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

This Commission staff working document concerns the progress in implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) Programmes of Measures (PoMs).

The Water Framework Directive establishes a framework for sustainable water management through the development of River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) and Programmes of Measures (PoMs), with the objective of preventing deterioration of the aquatic environment and of achieving good status of all water bodies by 2015. 

The WFD PoMs are made of basic and supplementary measures. Basic measures are the minimum requirements to be included in the PoMs and supplementary measures may be of a very diverse nature which Member States may tailor to the situation in their River Basin Districts (RBDs) as long as the objectives are met.

The main findings of the report may be summarised as follows:

Progress so far: Member States were asked to report on the main achievements made in delivering the Programmes of Measures:

·         For the majority of Member States (19), some but not all measures have been started and some but not all measures have been completed. No Member State reported having completed all measures and only one Member State (AT) reports that the status of water bodies is improving.

·         The majority of Member States (17) reported that new legislation or regulations have been adopted as a requirement to fulfilling certain measures.

·         23% of WFD-specific basic measures were reported as completed, 66% on-going and 11% not started. The figures reported for supplementary measures were 29% completed, 54% on-going and 17% not started.

·         Two thirds of the RBDs reported that the basic measures (Nitrates Directive plus the WFD basic measures) are not sufficient to tackle diffuse pollution from agriculture, indicating a need to take supplementary measures.

·         The type of basic measures more often reported as significantly delayed are those related to water abstraction.

·         The majority (75% or more) of supplementary measures have been completed only in 2 Member States. 11 Member States have significant percentages (more than 20%) of supplementary measures not started.

Funding/financial obstacles is the most common reason indicated for delays in implementing supplementary measures, affecting 7% of the supplementary measures at EU level.

Hydropower is the most commonly cited driver responsible for interruption of river continuity, followed by water supply and flood protection. Progress in implementation is slow, with 80% of the measures either not started or still on-going in 8 Member States.

Measures related to waste water treatment beyond the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive have progressed significantly, with 7 Member States showing more than 75% of the measures either completed or under construction, although situation is very diverse. 5 Member States indicated more than 75% of the measures have not started or are on-going.

Reporting of drinking water protection measures shows good progress with 9 Member States above 60% completion.

Shortcomings and proposed changes: a variety of obstacles to delivery of the Programmes of Measures has been reported by the Member States, the most common of which is a lack of finance and monitoring. Many Member States reported unexpected planning delays and some reported governance issues that cause delays or problems in implementing the PoM.

It is reported by Member States that there are planned changes and improvements in the second cycle.