EN    EN EN 
 
EN    EN  COMMISSION OF THE E UROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 19.12.2008 
SEC(2008) 3069 
  
COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT 
accompanying 
  
the Follow up Report to the Communication on Water Scarcity and Droughts in the 
European Union COM(2007) 414 final 
  
{COM(2008) 875 final} 
 
EN 2   EN WORK PROGRAMME FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MEASURES OF THE 
COMMUNICATION ON WATER SCARCITY AND DROUGHTS  
1. PUTTING THE RIGHT PRICE TAG ON WATER  
– Combining effective water pricing with metering 
Introduce water pricing policies with incentives for efficient water use; 
make the 'user pays' principl e the rule (art.9 of WFD) 
Continue efforts to spread meteri ng programmes more widely in all 
water using sectors – including compulso ry controls on abstractions (art. 
11(3)(e) of WFD) National  
 • By 
2010 
Take into account the OECD Work Programme on sustainable financing 
for sound water management  End 2008 - 
March 2009 
2. ALLOCATING WATER AND WATER -RELATED FUNDING MORE EFFICIENTLY  
– Improving land-use planning 
Policy options of White Paper on adaptation to climate change EU  From 2009 
Follow up of CAP Health Check on cross-compliance EU 2008/2009 
Discussions on the post 2013 CAP (i n the framework of the cross-
compliance system) and cohesion policies EU From 2013 
Study on impact of biofuel deve lopment on water availability EU Nov 2008 
Continue stringent implementation of SEA Directive in all economic 
sectors  National Now 
Inclusion of appropriate regulations in WFD programmes of measures in 
order to restore a sustainable balanc e in all water-scarce river basins National Now to 
end 2009 
– Financing water efficiency 
Follow up of CAP "health check" on modulation and rural development  EU and 
national 2008/2009 
Study on place of WFD issues in rura l development programmes EU Oct. 2008 
Consider with Member States review of Community strategic guidelines 
on cohesion 2007-2013 EU and 
national From 2009 
Discussions on the post 2013 CAP (i n the framework of the cross-
compliance system)  EU From 2013 
 
EN 3   EN Improve use of EU and national funds  for water management within the 
programmes for 2007-2013 (includi ng as a result of on-going 
evaluations) National 2009/2010 
Continue efforts to further develop fiscal incentives to promote water-
efficient devices and practices National 
 Now 
3. IMPROVING DROUGHT RISK MANAGEMENT  
– Developing drought risk management plans 
Report on drought management plans  EU 2009 
Development of drought management plans (according to Article 13(5) 
WFD) National By end 
2009 
– Developing an observatory and an early warning system on droughts 
Develop European Drought Observat ory and early warning system EU By 2012 
– Further optimising the use of the EU Solidarity Fund and the European Mechanism 
for Civil Protection 
In the framework of the next budget  review examine whether further 
progress needs to be made in the definition of the criteria and eligible operations for the use of the EUSF to  better respond to drought events EU  From 2009 
In relation to the Community Civil Protection Mechanism, consider all 
opportunities to focus on drought issues in future annual work programmes  
Request the Civil Protection Expert  Group on early warning systems to 
develop an approach to optimize th e use of the drought early warning 
system and anticipate any civi l protection preparatory action EU  From 2009 
Once early 
warning system operational
4. CONSIDERING ADDITIONAL WATER SUPPLY INFRASTRUCTURES  
Commission preliminary assessment of all alternative options EU Nov 2008 
Take all adverse effects linked to a ny new water supply infrastructure 
fully into account in the environmental assessment  National  Now 
5. FOSTERING WATER EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGIES AND PRACTICES  
Assessment of possible needs for st andards for water-using devices  EU Mid 2009 
Commission's proposal to include cer tain water-using devices in the 
Ecodesign Directive EU July 2008 
 
EN 4   EN Consider inclusion of water efficiency criteria in performance standards 
for buildings  EU From 2009 
Assessment of possible need for a new directive for the water 
performance of buildings EU Mid 2009 
Inclusion of a performance indicator on the use of water in the proposal 
of revision of the EMAS regulation  EU July 2008 
Enhance efforts to further adopt bi nding performance criteria for new 
buildings and for public and private ne tworks, with systems of fines for 
excessive leakages National Now  
Continue efforts to develop volunta ry agreements w ith all economic 
sectors that need water  EU and 
national  Now  
6. FOSTERING THE EMERGENCE OF A WATER SAVING CULTURE IN EUROPE  
Explore, together with CSR Europe  the possibility of launching an 
Alliance initiative on the efficient use of water EU End 2008 
– Follow-up of Action Plan on SCP/SIP 
Encourage the extension of existing EU labelling schemes in order to 
promote water-friendly devices 
– Follow-up of Green Paper on agricultural product quality 
Consider in the light of the public consultation how (1) water 
management can be better integrated in certification schemes (2) these 
schemes can be used to promote water friendly products EU 2008/2009 
Continue efforts to develop actio ns of education, information and 
communication  National Now 
7. IMPROVING KNOWLEDGE AND DATA COLLECTION  
– Set up a water scarcity and drought in formation system throughout Europe 
Set up agreed indicators on the extent  and impacts of water scarcity and 
droughts EU 2008/2009 
Present an annual European assessme nt based on data provided by MS 
and stakeholders to the EEA and the Commission EU From 2009
– Research and technological development opportunities 
Action focused on investigation of  Europe's risk from droughts, 
including the development of a platform of exchange  EU 
 May 2008 
– Nov 2009 
 
EN 5   EN