The implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) poses enormous challenges to the Member States as well as to the European Commission. As part of a pan-European consortium, Ecologic supports the European Commission in the implementation of the Directive. The main objective is to provide independent, impartial and punctual advice on scientific, socio-economic and technical issues related to the WFD.

The WFD entered into force in December 2002. For the implementation of the Directive to be successful and effective, a common understanding and approach across political borders are crucial. In order to address the challenges in a co-operative and co-ordinated way, a Common Implementation Strategy (CIS) was put into place in 2001. Under the CIS, an institutional set-up was established, including a co-ordination group, various working groups, strategic steering groups etc. This requires a continuous support by the CIS members (European Commission, EU Member States, Norway).

The WFD sets strict deadlines for implementation. As of April 2006, Member States (MS) should have legally transposed the Directive into their national legislation (Art. 24), identified the river basin districts (RBD) and competent authorities (Art. 3), and carried out a characterisation of the river basin districts (Art 5) including an analysis of pressures and impacts and an economic analysis. Within the next years, MS will have to set up monitoring programmes (by 2006) and develop river basin management plans, including programmes of measures (draft by 2009).

Against this background, the European Commission, DG Environment asks for support in various tasks aimed at developing a common approach across the EU to the various challenges for implementing the WFD within the framework of the CIS. Ecologic is part of the consortium of 19 institutions, led by WRc, which was commissioned with this task. The main objective is to provide independent, impartial and punctual advice on scientific, socio-economic and technical issues related to the WFD, including monitoring and reporting requirements (Water Information System for Europe - WISE), heavily modified water bodies (HMWB), agriculture and WFD, and floods.
Ecologic’s support includes various issues with regard to the WFD implementation, such as linkages between WFD and agriculture, heavily modified water bodies (HMWB), public participation in river basin management, and socio-economic aspects.