (7 November 2011); 8

9. National Water ResearchMS
Participation
R&D
EU Water Research
Task 2:
Available research EU
Task 3:
Improved
dissemination
Water
science meets
policy
Science-Policy Interface
Task 1:
research needs
Common Implementation Strategy (CIS) EU
WFD implementation
Participation MS
National Policy Makers, Managers, « Stakeholders » 9

10. The 1st SPI event 29-30 Sept. 2010, Brussels
Objective: to connect scientists and WFD end-users on research needs & gaps and to improve SPI & dissemination
150 participants from 15 MS and Switzerland
35% from the scientific community, 65% from WFD “end-users” (policy makers & implementers)
Discussion in interactive parallel round tables reflecting the CIS WGs and EGs structure
Main outcomes:
59 research areas
180 specific research issues
Move away from sectoral vision towards holistic approach
8 main cross-cutting issues
Report published and available in CIRCA 10

11. The 2nd SPI event 29-30 Sept. 2011, Brussels
1st CIS-SPI identified "ecosystem services" as a prominent cross-cutting concept worthy of further investigation;
2nd event aimed at establishing a common view among scientists and policy makers about the potential of using the concept of ecosystem services in the implementation of the WFD
Main outcomes:
Need for developing guidelines on how to operationalize the use of ecosystem services concept in drafting RBMPs
Recommendation for setting up an activity on Ecosystem services within the CIS framework
Report available on CIRCA and paper version 11

12. Identification of research needs and gaps: State of progress
List of research needs identified during the 1st event were communicated to CIS WGs and EGs with request to:
Verify and complete the list of priority research needs for policy;
Identify existing knowledge and studies related to the identified needs
Systematic identification of research gaps through matching the needs with the existing knowledge is currently undertaken by Oieau (under sub-contract from ONEMA) on the basis of:
Feedback from CIS groups regarding priority research needs for policy and available knowledge and studies;
Investigation by WaterDiss (FP7), WaterRtoM (LIFE);
Information provided by EurAqua network on the basis of mapping of EurAqua partners’ projects with relevance to CIS groups’ research needs

13. Expert Group Water & Agriculture
Group was requested to:
confirm the list of 18 topics identified in the 1st SPI event
identify existing studies/knowledge;
The top 3 topics identified by the goup were:
the interaction between surface water and groundwater in agricultural catchments
the design of farmers’ incentives to support WFD implementation
the effect of WFD implementation measures
Feedback on available knowledge from Malta, Germany (Weser RB), Ireland and UK (Scotland and NI). Deadline: 10/102012
Agriculture being a major water consumer sector, an active and fully engaged role from the EG water & Agriculture will be very valuable;
Oieau is currently contacting the SPI correspondents of all WGs and EGs to get clarification and explanation about the material they have provided

14. 3rd CIS-SPI event, 14-15 November
Effective information flow from research to policy implementers is key for a well-functioning SPI;
3rd event aims to address 3rd task of the mandate: “Improving transfer and usability of research outputs”
Will analyse and propose concrete and practicable methods, "best practices" and mechanisms, within the current WFD CIS SPI structure, for a continuous and sustained dissemination of research results to WFD managers, stakeholders and implementers

15. 3rd CIS-SPI event, 14-15 November
Since CIS WGs and EGs will be the main operational actors from the policy side in the implementation of the WFD SPI, their participation in the 3rd event is absolutely essential if we are to get workable “solutions”;
Event's registration website:

16. CIS SPI Reports
Reports on 1st and 2nd events published and available in CIRCA
Full report on the 3rd event is expected to be published in 2013
The Final SPI report giving full account of all CIS-SPI activities, including research needs and gaps is currently under preparation
A draft has been circulated to the SPI correspondents for comments
Draft Final report will be presented to the SCG and the WMD in their November meeting

17. Messages to take back home
An effective SPI activity can provide significant benefits to member States by assisting them in designing cost-effective management measures;
There is a moral obligation for both policy and science community to ensure that results from publicly-funded research will benefit the European society and the tax-payer;
Designing and implementing an SPI activity that can benefit of all levels of the WFD implementation (European, national, river basin) is tricky with no panaceas or ready-made solutions;
Active engagement by both the research and the policy community will ensure practicable "modalities"

18. Messages to take back home
The research needs and gaps identified through the CIS SPI process will constitute a useful background document for the Commission for the drafting of future Research and Innovation Work Programmes;
CIS-SPI is part of the stakeholder advisory group of the water JPI and EIP. Hence, possibilities to "influence" their activities and planning;
Unless CIS WGs and EGs are fully engaged and committed in the process, this initiative will not succeed (You need two to dance a tango!);

19. CIS-SPI future perspectives
Water Directors’ mandate for CIS SPI terminates at the end of 2012
We plan to present draft final report to European water and marine Directors in their November meeting with a request to renew the mandate;
Follow-up?

20. Thank you for attention
- ONEMA
– DG RTD