Framework for Community action in the field of water policy. Water Framework Directive

PURPOSE : to establish a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, notably the protection of inland surface water, transitional waters, coastal waters and ground water. COMMUNITY MEASURE : Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy. CONTENT : the framework Directive relating to water aims to prevent further deterioration and protects and enhances the status of aquatic ecosystmes, and with regard to their water needs, terrestrial ecosystems and wetlands directly depending on the aquatic based ecosystems. In addition, it aims to combat pollution in a general way and foresees in this respect the phasing out or stopping altogether of discharges, emissions and losses of priority hazardous substances, with the ultimate aim of achieving concentrations in the marine environment. These substances should be ceased or phased out at the latest within 20 years of their identification as hazardous substances. Furthermore, the Directive aims to: - define the integrated policies and coherent in the field of water; - create a safety net which enables problems, which are not currently adequately dealt with, to be detected and which means that measures shall have to be taken in order to re-establish the situation; - create a solid base for the collection and the analysis of a large volume of information on the state of the marine environment in view of providing the essential information which would allow the competent authorites to define reasonable and sustainable policies; - establish transparency in this field thanks to the publication and the diffusion of information and public consultation. The Water policy shall be implemented on the basis on management plans of the river basin district. For each district, the Directive requests: - an evaluation of the characteristics of the district; - establishing a programme of measures aiming to make concrete the objectives of the Diretcive; - undertaking an analysis of the characteristics of a river basin in order to set up a management plan of the river basin district, and to consult the general public on this management plan. ENTRY INTO FORCE : 22/12/00. DEADLINE SET FOR TRANSPOSITION : 22/12/2003.�