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Water Management under the EU Water Framework Directive

A European (German NGO) - Perspective

Input in Nicosia, Cyprus on 28 November 2009

Michael BenderGRÜNE LIGA e.V. (Green League)

Bundeskontaktstelle Wasser (Water Policy Office)Internet: www.wrrl-info.de (German, Czech, Polish,

English)Forum Umwelt und Entwicklung: www.forumue.de

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UNECE – Environmental treaties

UNECE – United Nations Economic Commission on Europe

• Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution;

• Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context;

• Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes;

• Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents; and

• Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters.

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UNECE

Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes done at Helsinki on 17 March 1992  

• intended to strengthen national measures for the protection and ecologically sound management of transboundary surface waters and groundwaters.

• obliges Parties to prevent, control and reduce water pollution from point and non-point sources.

• The Convention also includes provisions for monitoring, research and development, consultations, warning and alarm systems, mutual assistance, institutional arrangements, and the exchange and protection of information, as well as public access to information.

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UNECE Water Convention

the Protocol on Water and Health

was adopted in London on 17 June 1999In the European Region, 120 million

people do not have access to safe drinking-water, and even more lack access to sanitation, resulting in waterborne diseases such as diarrhoeal diseases, hepatitis A and typhoid fever (170,000 estimated cases in 2006). Microbial contamination has been recognized as the prime concern throughout the European Region. Chemical pollution is localized but may also have a significant impact on health.

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European Water legislation

EU-Water Framework DirectiveEnvironmental Objective: Good statusmanagement of river basinsUse of economic instrumentspublic participation requirementsGroundwater DirectivePriority Substances Directive

Flood DirectiveFlood risk maps, mitigation measures

EC-Communication on Water and Droughts

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EU-Water Framework Directive

HIGHHIGH

GOODGOOD

MODERATEMODERATE

POORPOOR

BADBAD

ECOLOGICALECOLOGICAL

STATUSSTATUS

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ven

t d

ete

rio

rati

on

Restore

No orvery minor {

Slight {

Moderate{

Major {

Severe {

+Quality Standards

Physico-chemical

Graphic:

Peter Pollard

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EU-Water Framework Directive

Key Steps for Implemtation• Improvement of the hydromorphology and

restoration of habitats

• Assurance of biological permeability

• Natural development of floodplains

• Reduction of nutrient inflow, especially from agriculture

• Reduction of toxin inflow

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European perspective

European River Basins

Map by Stefan Gunkel / European Rivers Network

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EU-Water Framework Directive

Timeline for Implementing the WFD (1)• 2003 Transposing into national law and defining competent

authorities

• 2004 Initial survey of water status in river basins (Report 2005)

• 2006 Establishment of monitoring networks

• 2006-09 Preparation of the River Basin Management Plans • Schedule and Work Program (2006)

• Overview of the main water management issues (2007)

• draft of the plans and programs (2008) in consultation with the public, with a six-month deadline for submitting comments

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EU-Water Framework Directive

Timeline for Implementing the WFD (2)• 2009 Completion of the River Basin Management

Plans

• 2009-12 Implementation of operational Measures

• 2010 Effective water pricing

• 2015 Accomplishing the Environmental Goals

Beginning of the Second Planning Cycle

• 2021 End 1. Extension time period

• 2027 End 2. Extension time period

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European perspective

Water Working Group of the European Environmental Bureau – EEB (+WWF)NGO-Meetings in Brussels twice a yearCommon evaluation of progress in implementing the Water Framework Directive and other relevant EU-legislationA Strategic Complaint was taken on board by the European CommissionStrong NGO-Presence at WISE-Conference

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EEB/WWF: 5 key priorities

Five priorities for better water management:

• Transparent and publicly owned water management

• Reducing wastage and using water well

• More space for living rivers• Healthy, safe water for people

and nature• Visionary and adaptive water

policies

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Germany

River Basins in

GermanyRhine, Danube

and Elbe are

transboundary

rivers

Management tool:

European Water Framework Directive

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European Water legislation - Germany

GRÜNE LIGA-Factsheetsshow good practice examples +describe subject and approach

Topics:biological continuity, hydromorphology, nitrates and phosphorus pollution, water fees, water supply, …

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Reducing CO2-emissions from wetlands

• Drained peat bogs cause high CO2-emissions of up to 24 t/ha*a=> 30% of all agricultural CO2-emissions in Germany

• Restoration (inundation) would reduce emissions at only 0 - 4 € per t=> very cost-efficient

• possible use: => e.g. alder plantations (high quality timber)

• Wetland/Bog-programs needed/changes in EU agricultural policy

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International Water Issues – EU/Germany

Other Water Cooperation initiativesEUWI – European Water IntiativeGerman Water Partnershipaims to promote exports of the German Water industry, but also includes the Environmental Ministry and the Ministry of Technical Assistance as well as UniversitiesBerlin Water Partnership includes Berlin Water works;organized the „Second International Water Conference“ that has focused on Asia-German Cooperation

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Regional issues – Waterway extensionTraffic Infrastructure Project „German Unity“ Nr. 17 – Extension of 180 km of Waterways

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Regional issues – Waterway extension

Joint campaign of regional NGOs

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Vielen Dank für Ihre Aufmerksamkeit!

Thank you for your attention!