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- 22-25/05/2012: Green Week 2012
This year's theme is "Water" - Read more...
- 24-25/05/2012: The 3rd EU Water Conference will be held in the framework of the Green Week 2012
- Read more...
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WATER
What's new ?
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Water is life ! It is a precondition for human, animal and plant life as well as an indispensable resource for the economy. Water also plays a fundamental role in the climate regulation cycle.
Protection of water resources, of fresh and salt water ecosystems and of the water we drink and bathe in is therefore one of the cornerstones of environmental protection in Europe. The stakes are high and the issues transcend national boundaries and concerted action at the level of the EU is necessary to ensure an effective protection.
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The work towards the 2012 Blueprint to Safeguard Europe's Waters is on-going!
Consultation on Policy Options for the Blueprint to Safeguard Europe's Waters. The European Commission is asking the public for its views on the most appropriate actions to improve water management in Europe. The public's views will help to formulate the policy proposals to be included in the Blueprint to Safeguard Europe's Water Resources planned for the end of 2012. The consultation will run from 15th of March 2012 until 7th of June 2012.
The Blueprint to Safeguard Europe's Water will be the EU policy response to old and emerging challenges on our water resources. It will aim to ensure good quality water in sufficient quantities for all legitimate uses. It will be based on an evaluation of the implementation and achievements of the current EU water policy, in particular a Fitness Check of EU water policy in the framework of the Commission Smart Regulation approach.
Read more about the Blueprint...
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Commission Communication on the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) on Water adopted
The European Commission has launched an European Innovation Partnership on Water with the aim to support and facilitate the development of innovative solutions to water related challenges and to create market opportunities by doing so.
The EIP on Water will bring together all relevant stakeholders to identify the priority areas for action, to identify barriers to innovation and to propose solutions to break down these barriers. The EIP on Water will take a problem oriented approach and will make use of the various existing European, national and regional initiatives.
For more information about the EIP on Water, please look at our dedicated website.
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The 1st River Basin Management Plans for 2009-2015 are here !
Following extensive consultations on Water Framework Directive River Basin Management Plans should since 22.12.2009 be available in all River Basin Districts across the EU. Read more about these plans!
Follow this link to see the current status of adoption of plans in the different Member States. Links to webpages where final plans can be downloaded can be found by clicking on each Member State !
There are however serious delays in some parts of the EU, and in several countries consultations are still ongoing. You can also find out more about if consultations are still going on in your river basin district. If they are, seize the opportunity and Read more about consultations on draft River Basin Management Plans in river basin districts across the EU !
Your water, your life - Plunge into the debate !
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Water Scarcity and Droughts – the European Union is taking action!
While Europe is by large considered as having adequate water resources, water scarcity and drought is an increasingly frequent and widespread phenomenon in the European Union.
The main overall objective of EU water policy is to ensure access to good quality water in sufficient quantity for all Europeans, and to ensure the good status of all water bodies across Europe.
Read more about EU action on water scarcity and drought ..
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River basin management in a changing climate - a Guidance document
On 30 November 2009, Water Directors of EU Member States issued a guidance document on adaptation to climate change in water management. The document is the first result of numerous actions included in the European Commission White Paper Adapting to climate change; Towards a European framework for action. The document includes guidance on how to take climate change into account in the implementation of the Water Framework Directive, the Floods Directive and the Strategy on Water Scarcity and Droughts.
- Download "River basin management in a changing climate - a Guidance document" (pdf ~2,1MB)
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Water is at the core of climate change adaptation
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The Water Framework Directive - what is it all about and how does it link to other water polices?
Read more in the 12 Water Notes dealing with different topics from international coordination to public participation, via chemical pollution, groundwater, floods and intercalibration… as well as links with other legislation such as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, and EU legislsation on drinking and bathing water !
Since 2001 a Common Implementation Strategy has been in operation, bringing together national experts, stakeholders and the Commission involved first in the implementnation of the Water Framework Directive, and later also the Floods Directive. Read more about the outcomes of this process, such as guidance documents produced and key events in Thematic CIS information sheets.
Other available documents are:
- A Blueprint leaflet
- A WFD Brochure in core Community languages:
- A WFD factsheet in all Community languages:
- A Water Scarcity and Droughts factsheet: .
Printed copies of our publications can be ordered through the EU Bookshop (bookshop.europa.eu).