A Peer-to-peer Support Process to Facilitate Improved Water Framework Directive and Floods Directive Implementation

At the time of their adoptions, the Water Framework Directive and later on the Floods Directive introduced many new concepts in governance, economic analysis and technical challenges for a sustainable and integrated water resources management. A lot of effort has been put into the development of River Basin Management Plans by Member States and knowledge of water status has considerably improved. Nevertheless, important differences in implementation level across the EU continue to exist and some member states or basins authorities still face difficulties in particular technical areas, which could be discussed with experts from other Member States to find alternative approaches or suggestions for improvement.

The overall idea of the peer-to-peer support project is to use the successful experience of some member states in particular areas of implementation to help improving the implementation of the Water Framework Directive and the Floods Directive as well as the use of River Basin Management Plans and Flood Risk Management Plans in other member states. To do so, the project facilitates a simple, voluntary and targeted peer-to-peer exchange between practitioners from different Member States.

Ecologic Institute supports as part of a consortium the secretariat for the peer-to-peer process. The secretariat is responsible for managing the peer-to-peer support. This includes launching and collecting expressions of interest from Competent Authorities and experts to participate in the review as well as preparing protocols on how the peer-to-peer activities will be carried out. The secretariat is also in charge of organisational issues, facilitates contacts between peers, moderates on-line preparatory meetings, etc.