WRITTEN QUESTION E-0879/03

by Phillip Whitehead (PSE) to the Commission

(21 March 2003)

Subject: Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC

Following the adoption of the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC(1)) the Commission issued in May 2001 a document entitled Common Strategy on the Implementation of the Water Framework Directive.

Can the Commission please provide information on:

1. the progress that has been made to date on the Common Implementation Strategy;

2. which stakeholders have been involved by the Commission in the work on the Common Implementation Strategy;

3. what arrangements were made to involve consumers and in particular water consumers in the Common Implementation Strategy?

(1) OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(2 May 2003)

1. The Common Implementation Strategy was adopted four months after the publication of the Directive 2000/60/EC(1), aiming in particular at information sharing, developing guidance documents, and application, testing and validation of these guidance documents. Looking back at the first phase of 1 ½ years, the strategy has delivered on expectations, both in terms of joint ownership, of involvement of stakeholders and non governmental organisations (NGOs), delivering guidance documents (to date 11) and establishing a network of pilot river basins across Europe including future Member States for testing and validation.

2. Together with the implementation strategy, criteria for the involvement of stakeholders and NGOs were agreed in May 2001, basically for the strategic level which has led to the formation of a Strategic Co-ordination Group. This is an umbrella organisation made of national or regional organisations, having a demonstrated profile with regard to water policy. In June 2001, a range of possible interested parties were invited to an information meeting.

To date the following stakeholders and NGOs are involved at strategic level (Strategic Coordination Group) and/or working level (Working Groups):

- European Water Association (EWA),

- Eureau (European Water Suppliers and Wastewater Operators Association),

- European Environmental Bureau (EEB),

- World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Europe,

- Union of the Electricity Industry (Eurelectric),

- European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC),

- Committee of Agricultural Organisations in the European Union / General committee for Agricultural Cooperation in the European Union (COPA/Cogeca),

- UNICE (Union of Industrial and Employers' Confederations of Europe),

- European Crop Protection Association (ECPA),

- Federation of Mediterranean Irrigation Associations (Fenacore),

- Environmental Platform of Regional Offices (EPRO).

3. In October 2001, the Commission invited European consumer umbrella organisations, the Bureau européen des Unions des Consommateurs (BEUC) and Association of European Consumers (AEC), to participate in the implementation strategy process, informing them about the Water Framework Directive, its mandatory public participation in developing the river basin management plans as well as about the implementation strategy. However, neither organisations has to date joined the implementation strategy process.

(1) Directive 2000/60/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy OJ L 327, 22.12.2000.