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Environmental economics

Support to sectoral policies: Water

Economic assessment of policy measures for the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2012)

The study proposes an economic assessment of four categories of policy measures that could be used to implement the MSFD: Command-and-Control instruments; Market-Based Instruments; social instruments (information, awareness raising); and technical measures. The study developed a database of about 140 policy measures, covering the pressures they best respond to, the sectors and uses they best apply to, their effectiveness, costs and benefits, as well as key success and limiting factors for their implementation. The study developed deeper analysis for 5 case studies: a tax on NOx emissions from shipping (Norway), a levy on aggregates’ extraction (UK); a lump-sum charging system for ship-generated waste collection (Baltic Sea); a fisheries area closure scheme (Scotland); a Marine Protected Area (Spain). The study leads to some conclusions on under which conditions different measures and policy mixes work best (clear environmental goal, thorough measurement of results, spatially specific design, effective legal framework and enforcement capacity, use of revenue recycling of fee-based instruments, early involvement of key stakeholders, provision of sufficient lead time for implementation).

Socio-Economic Impacts of the Identification of Priority Hazardous Substances under the Water Framework Directive (2000)

Socio-Economic Impacts of the Identification of Priority Hazardous Substances under the Water Framework Directive Following recent adoption of the Water Framework Directive, the European Commission is required to identify, from a list of 32 priority substances, the priority hazardous substances (PHSs) that are of particular concern for the aquatic environment. Consideration of the socio-economic implications is part of the proposed procedure for the identification of PHSs. This study is a first survey of existing information on the potential socio-economic costs of the possible identification of substances as PHSs. It contains a short methodological discussion and a summary of findings in the main report. The individual substances are discussed in specific annexes.

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