Blueprint – key building blocks
In its November 2012 edition, EWA News shortly touched the
“Blueprint to Safeguard Europe's Water Resources" published on
14 November 2012.
EWA News are in this edition providing further information:
The Blueprint Communication
The Blueprint commences with a critical appraisal of past action by
the EU and its Member States
“… The EU’s water policy has been successful in helping to protect
our water resources. This Blueprint to Safeguard Europe's Water
Resources aims to tackle the obstacles which hamper action to
safeguard Europe's water resources and is based on an extensive
evaluation of the existing policy. The Blueprint is based on a wealth of information and
analysis including
- the EEA State of Water report,
- the Commission assessment of the Member States river basin management plans,
- the Commission review of the policy on water scarcity and droughts, and
- the ‘Fitness Check of EU Freshwater Policy’, plus
- an Impact Assessment.
The Blueprint is based on extensive public consultations both in the framework of its
development and under the Fitness Check which has involved the general public,
stakeholders, Member States as well as other EU institutions and bodies. The Blueprint
recognises that the aquatic environments differ greatly across the EU and therefore does not
propose any one size fits all solution, in line with the principle of subsidiarity. It emphasises
key themes which include: improving land use, addressing water pollution, increasing water
efficiency and resilience, and improving governance by those involved in managing water
resources.”
As we all know, the Blueprint objective is not new, however it is the first time that so much
information has become available on water status throughout the continent, particularly
thanks to the development of river basin management plans under the Water Framework
Directive and the above-mentioned assessments. These and the views expressed by
stakeholders converge in showing that the current EU legal framework on water is extensive,
flexible and essentially fit to address the challenges faced by the aquatic environment.
However, there is a need for better implementation and increased integration of water policy
objectives into other policy areas, such as the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP), the
Cohesion and Structural Funds and the policies on renewable energy, transport and
integrated disaster management.
The reasons for the currently insufficient levels of implementation and integration are
complex and have been analysed in the accompanying impact assessment. They consist of
a series of water management problems related to
- the insufficient use of economic instruments,
- lack of support for specific measures,
- poor governance and
- knowledge gaps.
Only in a minority of cases have gaps been identified that would require the completion of the
current framework by new action of a legislative/legal nature.
Blueprint - action proposed in five fields
Land use and the ecological status of EU waters: problems and solutions
Blueprint's proposed action
Who will take it?
By when?
Develop CIS Guidance on Natural Water
Retention Measures (Green Infrastructure).
Commission,
Member States &
stakeholders
2014
Green CAP pillar I to support Natural Water
Retention Measures (through ecological
focus areas).
Commission and
Member States
As of 2014
Commission, EIB
and Member States
2014-2021
Develop CIS Guidance on ecological flow
(and water accounts).
Commission,
Member States &
stakeholders
2014
Apply GMES services to detect illegal
abstraction.
Commission and
Member States
As of 2013
Use Structural & Cohesion Funds & EIB
loans to support Natural Water Retention
Measures.
Chemical status and pollution of EU waters: problems and solutions
Blueprint's proposed action
Water Framework Directive: Enforce
reporting requirements.
Nitrates Directive: Extend nitrate vulnerable
zones and reinforcing action programmes.
Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive:
Improve compliance rates on waste water
treatment through long-term investment
planning (including EU funds and EIB loans).
Prepare implementation plans
Industrial Emissions Directive: Ensure that
industrial emissions permits provide for
Emission Limit Values (ELVs) that are in line
with Best Available Techniques (BAT) and
take into account relevant water objectives.
Directive on the Sustainable Use of
Pesticides: add to cross-compliance under
CAP.
Pharmaceuticals: Present a report on
Who will take it?
By when?
Commission
Ongoing
Member States
Ongoing
Member States (also
Commission for EU
funds, EIB for loans)
2018
Member States,
Commission
2014
Member States
As of 2016
Council, EP,
Commission
As soon as the
conditions in the
Commission
proposal are fulfilled
(i.e. at the earliest in
2014)
Commission
2013
pharmaceuticals and the environment.
Environmental Quality Standards Directive: Council, EP
Adopt the Commission’s proposal for
amendments.
2012-2013
EU water efficiency: problems and solutions
Blueprint's proposed action
Enforce water pricing/cost-recovery
obligations under the Water Framework
Directive, including metering when relevant.
Make water pricing/cost recovery an ex ante
condition under the Rural Development and
Cohesion policy funds.
Develop CIS Guidance on trading schemes
and on a cost/benefit assessment.
Make water use reduction a pre-condition for
some irrigation projects under Rural
Development.
Who will take it?
By when?
Commission
Ongoing
Council, EP
Commission
Commission,
Member States
stakeholders
Council, EP
Commission
Develop CIS Guidance on water accounts Commission,
(and ecological flow).
Member States
stakeholders
Develop CIS Guidance on target-setting.
Include water-related products in the Ecodesign Working Plan.
Commission,
Member States
stakeholders
and As of 2014
2014
&
and As of 2014
2014
&
2014
&
Commission
2012
Develop volontary EU Ecolabel and Green
Public Procurement criteria.
Spread best practices/tools to achieve a
sustainable economic leakage level.
2013
Commission,
Member States
water industry
2013
&
The vulnerability of EU waters: problems and solutions
Blueprint's proposed action
Who will take it?
Develop CIS Guidance on Natural Water Commission,
Retention Measures (Green Infrastructure).
Member States
stakeholders
Green CAP pillar I to support Natural Water Commission
Retention Measures (through ecological Member States
focus areas).
By when?
2014
&
and As of 2014
Use Structural & Cohesion Funds & EIB
loans to support Natural Water Retention
Measures.
Enforce WFD requirements relevant to
drought risk management.
Develop Flood Risk Management Plans
Commission,
EIB 2014-2021
and Member States
Commission
Ongoing
Member States
2015
Propose (regulatory) instrument on standards Commission
for water re-use.
2015
Further develop
Observatory.
2013-2014
the
European
Drought Commission
Crosscutting solutions
Blueprint's proposed action
Implement the Innovation Partnerships on
Water and on Agricultural Productivity and
Sustainability
Upgrade WISE.
Streamline reporting & statistic requirements.
Complete the hydro-economic model.
Who will take it?
By when?
Commission
stakeholders
& As of 2013
EEA, Commission,
Member States &
stakeholders
2015
EEA,
Commission, 2014
Member States &
stakeholders
EEA,
Commission, 2013
Member States &
stakeholders
Continue CIS work on the science-policy EEA,
Commission, Ongoing
interface.
Member States &
stakeholders
Set up and use a CIS peer review system for
RBMPs.
Add Water Framework Directive
requirements to cross-compliance under
CAP.
Commission,
Member States
stakeholders
Council, EP
Commission
2013-2016
&
and
As soon as the
conditions in the
Commission
proposal are fulfilled
(i.e. at the earliest in
2014)
Strengthening inspections and surveillance Commission
requirements.
2013
Look into country-specific recommendations Commission,
on water in the European Semester.
European Council
2013
Support awareness-raising tools on water Commission,
Ongoing
consumption (e.g. voluntary
certification schemes).
labelling
& Member States
stakeholders
&
Full text of the Blueprint Communication in all EU languages
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:52012DC0673:EN:NOT
River basin management plans
3rd Commission Report on the Implementation of the Water
Framework Directive (report according to article 18 of the
Water Framework Directive)
23 Member States have adopted and reported all their Plans. 4
Member States (BE, EL, ES and PT) have either not adopted
Plans or only adopted and reported some plans. In total, the
Commission has received 124 river basin management plans (out
of expected 174). 75% of them concern transboundary river
basins. For the extent of transboundary river basins in Europe see
the map below. All river basins coloured pink are transboundary,
and only those coloured green are national only.
In Belgium, the Flemish Region, the
Brussels-Capital Region and the
Federal Government (responsible for
coastal waters) have adopted plans;
the plans for the Walloon Region are
awaited. In Spain, the RBMPs of
Tinto Odiel y Piedras, Guadalete y
Barbate and Cuencas Mediterraneas
Andaluzas have been approved but
not reported and only the plan for the
river basin district of Catalonia has
been adopted and reported.
In Portugal and Greece no plans
have yet been adopted or reported.
Note: Court judgments against all
those 4 Member States have been
issued in 2012 (judgments C‑297/11,
C‑366/11, C‑403/11 and C-223/11).
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
The assessment is structured along
8 chapters
Will the objective of good status in 2015 be reached?
Monitoring and assessment: robust knowledge to take informed decisions;
Legal framework and governance;
Integration of quantitative and qualitative aspects in water management;
The key role of pre-WFD legislation in attaining WFD objectives;
Promoting rational use through adequate water pricing;
Funding of measures; and
Integration with other policies;
providing recommendations for each of these, and concluding
- A lot of effort has been put into the preparation and drafting of the river basin
management plans. Our knowledge about the status of EU waters and the activities that
influence them is better than ever before. However, the Commission's assessment shows
that a more determined effort is needed to ensure achievement of WFD objectives in
2015, 2021 and 2027 cycles.
- There are good examples of implementation of all aspects of the WFD. Therefore,
Member States lagging behind in the approval and implementation of their river basin
management plans have the chance of learning from others with a view to remedy their
delays.
- Implementation should ensure that water management is based on a better
understanding of the main risks and pressures in a river basin founded on proper
monitoring. This will result in cost effective interventions to ensure the long term
sustainable supply of water for people, business and nature.
- The Commission will continue to seek and promote a fruitful informal cooperation with
Member States and stakeholders in the context of the CIS.
- The Commission will also follow-up bilaterally with the Member States on the
implementation of the recommendations that it is putting forward in this implementation
report and in accompanying documents, while keeping on enforcing WFD obligations as
necessary.
- The findings in this report have been used to identify policy proposals put forward in the
Commission Communication on the 'Blueprint to Safeguard Europe's Water Resources'
and will be further discussed under the CIS.
Full text of the Communication “River Basin Management Plans. Report on the
Implementation of the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC)”
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-framework/pdf/COM-2012-670_EN.pdf
Assessment in more detail (2 parts)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-framework/pdf/CWD-2012-379_EN-Vol1.pdf
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-framework/pdf/CWD-2012-379_EN-Vol2.pdf
Country-specific assessments for all 27 Member States plus Norway – for all EU
Member states available also in the language of the country
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-framework/implrep2007/index_en.htm
Go to “Country-specific assessments for EU Member States and Norway (Volumes 3-30)”
and “Translated versions of the Country-specific assessments may be found hereunder.”
Impact Assessment for the Blueprint
The impact assessment focused on the identification of the key challenges for water
resources management and the identification and assessment of a set of policy options for
action at EU level. The impact assessment paid specific attention to subsidiarity aspects and
to the articulation with the current Common Implementation Strategy (CIS) of the Water
Framework Directive.
Impact assessment executive summary
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/blueprint/pdf/SWD-2012381_EN_resume_impact_assessment_part1_v3.pdf
Impact assessment (full text), part 1
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/blueprint/pdf/SWD-2012382_EN_impact_assessment_part1.pdf
Impact assessment (full text), part 2
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/blueprint/pdf/SWD-2012382_EN_impact_assessment_part2.pdf
Further background and preparatory papers for the impact assessment
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/blueprint/ia_en.htm
Fitness Check of EU Freshwater Policy
(see separate article)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/blueprint/fitness_en.htm
Review of the EU policy on water scarcity and droughts
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/quantity/pdf/COM-2012672final-EN.pdf
The overall objective of the water scarcity and droughts policy - to
revert the WS&D trends - has not been achieved, even if progress
has taken place in implementing the policy instruments identified
in the Commissions Communication from 2007 (http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:52007DC0414:EN:NOT, in all EU
languages). The WS&D policy has to some extent been considered as self-standing by
Member States and a stronger focus on quantity issues in the implementation of the WFD is
critical. In the next implementation cycles of the WFD this need to be ensured along with
further integration of water quantity issues into sectoral policies. The majority of measures
applied by Member States target pressures, state and impacts and only very few measures
target key drivers.
While the WFD requirements on water quantity are not spelled out in great detail for surface
waters, “good ecological status” is unlikely to be reached in a water body with significantly
altered flows due to e.g. over-abstraction. Therefore adequate management of water quantity
is an implicit requirement of the WFD. A common understanding of water scarcity and
droughts has been reached in the framework of the CIS process. This needs to be fully
considered in the next RBMPs.
A number of tools important to improve water quantity management in the next RBMPs have
been identified. The main ones are:
- Defining and implementing ecological flows
- Defining and implementing targets for water efficiency
- Promoting economic incentives for efficient water use
- Guiding land use to respond to water scarcity
- Enhancing drought management in Europe
- Promoting resilience to climate change.