Informal Meeting of Water and Marine Directors of the European Union, Candidate and EFTA Countries
Segovia, 27-28 May 2010
Informal meeting of Water and Marine Directors
of the European Union, Candidate and EFTA Countries
Segovia, 27-28 May 2010
Final Synthesis
Introduction
The Water and Marine Directors of the European Union 1 (EU), Candidate Countries2 and EFTA
Countries3 met on 27-28 May 2010 in Segovia (Spain) in order to discuss, in particular:
 information points related to the implementation of the Water Framework Directive and the Marine
Strategy Framework Directive;
 the progress of the Common Implementation Strategy (CIS) for the Water Framework Directive;
 a number of deliverables of the CIS process including two annexes of the guidance on
intercalibration, a guidance on groundwater and a guidance on monitoring sediment and biota;
 the mandate for the development of a guidance on inventory of emissions, discharges and losses
of priority substances and a mandate for the activity of the river basins network on WFD and
agriculture;
 a first discussion on the implementation of the WFD programmes of measures;
 integration issues including statements on CAP reform and hydropower;
 joint aspects of the Water Framework Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive;
 the progress in the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive;
 the discussion on the MSFD at the next June Environmental Council;
 future activities and inter-regional coordination needed to facilitate the implementation of the
MSFD in the context of the Common Implementation Strategy.
The present note summarises the main elements discussed, and the agreements reached, during the
Water and Marine Directors meeting. The agenda of the meeting is in Annex 1, the list of participants is
in Annex 2.
Outcome of the meeting
PART 1: WATER DIRECTORS MEETING
Item 1: Commission activities
The Water Directors took note of the presentation by the Commission covering various issues including
the state of play as regards the RBMP adoption, reporting and legal action, the plans for a Commission
proposal on phosphates in detergents and the information about the preparations for a EU Danube
Strategy.
As regards the preparations of the Commission proposal on phosphates in detergents, the Water
Directors welcome the intention of the Commission to propose action at EU level and look forward to
seeing the proposal and discussing it at the Council. A significant number of Water Directors requested
the Commission to consider including in the scope of the proposal the dishwasher detergents and in any
case not to undermine more stringent national measures or internationally accepted measures already in
place.
1
2
3
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, France,
Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania,
Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, the European Commission and the
European Environment Agency. Absent: Bulgaria.
Croatia. Absent: Turkey and Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia
Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. Absent: Liechtenstein
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The Water Directors took note of the information given by the Commission on the intention to prepare a
Blueprint for Safeguarding European Waters by 2012, as announced by Commissioner Potočnik. The
Water Directors welcome the initiative and would like to be involved in further discussions in the future.
They highlighted the need to address integration issues in the Blueprint, not only sectoral but also
between water and marine.
Item 2: Common Implementation Strategy activities
a. Progress Report
The Water Directors took note of the presentation from the Commission covering various issues.
The Water Directors took note of the importance to continue the support given to the work on priority
substances, in particular for the derivation and review of the environmental quality standards. The
Commission thanked the Member States for their active participation in this work and highlighted the
importance of continuous support in the coming months up to the Commission proposal in 2011.
As regards intercalibration, the Water Directors supported the work that was on-going on the second
phase, as it is crucial to ensure comparability of WFD ecological status assessments and ultimately the
credibility of implementation. Water Directors took note of the delays in some of the Geographical
Intercalibration Groups and of the need to secure the human and financial resources to complete
successfully the exercise by 2011, in accordance with the agreed Work Programme. The Water Directors
called the ECOSTAT to ensure that the exercise keeps a balance between scientific robustness and
practical implementation so that resources are not further strained by increased complexity. In particular
they called the ECOSTAT to find a sound but pragmatic way to develop the comparability criteria in
Annex V of the intercalibration guidance and present it for endorsement at the next meeting under the
Belgian Presidency. The Water Directors also supported the idea that the results of the first round of
intercalibration do not need to be revisited but need to be checked whether sufficient comparability was
achieved in accordance with the criteria agreed in the Intercalibration Guidance.
b. Batch endorsement of documents
The Water Directors endorsed all documents presented with the following comments or additions:
Intercalibration guidance: Annexes III and VI as presented.
Guidance on Risk Assessment and the Use of Conceptual Models for Groundwater as presented.
Guidance on Sediment and Biota Monitoring as presented, taking note that the OSPAR guidance
mentioned in section 5.4 is being revised at the moment. Once finalised, the updated OSPAR
guidance should be considered by Water Directors for inclusion in the WFD guidance.
- Mandate on priority substances inventory guidance, as presented but adding a reference in the
potential sources of information to the work of river and marine commissions.
- Mandate on River Basin network on WFD & agriculture as presented.
The Water Directors thanked the Working Groups for their work to prepare these deliverables and agreed
to publish the endorsed guidance documents.
-
Item 3: River Basin Management Plans
a. Discussion on the implementation of the Programme of Measures
The Water Directors had a first discussion on the implementation of the Programmes of Measures. The
financial situation was mentioned as an important issue of concern as it puts important constraints on
public budgets. The Water Directors agreed that not only difficulties need to be highlighted but also the
benefits of the WFD implementation and what has been and will be achieved. The Water Directors
supported the idea to have a more targeted and structured discussion at the next meeting under the
Belgian Presidency.
b. Strategic Environmental Assessment of RBMP
Austria presented the result of the questionnaire on the application of Strategic Environmental
Assessment to the WFD River Basin Management Plans. The conclusion of the survey is that most
Member States stated that the benefit of the SEA process has not been substantial in relation to the
amount of effort involved. In addition, participation in the consultations have been an order of magnitude
less in the SEA process than in the RBMP consultation, and had mostly involved public agencies and
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institutions. This conclusion will be put forward for consideration and to inform any future developments
regarding the SEA directive.
Item 4: Integration issues
a. Discussion on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy
The European Commission presented the Common Agricultural Policy reform process.
The new policy has to be set up by 2014. To achieve this objective, the EU Commissioner for agriculture
launched a consultation on April 12th, inviting the general public to come up with ideas and proposals for
a new CAP. The end of this consultation will be on 3 June 2010. Contributions will be brought together in
a single synthesis report, which will be presented at a conference to be held on 19-20 July in Brussels.
These ideas will help to shape the European Commission’s thoughts regarding a Communication on the
CAP after 2013. This Communication, which is planned for the end of 2010, will propose different options
for the new CAP.
This reform is an excellent opportunity to improve environmental integration into the CAP, including for
water protection. The timing is also helpful in relation to the WFD, given the close convergence of the new
CAP (early 2014) with the end of the first WFD cycle and the start of the second cycle (2015-2021).
The CIS Expert Group on WFD & agriculture prepared a keynote on CAP reform and water protection.
Due to the very short deadline imposed by the consultation process, the keynote is to be considered as a
first step. A second paper will be developed with the aim of presenting a more comprehensive
contribution in autumn.
This keynote was presented to the Water Directors, who took note of it and encouraged the Expert Group
to continue its activity.
Then, on the basis of the keynote, a draft statement on CAP reform & water protection was considered by
the Water Directors. After discussion and some adjustments, the Water Directors endorsed the final
statement (see Annex 3). The Spanish Chair of the Water Directors meeting will transmit the statement to
DG AGRI before the 3rd of June 2010 to feed in the debate and the keynote by the Expert Group will be
annexed to the document.
b. Discussion on hydropower
The Commission presented an information note on the state of play of hydropower developments in the
EU. Austria and Switzerland presented the state of play within the Alpine Convention and some case
studies in that region. The Water Directors appreciated the presentations and discussed the interaction
between the WFD implementation and the targets for renewable energy.
Germany offered to host and organise the workshop on WFD and hydropower in 2011 and proposed to
prepare an issue paper outlining the main aims and themes of the workshop. The paper will be circulated
and depending on the reactions further discussions could be held between Water Directors at their
meeting in Spa. The Water Directors welcomed the German initiative and several countries offered their
active support for the preparations.
The Water Directors endorsed the statement in Annex 4.
Item 5: Recent events
The Spanish recalled the two events on water that were held during their Presidency: the Water Scarcity
and Droughts Conference and the Groundwater Conference.
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PART 2: JOINT MEETING WATER AND MARINE DIRECTORS
Item 6: Other issues
The Water Directors took note of a number of information points:
a. Belgian Presidency activities
Belgium informed on their up-coming Presidency meetings during autumn 2010 and that the Water and
Marine directors meeting is scheduled for 2-3 December 2010.
b. Hungarian Presidency activities
Hungary referred to the slides that will be uploaded in CIRCA about the events during their Presidency.
The Water and Marine directors meeting will be held on 26-27 May 2011, probably in Budapest.
c. Danube Strategy
Austria referred to the slides that will be uploaded in CIRCA about the EU Danube Strategy and about ongoing efforts to use the strategy to support the programmes of measures of the Danube River Basin
Management Plans. Furthermore, research needs as regards migratory fish were highlighted.
d. UN Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Water Courses
The importance of the UN Convention was recalled and Water Directors agreed to have further
discussions on the basis of a paper to be prepared by the Belgian Presidency.
Item 7: Water and Marine Common issues
a. Draft COM Decision on Criteria for the Determination of Good Environmental Status (paper 3/1).
Outcome of the meetings of the WG-GES and the Committee for implementing the Marine Strategy
Framework Directive
The Commission presented the Draft COM Decision on criteria for the Determination of Good
Environmental Status.
The Water and Marine Directors took of note that the Committee voted for the Draft Decision at 12 May,
by 24 positive votes and 3 abstention. The Draft decision, translated to all EU languages , was sent to the
Parliament and Council for scrutiny during three months.
After adoption it will be in the responsibility of MS to use the criteria in the the development of targets for
GES etc, but the Commission will continue to work with the MS and stakeholders in CIS to facilitate and
coordinate the overall implementation. A main issue for the future will be the revision of the Draft COM
Decision (recital 4) to be discussed later on among Marine Directors.
b. Coordination between Good Environmental Status (MSFD) and Good Ecological Status (WFD):
in particular discussion on definitions in relation to assessments and synergies between the
Directives
The Commission presented a discussion paper on the links between the MSFD and the WFD in relation
to good status. Water and Marine Directors agreed that there are important links between the two
Directives and agreed to provide written comments by 11th of June to the Spanish Presidency and the
Commission4, to identify relevant issues for further elaboration and discussion. It was also agreed to
identify at least one individual from water and one from marine to prepare jointly a document for the next
meeting in Spa. The identification of these two persons will be coordinated by the Spanish Presidency.
It was recalled that a workshop on Water and Biodiversity is to be held in Brussels on 17-18 June.
Although the focus of the workshop is on the links between the WFD and the nature Directives, the
4
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
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marine experts were invited to participate and use this opportunity to start off the discussion on linkages
between MSFD and both frameworks as this is also very relevant.
c. Role of landlocked countries
The Commission presented a short discussion paper on the role of landlocked countries in the context of
the implementation of MSFD and WFD.
The role of the river basin Commissions was highlighted as important in managing both point and diffuse
sources. Coordination mechanisms already in place should be utilised as much as possible in order to
ensure that all parties concerned in the transboundary context are involved in decision making.
PART 3: MARINE DIRECTORS
ITEM 1: Opening of the meeting – Welcome speeches
The participants were welcomed by Alicia Paz Antolin, General-Director of Sustainability of Coast and
Sea (Ministry of the Environment, Rural and Marine), and by Claude Rouam, Head of the Marine Unit
(Directorate General for the Environment, European Commission).
ITEM 2: Information by the Presidency
a. Results of the EUROMARES Conference in the framework of the European Maritime Day
The outcome and results of the EUROMARES conference held on 18-19 May in Gijon (Spain) in the
framework of the European Maritime Day were presented by the Presidency. At EUROMARES,
presentations were made on research and eco-innovation in a range of sectors, and one important
conclusion was that the fishing and aquaculture research is moving towards the ecosystem approach in
line with the MSFD. One session was specifically dedicated to the MSFD, where also the EEA and
secretariats of the RSC participated (OSPAR, Barcelona, Bucharest). HELCOM secretariat could not
participate because of the HELCOM Ministerial Meeting, but a presentation was made by the
Commission. One key theme was the need to ensure adequate scientific support for the implementation
of the MSFD. In the closing, Commissioner Potočnik referred to the possibility of developing a permanent
scientific platform for this purpose, in the context of the Marine and Maritime Research Strategy under the
Integrated Maritime Policy. It was also agreed that at future Maritime Days it will be important to ensure
adequate space in the agenda for MSFD implementation, including the continuation of EUROMARES
conferences on research and environment. An enhanced participation at future Maritime Days of marine
environment managers in charge of the MSFD was considered crucial.
b. Exchange of views of the MSFD in the Council of June
The Draft COM Decision on criteria for the Good Environmental Status has provided the opportunity to
raise marine environment concerns to the European Council of 11 June, as AOB point. Several
delegations mentioned that the document could have been more explicit on the fact that the draft
Commission decision will need further development on relevant issues as a basis for updating it in the
revision, for instance on methodological standards, to ensure comparability throughout Europe and full
implementation. The Presidency and the Commission explained that the main purpose was not technical
but political, raising the visibility of marine environment at the level of ministers, particularly in the
International Year of Biodiversity 2010. The document highlights that one key issue will be the need for
science development, taking into account the Joint Programming Initiative on 'Healthy and Productive
Seas and Oceans' and the idea of a permanent scientific structure to support MSFD implementation. The
Presidency and the Commission expressed their readiness to incorporate small adjustments on the AOB
document for the Council, keeping also in mind the time constraints. The Commission further asked the
upcoming Presidencies to consider including marine issues on their political agendas to keep high the
interest for the marine environment.
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ITEM 3: GES
a. Future revision of the decision of GES including methodological standards
The Commission presented a document on the need for revision, in line with the recitals of the decision.
There are several reasons for a revision including future national experience in implementing the first
stages of the MSFD, the need to take into account future scientific development, coherence with the
revision cycle in the MSFD and with the concept of adaptive management. This need was supported and
endorsed by Marine Directors. Some delegations mentioned the need to start to reflect on a roadmap on
how to proceed with the revision process, which for some issues means completion of the actions
required. On the one hand some delegations found it necessary that the revision process starts soon,
keeping in mind for instance the direct link with the elaboration of monitoring programmes. On the other
hand some other delegations mentioned that the rules should not be changed in the middle of the policy
cycle, and that the revision process had to be combined with the need for certainty for Member States in
the next few years.
The Commission stated that at the next meeting of Marine Directors it will put forward further elements on
how to carry out the revision process. The Commission will also put forward to the next Marine Directors
a paper on future steps for good implementation. It was also agreed that there is a need to acknowledge
and assess further which indicators are immediately operational and which need further development,
taking into account regional differences. Germany proposed to prepare a paper on this issue for
consideration by the Commission.
ITEM 4: Common Implementation Strategy
a. Report on ESA
Marine Directors took note of the presentation by the Commission on progress in the WG Economic and
Social Assessment (ESA). The meeting agreed on the importance to have more Member States present
at these meetings and involved in the development of key documents. The next meeting is in Stockholm
5-6 July.
b. Emerging areas
Some of the criteria and indicators need further development to be operational and comparable between
the European Seas. This applies for instance to descriptor 11 on introduction of energy, including
underwater noise, and to descriptor 10 on properties and quantities of marine litter.
Further to the proposal by the Commission, Marine Directors agreed to establish one technical subgroup
under the WG GES for further development of those descriptors, which could meet for the first time after
the summer break to consider its draft ToR. After discussion at the WG GES, the draft ToR will be
presented to the Marine Directors at their next meeting. Expressions of interest to co-lead this group are
welcome and Member States were invited to do so within a month. The Marine Directors will also assess
whether other issues such as biodiversity or non-indigenous species might also require a similar
approach.
c. Interregional coordination
Two documents, presented by the Presidency and the Commission, pointed out the need for coordination
between regions and sub-regions, in addition to the requirement of cooperation within regions. Both
documents mentioned that any inter-regional coordination structure should remain informal and flexible,
since the cooperative work at the level of regions should not be delayed by this process. The purpose
would rather be facilitating exchange of views as strategic decisions will have to be taken in each regional
framework. The Commission said that it might be preferable to start this coordination in a smaller
subgroup meeting, back-to-back with WG GES.
Marine Directors largely supported the importance of enhancing inter-regional coordination and to define
an appropriate approach to this end, but also called for more clarity on the ToR of the proposed subgroup
having regard to the existing CIS structure and on whether WG GES was the appropriate level for
overarching strategic discussion. It was agreed that the proposal needs further elaboration, involving
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where appropriate RSC secretariats, while highlighting that implementation of MSFD remains a
responsibility of Member States. DK and ES agreed to work with the COM to develop ToR to be
presented at the next MSCG meeting in view of the importance of inter-regional coordination particularly
at this stage, in preparation for the Marine Directors meeting in December.
The Presidency also informed the Marine Directors on the results of an informal meeting of EU
Mediterranean countries on 'How to coordinate the implementation of the MSFD and the Barcelona
Convention Ecosystem Approach" held in Rome, April 2010, during the first MAP technical meeting on
the Application of the Ecosystem Approach.
d. Overview CIS
On the basis of a preliminary paper from the Commission, the structure of CIS was discussed. It should
be updated before the next Marine Directors meeting having regard to the discussions on the earlier
points, and also be reflected in a revised work programme.
ITEM 5: Discussion on future developments and the role of the CIS
a. Research needs
The meeting was invited to consider how the scientific quality of the elements in the MSFD can be
assured in the future. A background paper on ongoing EU research activities related to the MSFD was
presented by the Commission as a basis for the discussion. It was agreed that further research is also
needed on socio-economic issues. It was also highlighted that there is a need to prioritise among the
research needs recommended in the reports from the scientific 'task groups'.
Linkages with ongoing research projects are important, e g KnowSeas and MEECE. References were
made to the important Joint Programming Initiative 'Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans' and the
concept of a permanent scientific platform to support MSFD implementation.
The meeting recalled the importance of major marine environment events during the last Presidencies.
This includes the Brest Conference on “2012 Targets” (December 2008), the Stockholm Conference on
'The value of our marine environment' (September 2009) and the Conference 'EUROMARES 2010 Marine and maritime research and innovation as a keystone for the integrated assessment of the
European Seas' held in Gijon (May 2010), as well as the forthcoming EurOCEAN conference 'Grand
challenges for marine research in the next decade' in Ostende 12-13 October 2010, the Marine Directors
were encouraged to continue with similar events during future presidencies.
b. Pilot project under the MSFD
The Commission presented a paper, further to a consultation with the Commission Legal Service. The
conditions for making a pilot project were clarified. SE requested to have a copy of the note from the
Legal Service and the Commission representative agreed to ask the Legal Service to make the document
available. SE also recalled the importance of the HELCOM BSAP as a platform for MSFD implementation
and that the objective was that its implementation process addresses all the descriptors of Good
Environmental Status under the MSFD. It was discussed that, on the political side, the recent Council
Conclusions already gave support to the pilot project concept, having regard to the critical status of the
Baltic Sea. On the legal side, the MS in the region would have to decide whether to go ahead fulfilling the
conditions. Sweden offered its support to the HELCOM secretariat to complete the BSAP in order to
qualify for the Baltic Sea as a pilot project. Some delegations from the Baltic Sea region mentioned that
they have hesitations on the usefulness of being a pilot project.
c. Integrated Coastal Zone Management
The Commission wanted to raise awareness of the first international binding protocol on Integrated
Coastal Zone Management in the context of the Barcelona Convention, to be ratified within the next
weeks by the EU. FR and SL were the first MS to ratify the protocol, and the protocol will enter into force
after 6 ratifications. The Commission also mentioned that it will start a process of review of ICZM policy at
EU level and that the impact assessment will address several possible options.
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ITEM 6: AoB
Belgium provided information on the next meeting of Water and marine Directors at Spa (2-3 December
2010), to be distributed in writing. Is was agreed that the meetings of the Water Directors and the Marine
Directors will continue to meet back-to-back, and that the next meeting will start with the Marine Directors.
In the future, the order between the meetings of Water and Marine Directors will alternate.
It was raised that it would be favourable if the Commission and the Presidency could send background
documents in due time for the Water and Marine Directors meeting to give the Member States the chance
to prepare the meetings better.
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Annex 1: Agenda
INFORMAL MEETING OF EU WATER
DIRECTORS AND EU MARINE DIRECTORS
Wednesday 26th May
1700 - 1900
2100
Segovia discovery tour  Aqueduct (Plaza del Azoguejo)
Welcome dinner  Fogón Sefardí (Calle de la Judería Vieja nº17)
Thursday 27th May
830
900
930-1000
Registration
Opening of the Water and Marine Directors’ meeting
Welcome speeches
PART 1: WATER DIRECTORS MEETING
Centro de Congresos y Convenciones de la Guardia De Corps
(C/ Alameda, 2, San Idelfonso, Segovia)
1. Commission activities
a) State of play: legal issue, RBMP consultation, adoption and
reporting
b) Phosphates in detergents
c) Review of the WFD Priority Substances List
d) Priority Substances: guidance on setting mixing zones
e) European Strategy for the Danube Region
f)
CIS: organisation and communication issues
g) Intercalibration phase 2 (2008-2011) State of play
10
00
– 11
00
2. Common Implementation Strategy Activities
a) Progress report
b) Endorsement of documents (batch or discussion point,
subject to SCG outcome):
- Intercalibration Guidance (annexes 3 and 6)
- Guidance on Risk Assessment and the Use of Conceptual
Models for Groundwater
- Guidance on the Sediment and Biota Monitoring
- Draft mandate on priority substances inventory guidance
- Draft mandate for the River Basin Network on WFD and
Agriculture
1100 – 1130
1130-1230
Coffee break
3. River Basin Management Plans
a) Discussion on the implementation of the Programmes of
Measures (introduction by EC and followed by the
intervention of MS)
b) Strategic Environmental Assessment of RBMP (Presentation
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by AT of the results of the survey and discussion)
12 -14
30
00
4. Integration issues
a) Discussion on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy
b) Hydropower (stocktaking of existing practices, recall of
earlier CIS guidance, preparation of 2011 workshop)
1400 – 1530
1530 – 1545
Lunch
5. Recent events
a) Outcomes of the International Conference on Water Scarcity
and Drought (ES)
b) Outcomes of the International Conference on Groundwater
(ES)
1545 – 1630
PART 2: JOINT MEETING WATER AND MARINE DIRECTORS
Centro de Congresos y Convenciones de la Guardia De Corps
(C/ Alameda, 2, San Idelfonso, Segovia)
6. Other issues
a) Belgian Presidency activities (BE)
b) Hungarian Presidency activities (HU)
c) Danube Strategy (AT)
d) Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of
International Watercourses
1630 - 1800
7. Water and Marine Common issues
a) Draft COM Decision on Criteria for the Determination of Good
Environmental Status (paper 3/1). Outcome of the meetings
of the WG-GES and the Committee for implementing the
Marine Strategy Framework Directive
b) Coordination between Good Environmental Status (MSFD)
and Good Ecological Status (WFD): in particular discussion
on definitions in relation to assessments and synergies
between the Directives
c) Role of landlocked countries
1800 – 1900 Visit to the Granja’s gardens and family picture
2100 Common dinner  Mesón de Cándido (Plaza del Azoguejo 5)
Friday 28th May
900 – 920
920 – 940
PART 3: MARINE DIRECTORS MEETING
Centro de Congresos y Convenciones de la Guardia De Corps
(C/ Alameda, 2, San Idelfonso, Segovia)
1. Opening the meeting – Welcome speeches
2. Information by the Presidency
a) Results of the EUROMARES Conference in the Framework of
the European Maritime Day
b) Exchange of views on the MSFD in the Council of June
9
40
– 11
00
3. GES
a) Future revision of the Decision
methodological standards (paper 3/2)
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GES,
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b) Discussion: implementation of the Decision
1100 – 1130
1130 – 1400
Coffee break
4. Common Implementation Strategy
a) Report on ESA (paper 4/1)
b) Emerging areas (noise, litter, etc.) (paper 4/2)
c) Interregional coordination (paper 4/3)
d) Overview of the role of CIS for 2010 – 2012 (paper 4/4)
e) Work programme (paper 4/5)
1315 – 1400
1400 – 1500
1500 – 1630
Approval of the minutes of the Water and Marine Directors meeting
Lunch
5. Discussion on future developments and the role of the CIS
a) Research needs (paper 5/1)
b) Pilot project under the MSFD (paper 5/2)
c) Integrated Coastal Zone Management (paper 5/3)
16 – 17
6. Any other business
(If possible, points 5 and 6 will be taken before lunch)
30
00
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Annex 2: List of participants
(Provided separately)
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Annex 3
European Water Directors´ statement on
post 2013 Common Agricultural Policy & water protection,
in particular, the Water Framework Directive
In the background of the technical paper “Keynote on Post 2013 Common Agricultural Policy
(CAP) and water protection in Europe (May 2010)” of the Expert Group on Water Framework
Directive (WFD) and agriculture, We, the European Water Directors, underline the following
main aspects on post 2013 CAP & WFD.
Water is a key resource for human needs, activities and environmental quality.
In particular, agriculture, which is a major sector for the European economy, is the biggest net
consuming sector of water and therefore requires water in good quantity and quality.
Since its introduction, the CAP has had to face many new challenges. At the beginning, the
CAP was focused on providing sufficient quantities of food at affordable prices for the European
consumers. Thereafter good food quality and animal welfare concerns were introduced, while
environmental aspects like nature protection and the sustainable water resources management
have been recognised as being of utmost importance.
Article 5 reports and a recent assessment of draft river basin management plans highlight the
scale of agricultural pressures that need to be addressed if the European agricultural sector is
to adapt to the introduction of the WFD objectives. WFD requires the good status of all waters
by 2015 or, if duly justified, the subsequent years. Land management is intimately linked to
environmental protection, thus agricultural measures and practices will be central to achieving
European water policy objectives.
The forthcoming CAP reform is an opportunity to improve further the environmental dimension
of the CAP, including the issue of water protection, which was rightly labelled one of the “new
challenges” in the CAP "Health Check". Given the close convergence of the new CAP (early
2014) with the end of the first WFD cycle in 2015 and the start of the second WFD planning
cycle (2015-2021), the timing of this CAP reform offers an ideal opportunity to better integrate
the requirements of the WFD.
A multifunctional sustainable agriculture has become an objective of the CAP over time and
should also be the guiding principle for the future. Sustainable agriculture can make a positive
contribution to the production of public goods such as good water quality and water availability.
A solely market-oriented food production does not meet this objective, as the market does not
spontaneously provide these environmental public goods. So, although farmers need to comply
with the baseline of environmental requirements, it is reasonable that farmers should be
supported to provide public goods. Such additional environmental costs lower the
competitiveness of farmers (as they cannot pass these costs onto the consumers) and so
deserve to be supported. Hence, payments from the CAP should be used increasingly in the
future to pay farmers for providing inter-alia environmental services for the public.
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If we consider the WFD objectives and the positive and negative impacts of agriculture on
water, we need to consider the following items.
 Synergies between the CAP and the WFD
The future CAP through its different pillars should be flexible enough to accommodate, while
respecting the other objectives of the CAP, the measures identified by the Member States
(through the river basin planning process) as necessary to achieve the WFD objectives.
 Financial aspects
The financial strength should be sufficient to adequately support the implementation of
European water legislation affecting the agricultural sector. In particular, sufficient funding is
needed to support the implementation of measures going beyond “good agricultural practice”.
This funding could be made available through an enhanced rural development pillar.
The characteristics of schemes / payments that are of importance to farmers are flexibility, the
appropriate level of incentives to participate, payments and the fact that they consider the
economic viability of the farms. This should be taken into consideration.
Water pricing focuses on water uses and its main aim is to foster water efficiency and cost
recovery of water services, in accordance with article 9 of the WFD. However, pricing water use
in agriculture or in other fields does not aim at supporting farmers for the provision of public
goods.
 Characteristics of the implementing tool & measures
The implementing tool of the CAP should be flexible enough to adapt to the changing
circumstances that affect farmers and to allow for the difference between river basins.
Measures should not conflict between the CAP and the WFD, and within the CAP avoiding the
risk of double payments.
For developing a co-operative approach between the agricultural sector and the water
management and for ensuring measures are targeted where they will be needed, advisory
services are an essential component. Sufficient CAP provision for advisory services will be
crucial for future achievement of WFD.
Measures provided under the CAP should deliver, where possible, multiple public goods in
order to increase cost efficiency.
The policy should be designed to incentivise farmers to proactively take up measures producing
public goods.
 Administrative burdens for farmers & administrations
A right balance should be aimed between administrative burdens, which have to be moderate,
this applies both to the farmers and to the administrations, and an effective implementation of
the measures. In particular, the administrative procedures (notification) should be efficient and
flexible (tool-box, contract period).
 Enforcement
The controls of the implementation should reach an adequate level and synergies with existing
control systems should be considered.
The cross compliance tool is one of the relevant tools to contribute to the European water
objectives.
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Annex 4
Hydropower Development under the Water Framework Directive
- Statement of the Water Directors THE WATER DIRECTORS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, CANDIDATE AND EFTA
COUNTRIES,
1. RECALL the importance of the environmental objectives of the Water Framework Directive,
including the preservation of hydromorphological characteristics of water bodies, and the
mechanisms the WFD includes to balance high levels of environmental protection with the
development of economic activities that use water.
2. RECOGNISE the important role of renewable energy sources, including hydropower, for the
achievement of the objective to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within the EU and
WELCOME ongoing discussions in the Member States on national renewable energy action
plans to be developed by June 2010, according to Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of
the use of energy from renewable sources.
3. TAKE NOTE of the fact that hydropower has been identified in the 1st implementation report
of the Water Framework Directive5 as one of several drivers to hydromorphological
alterations and that there is a risk that significant water systems degradation and biodiversity
loss will continue in the future if infrastructure developments are implemented without
taking fully into account the requirements of the Water Framework Directive.
4. STRESS that whilst the development of renewable energy, including hydropower, should be
strongly supported, it is equally important that such development take place in a manner
which is compatible with environmental protection requirements.
5. UNDERLINE that meeting the requirements of Article 4.7 of the Water Framework
Directive is in particular relevant for cases where further exploitation of hydropower
potential is envisaged by installing new facilities and a deterioration of status is to be
expected.
6. RECALL the CIS guidance documents6 endorsed by the Water Directors, underlining the key
recommendations which should be followed in order to achieve hydropower development
and ensure the environmental objectives of the Water Framework Directive are met:
5
COM(2007) 128 final
For points a, b and c, see the 2006 CIS Policy Paper on WFD and Hydro-morphological pressures (chapter 4.1).
http://circa.europa.eu/Public/irc/env/wfd/library?l=/framework_directive/thematic_documents/hydromorphology&v
m=detailed&sb=Title
For points d and e, see CIS Guidance Document Nr 20 on Exemptions to the Environmental Objectives. ,
http://circa.europa.eu/Public/irc/env/wfd/library?l=/framework_directive/guidance_documents&vm=detailed&sb=Ti
tle
6
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a) Pre-planning mechanisms allocating “no-go” areas for new hydro-power projects should
be developed. This designation should be based on a dialogue between the different
competent authorities, stakeholders and NGOs.
b) In order to minimize the need for new sites, the development of hydropower capacities
could be supported by the modernisation and the upgrading of existing infrastructures.
c) The development of hydropower should be accompanied by an improvement of water
ecology, through clear ecological standards for new facilities, or for existing facilities
through their modernisation as well as the improvement of operation conditions. New
hydropower plants should for example all have fish passages and they should respect a
minimum ecological flow.
d) An analysis of costs and benefits of the project is necessary to enable a judgement on
whether the benefits to the environment and to society preventing deterioration of status
or restoring a water body to good status are outweighed by the benefits of the new
modifications. This does not mean that it will be necessary to monetise or even quantify
all costs and benefits to make such judgement.
e) The size of the project is not the relevant criteria to trigger Article 4.7. The relevant
approach is to assess if a given project will result in deterioration of the status of a water
body. Thus, projects of any size may fall under article 4.7.
7. SUPPORT the wide dissemination of the existing CIS guidance relevant for the integration
of hydropower and protection of the aquatic environment.
8. CONFIRM their commitment to organise a CIS workshop on hydropower in 2011 to which
all relevant stakeholders are invited, and which builds on the outcomes of the existing
guidance, the conclusions from the 2007 workshop on WFD and Hydropower in Berlin 7 and
ongoing initiatives on policy integration at the international and Member State level.
7
See also
http://circa.europa.eu/Public/irc/env/wfd/library?l=/framework_directive/thematic_documents/hydromorphology&v
m=detailed&sb=Title
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