1. 7a - Environmental Objectives and Exemptions under the Water Framework Directive SCG meeting 5 November Marieke van Nood, Unit D.2, DG Environment, European Commission

2. Consolidated guidance on exemptions
Introduction
Consolidated guidance on exemptions
2005 policy paper on env objectives
2006 policy paper on Art 4.7
2007 policy paper on Art 4.4/4.5/4.6
2008 conclusions on disproportionate costs
Reference to WATECO, HMWB guidance, workshops Berlin (2005) and Copenhagen (2008)
Notes for the Speaker:
More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.

3. Recall of WFD requirements Key issues
Table of Content
Recall of WFD requirements
Key issues
Horizontal issues
Key issues for Article 4.4 and 4.5
Key issues for Article 4.6
Key issues for Article 4.7
Annexes on costs&benefits/ transboundary context/ prolonged droughts
Notes for the Speaker:
More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.

4. Principles
Main aim: consolidating earlier agreed information in a complete way for dissemination
No further guidance than already provided in earlier agreed documents
No rewording of carefully agreed texts
Open points (e.g. affordability in Art 4.5/public budget constraints in Art 4.4) are mentioned
Notes for the Speaker:
More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.

5. Preparations of current draft
Draft version 1.0 prepared and sent to DG members in October
Comments received from 8 countries and 5 stakeholders
Comments included in version 2 (in line with principles on previous slide)
Notes for the Speaker:
More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.

6. -No targeted CIS activity foreseen in 2009
What’s next
-Work on exemptions may need to be continued in next years, focusing on practical experience and case studies from the first planning cycle
-No targeted CIS activity foreseen in 2009
Notes for the Speaker:
More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.

7. Discuss and agree draft version 2.0
Request to SCG
Discuss and agree draft version 2.0
Discuss and agree that draft will be forwarded to WD for endorsement, in order to make it publicly available after their agreement
Notes for the Speaker:
More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.