7.2 The Regional Organization of Drought Management:
Flemish Water Management
7.2.1 Water Management in Flanders
Belgium is a federal state with responsibilities for water management at the regional
and the federal level. The federal and regional competences are exclusive and
equivalent, with no hierarchy between the standards issued by each. The Federal
Government has amongst other things environmental responsibilities for coastal and
territorial waters (from the lowest low-waterline). The Regions are responsible in
their territory for environment and water policy (including technical regulations
regarding drinking water quality, responsibility for the economic aspects of
drinking water provision, land development, nature conservation and public works
and transport. With the exception of the Federal Plan on Coastal Waters, water
management plans are developed at the regional level, and therefore a mainly
regional approach to river basin planning is used in Belgium. Coordination of water
management planning occurs at the national and European level.
At the regional level in Flanders, three Flemish ministries are involved in
integrated water policy: the Ministry of the Environment and Nature, the Ministry
of Mobility and the Ministry of Spatial Planning. Many tasks related to integrated
water management are assigned to the Flemish Environment Agency (VMM).
For the organization and planning of integrated water management, the Decree
on Integrated Water Policy (of 2003) distinguishes three levels:
• The two International River Basin Districts (Scheldt and Meuse).
• The Flemish region with its four river basins (Scheldt, Ijzer, Polders of Bruges,
Meuse—of which IJzer and Bruges Polder are added to the Scheldt).
• The 11 sub-basins.
This Decree is the juridical implementation of the WFD. However, it incorporates even more policy items of integrated water policy than those legally required
by the WFD, prescribing more detailed planning on the level of sub-basins, as well
as integrating quantitative aspects and the relation with spatial planning. It also
contains the juridical implementation of the Floods Directive.
The responsibility for drawing up river basin management plans for the two
Flemish parts of the international river basin districts Scheldt and Meuse lies with
the Flemish government. The Coordination Committee on Integrated Water Policy
(CIW; chaired by VMM) is designated as the competent authority for the implementation of the WFD, as well as for the Floods Directive. Among its responsibilities are the preparation of the River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs),
including the sub-basin parts and groundwater specific parts, for the Flemish
Region, reporting to the European Commission on WFD implementation, organizing the public consultation of the RBMPs, preparing the methodology and
guidance for the development of the RBMPs and aligning the RBMPs with the
Flemish Water Policy Note. The CIW consists of the executive management of the
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141
Flemish Water Management
7.2.1 Water Management in Flanders
Belgium is a federal state with responsibilities for water management at the regional
and the federal level. The federal and regional competences are exclusive and
equivalent, with no hierarchy between the standards issued by each. The Federal
Government has amongst other things environmental responsibilities for coastal and
territorial waters (from the lowest low-waterline). The Regions are responsible in
their territory for environment and water policy (including technical regulations
regarding drinking water quality, responsibility for the economic aspects of
drinking water provision, land development, nature conservation and public works
and transport. With the exception of the Federal Plan on Coastal Waters, water
management plans are developed at the regional level, and therefore a mainly
regional approach to river basin planning is used in Belgium. Coordination of water
management planning occurs at the national and European level.
At the regional level in Flanders, three Flemish ministries are involved in
integrated water policy: the Ministry of the Environment and Nature, the Ministry
of Mobility and the Ministry of Spatial Planning. Many tasks related to integrated
water management are assigned to the Flemish Environment Agency (VMM).
For the organization and planning of integrated water management, the Decree
on Integrated Water Policy (of 2003) distinguishes three levels:
• The two International River Basin Districts (Scheldt and Meuse).
• The Flemish region with its four river basins (Scheldt, Ijzer, Polders of Bruges,
Meuse—of which IJzer and Bruges Polder are added to the Scheldt).
• The 11 sub-basins.
This Decree is the juridical implementation of the WFD. However, it incorporates even more policy items of integrated water policy than those legally required
by the WFD, prescribing more detailed planning on the level of sub-basins, as well
as integrating quantitative aspects and the relation with spatial planning. It also
contains the juridical implementation of the Floods Directive.
The responsibility for drawing up river basin management plans for the two
Flemish parts of the international river basin districts Scheldt and Meuse lies with
the Flemish government. The Coordination Committee on Integrated Water Policy
(CIW; chaired by VMM) is designated as the competent authority for the implementation of the WFD, as well as for the Floods Directive. Among its responsibilities are the preparation of the River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs),
including the sub-basin parts and groundwater specific parts, for the Flemish
Region, reporting to the European Commission on WFD implementation, organizing the public consultation of the RBMPs, preparing the methodology and
guidance for the development of the RBMPs and aligning the RBMPs with the
Flemish Water Policy Note. The CIW consists of the executive management of the
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141