Since 2000, the WFD has incorporated previous policies to create a single
comprehensive framework for addressing surface waters, coastal waters, transitional waters, and groundwater, as well as linking to daughter directives that
include: the Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC), the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC),
the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), Integrated Pollution
Prevention and Control Directive (96/61/EC), and other measures.
The WFD includes mandatory components for member states to implement.
These instruments span several objectives, including costing/pricing, zoning of
designated areas, abstraction and discharge permitting, and authorization of water
quality-impacting activities (Kallis et al. 2005). The WFD is the dominant legislative instrument for addressing water-related issues.
2.3.3.2 Structure, Components and Implementation
According to the WFD, EU member states are required to develop a robust but
flexible integrated water resources management system, based on the subsidiarity
principles of river basin management planning (Quevauviller 2014). The provisions
of the WFD imply that drought planning and management should be implemented
at the level of river basins (Kampragou et al. 2011). Within the WFD, the River
Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) act to prevent a drought crisis situation by
clearly outlining the measure and actions to apply at varying triggering thresholds
for water reserves (Kampragou et al. 2011). Therefore, drought scenarios must be
clearly defined in the RBMP (Estrela and Vargas 2012). DMPs are contingency
management plans supplementary to the River Basin Management Plans (RBMP)s.
DMPs mainly aim to identify and schedule onset activation tactical measures to
delay and mitigate the impacts of drought.
To implement the WFD, the Common Implementation Strategy (CIS) sets
standards and guidance for implementation for all EU countries. Overall, the
implementation strategy of the WFD is rather flexible and cooperative due to the
vague core requirements set forth by the legal text of the WFD (Kallis et al. 2005).
The WFD does not supply any direct financial support. However, funding opportunities for measures are available through EU Regional Policy and EU Common
Agricultural Policy (CAP). The use of structural and cohesion funds, as part of the
regional policy of the European Union, need to be mobilized by either municipality
initiatives or water authorities of the MSs. Against the background of the financial
crisis the EU took the temporary decision to improve the EU co-financing rates for
selected MSs (Stanley et al. 2012).
Because the WFD is a more general framework, it was also implemented via
other directives, including the Groundwater Directive and Nitrates Directive. It is
also complemented by the Floods Directive and the Communication on water
scarcity and drought.
The implementation of pricing instruments under the WFD is a way to provide
an incentive for efficient water use. Water pricing serves not only as a powerful
awareness-raising tool but also combines environmental with economic benefits.
30
U. Stein et al.
comprehensive framework for addressing surface waters, coastal waters, transitional waters, and groundwater, as well as linking to daughter directives that
include: the Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC), the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC),
the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), Integrated Pollution
Prevention and Control Directive (96/61/EC), and other measures.
The WFD includes mandatory components for member states to implement.
These instruments span several objectives, including costing/pricing, zoning of
designated areas, abstraction and discharge permitting, and authorization of water
quality-impacting activities (Kallis et al. 2005). The WFD is the dominant legislative instrument for addressing water-related issues.
2.3.3.2 Structure, Components and Implementation
According to the WFD, EU member states are required to develop a robust but
flexible integrated water resources management system, based on the subsidiarity
principles of river basin management planning (Quevauviller 2014). The provisions
of the WFD imply that drought planning and management should be implemented
at the level of river basins (Kampragou et al. 2011). Within the WFD, the River
Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) act to prevent a drought crisis situation by
clearly outlining the measure and actions to apply at varying triggering thresholds
for water reserves (Kampragou et al. 2011). Therefore, drought scenarios must be
clearly defined in the RBMP (Estrela and Vargas 2012). DMPs are contingency
management plans supplementary to the River Basin Management Plans (RBMP)s.
DMPs mainly aim to identify and schedule onset activation tactical measures to
delay and mitigate the impacts of drought.
To implement the WFD, the Common Implementation Strategy (CIS) sets
standards and guidance for implementation for all EU countries. Overall, the
implementation strategy of the WFD is rather flexible and cooperative due to the
vague core requirements set forth by the legal text of the WFD (Kallis et al. 2005).
The WFD does not supply any direct financial support. However, funding opportunities for measures are available through EU Regional Policy and EU Common
Agricultural Policy (CAP). The use of structural and cohesion funds, as part of the
regional policy of the European Union, need to be mobilized by either municipality
initiatives or water authorities of the MSs. Against the background of the financial
crisis the EU took the temporary decision to improve the EU co-financing rates for
selected MSs (Stanley et al. 2012).
Because the WFD is a more general framework, it was also implemented via
other directives, including the Groundwater Directive and Nitrates Directive. It is
also complemented by the Floods Directive and the Communication on water
scarcity and drought.
The implementation of pricing instruments under the WFD is a way to provide
an incentive for efficient water use. Water pricing serves not only as a powerful
awareness-raising tool but also combines environmental with economic benefits.
30
U. Stein et al.