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

The proposal for a directive establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy contains in its Annex V a general outline for technical specification for definition, classification and monitoring of the ecological and chemical status of ground waters. The proposed directive empowers the Commission to lay down the required technical details in Annex V at a later stage, through a committee procedure. As the work has now progressed to a stage where a consolidated Commission position is required, this proposal for modification of Annex V has been submitted. The proposed measures mainly consist of a number of technical specifications concerning the monitoring and the presentation of the results of monitoring of the ecological and chemical status of surface waters and the quantitative and chemical status of ground waters. The burden of analysis, classification and reporting which they impose falls principally on the Member States. �