WATECO - 2003 - Common implementation strategy for the Water Frame

WFD Common Implementation Strategy – Progress and Work Programme 2003/2004
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The detailed structure, organisation, activities and tasks are laid down in the final
strategic document (cf. footnote 2).
2.2 Progress of the CIS
Despite the fact that some individual projects had already started when the strategy
was agreed, it was a particular challenge to make the overall work programme under
the strategy operational. After an initial phase of setting up organisational structures
and modes of operation, the CIS work gained momentum in late 2001 and 2002. The
expert network was expanding, the number of meetings increased and the first
outputs were produced (Table 2 provides some figures for illustration). At the same
time, the organisation was getting more complex and the activities became more and
more inter-related.
Table 2:
Overview on some indicators of the progress in the WFD CIS process
since May 2001
May – Oct 2001 Nov 2001 –
May 2002
June – Nov 2002
Number of members in WFD CIRCA ~ 250 ~ 600 ~ 700
Number of meetings of WGs and EAFs 25 32 20
Number of final “products” from the CIS
process
0 4 9
In June 2002, one year after the strategy started, the Water Directors stated on their
meeting under Spanish Presidency in Valencia that:
“the implementation of the CIS is, so far, successful and generally within the
time schedule foreseen. Furthermore, significant improvements were made
since the last meeting.”
On the meeting in Valencia, the following products could be finalised:
Guidance document on economic analysis (output WG 2.6);
Report on the identification of river basin districts (output WG 2.9);
Establishment of the pilot river basin network (Activity 4.1).
Already, earlier in 2002, the report on tools for the assessment of groundwater
(output WG 2.8) was published.
On the Water Directors meeting under Danish Presidency, most other Guidances
were finally agreed. Only the Guidance Document of reference conditions for inland
waters (WG 2.3) and the work package on the “planning process” in WG 2.9 have
been delayed. They will be finalised in written procedure during April 2003. In total,
there were nine Guidance Documents, four reports and the pilot river basin network
finalised by the end of 2002.
In conclusion, the first phase of the Common Implementation Strategy for the Water
Framework Directive has been completed successfully by producing many useful
outputs within a challenging timeframe. The joint European work programme
elaborated concrete and helpful results, promoted a common understanding and
created synergies by avoiding duplication. There is a clear added value for all
involved and established an invaluable expert network across Europe.
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