What is the EU Water Framework Directive?

The EU Water Framework Directive 2000 (WFD) is arguably the most important, far-reaching, water legislation ever to emerge from the EU.  It was transposed into law in EU Member States at the end of 2003.  A primary purpose of the Directive is to update and consolidate existing piecemeal EU water legislation: it aims to establish a new, integrated (ecosystem-based) approach to water protection, improvement and sustainable use. 

The WFD applies to all water bodies, including rivers, estuaries, coastal waters, and man-made water bodies (eg. canals, docks).  New ecological and chemical objectives will be set for each water body, with the aim of reaching ‘good status’ by 2015.  However, unlike other EU environmental Directives such as the Birds and Habitats Directives, economics will be important in WFD decision making.

The WFD is being implemented in a series of stages.  Whilst Member States are ultimately responsible for implementing the WFD and meeting its targets, it is a framework Directive.  As such, there is necessarily a great deal of work to be completed to help ensure consistent interpretation of some of its provisions.  This work is being led by the European Commission through the WFD ‘Common Implementation Strategy’ (CIS) process, a process in which PIANC, CEDA and other European associations such as ESPO (sea ports) and EURMIG (recreational activity) are actively participating.  Ongoing work at EU level includes the preparation of guidance on the various WFD ‘exemptions’; the development of methodologies to meet the economic tests set out in the Directive; and discussions about a new ‘priority substances’ daughter Directive.  In the meantime, activities in most Member States are focussing on preparatory work for the new, statutory river basin management plans which will set out the ‘programmes of measures’ required to achieve good status.  In England, for example, this work is being led by the Environment Agency - the ‘competent authority’ responsible for ensuring that the WFD objectives are delivered. 

What is the WFD Navigation Sector Group?

PIANC and CEDA (the Central Dredging Association) are both ‘associated societies’ of the Institution of Civil Engineers.  As professional bodies, PIANC and CEDA are able to take an informed but neutral view of the WFD and its implications for ports, harbours, commercial and leisure navigation and dredging.  In this capacity, in early 2004, PIANC and CEDA convened an initial meeting with Government to discuss the possible implications of the WFD for the navigation sector.  Since this time, PIANC and CEDA have hosted a regular series of meetings at ICE which involve a wide range of navigation stakeholders.  These ‘Navigation Sector Group’ meetings provide an important opportunity for professional bodies and trade associations to engage in dialogue, not only with Defra and the Environment Agency, but also other interested government departments such as DfT and DTi. 

Navigation Sector Group meetings cover all relevant aspects of WFD implementation.  Recent agenda items have included:

1. progress with the setting of the new WFD ecological targets
2. hydromorphology including ‘heavily modified’ and ‘artificial’ water bodies
3. development of the UK’s WFD-economic assessment methodologies
4. river basin planning
5. the proposed priority substances daughter Directive

The minutes of the latest meeting of the Sector Group are posted here (.doc). Copies of the minutes of earlier meetings can be obtained from the UK PIANC secretariat.

Further information

Further information on the WFD, including details about the forthcoming PIANC ‘WFD and Navigation’ conference (which is to be held in Brussels on 31st January 2007), can be obtained from the main PIANC website.  An article which provides an update on WFD implementation can also be found in the PIANC September Newsletter ‘Sailing Ahead’ (see ‘News in the World’). 

In addition the Association of Inland Navigational Authorities (AINA) in UK have published a briefing note with regard to the impact and actions that are required of the inland navigation authorities which can be found at www.aina.org.uk/wfd_1.asp.