EU Water Policy and Legislation Recent developments and next steps - Stephanos AMPATZIS Deputy Head of Unit ENV.E1 - Mainstreaming & Environmental ...

EU Water Policy and Legislation
Recent developments and next steps

Stephanos AMPATZIS
Deputy Head of Unit
ENV.E1 - Mainstreaming & Environmental Assessments
DG Environment, European Commission

22 May 2018

Towards a Fitness Check
           of EU water legislation

• Assessment of 2nd River Basin Management Plans
  and 1st Flood Risk Management Plans
  (2017/2018)

• Fitness Check of EU Water legislation (evaluation)

• Commission report of fitness check by mid-2019

Tentative timetable

                                  Reporting                              Reporting                      Reporting
                       RBMP1      measures          RBMP2/FRMP1          measures         RBMP3/FRMP2   measures              …
                                                                                                                    RBMP4/FRMP3
            RBMP
                     2009                               2015                                    2021                 2027

                               Blueprint 2012 March 2015               Mid-2018
                                 first RBMP   full first cycle    2nd RBMP/1st FRMP
      COM reports
                                                                              2019
                                                                            Evaluation
                                                                             Report

2019 Fitness Check
                                                                       Evaluation

                                                                                      4Q 2019

                                                                                    New COM takes
                                                                                        office

        NB: This timetable is tentative and has not yet been validated by the College

Assessment of RBMPs and FRMPs

• 3 dimensions: RBMPs, FRMPs and transboundary RBDs

• Format: EU overview and situation per Member State
  (annexes)

• Process: analysis of key topics, previous recommendations;
  focus on progress and shortcomings

• Timing (small delay)

• EEA – State of Water Report

1st RBMPs – relevant issues for Finland
• 2 issues where the first COM assessment raised concerns.
• Nutrient pollution particularly from agriculture that
  extends upstream water bodies and down to the Baltic Sea
    We expect FI to apply the polluter pays principle.
• Hydromorphological changes exerted on surface water
  bodies.
    We expect Finland to ensure that current good ecological or
     potential status of surface water bodies are not deteriorated.
    Proper application of Article 4.7 WFD is key.
• COM expects progress from Finland in the 2d RBMPs.

2nd RBMPs – better implementation of the WFD

 Knowledge: better monitoring coverage and
  assessment methods of fresh and ground water
  bodies.
 Synergies with other Directives (Marine
  Strategy Framework Directive and Birds/Habitats
  Directives).
 Exemptions: number of exemptions should be
  reduced significantly during the next RBMPs, as
  this contradicts the overall scope of the directive
  expressed in article 4.

2nd RBMPs – better implementation of the WFD

 Programme of measures: MS should adopt bolder
  Programmes of Measures tackling the most prominent
  pressures affecting the status of their water bodies. This also
  requests an extra effort to coordinate the measures at
  international level.
 Wider stakeholder participation:
   • Proper implementation of Article 14 ensuring public
     consultation prior to the adoption of the RBMPs.
   • Stakeholders are part of our Strategic and Coordination
     Group where we encourage them to attend and have their
     active participation.
   • At project level.

Evaluation of EU water policy

• Drinking Water Directive (completed in 2016)

• Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (ongoing)

• Fitness Check (ongoing)
  • Water Framework Directive

      Environmental Quality Standards Directive

      Groundwater Directive

  • Floods Directive

Fitness Check EU water legislation
•   Roadmap published in November 2017
•   Evaluation study started in end April 2018
•   Report in summer
•   Factual basis
     170 RBMPs
     COM assessment of RBMPs and FRMPs
     Study supporting the evaluation of WFD & FD
     Integrated assessment (drivers, pressures, state, impacts, resources –
      and how policy areas interact)
     Economic study (BLUE2)
     ECA performance audit on floods (conclusion Q4 2018)
     Other evidence and contributions (public consultations, EU water
      conference in Vienna, OECD study “water investment needs and
      financing capacities in the 28 EU MSs”…)

Fitness Check – how will it be done?
• Assessment criteria…
     Effectiveness
     Efficiency
     Relevance
     Coherence
     EU value added

• … and process
   Elaborate baseline scenario, intervention logic, develop
    framework, methodology and work plan for evaluation of
    information and evidence
   Review relevant available information and evidence
   Consultation with Member States and key stakeholders &
    public participation

Implementation support
 Common Implementation Strategy WP 2016-2018 and
  beyond
 Enforcement strategy (including infringements)
 Water – Agriculture nexus: governance, investments,
  knowledge & innovation -> NWRMs included)
 Water reuse regulation (minimum quality standards for
  irrigation)
 Pharmaceuticals in the environment
 Investment instruments (MFF post 2020)
 European Innovation Partnership on Water
 New Urban Water Agenda 2030, launched 2017

Evaluation of the Urban Waste Water
     Treatment Directive
•    Assessment of the functioning of the directive in the past:
       •   Effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, EU-added value and coherence

•    Cooperation with WFD and Floods Directive Fitness Check ongoing
       •   Joint consultation strategy

•    Consultation activities
       •   Expert work-shops in Q3/4 2018; potential topics: micropollutants, stormwater
           overflows and individual appropriate systems
       •   Stakeholder conference in Q3/4 2018: Presentation of preliminary findings

    Publication of the         Start of open public                             Finalization of study and
        roadmap                   consultation        Stakeholder conference       publication of SWD
          Q4 '17                      Q2 '18                 Q3/4 '18                    Q2/3 '19

              Launch evaluation study                               Thematic workshops
                      Q1 '18                                             Q3/4 '18

Thank you for your attention

http://water.europa.eu/policy