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Announcements

  • 20/01/2012: Water Saving in Agriculture
  • 16/11/2011: The European Commission wants to gather views and additional information on the possible introduction of EU wide measures related to water efficiency in buildings. The consultation offers an opportunity to all interested parties to express their views, to give their opinion on the identified policy options. Read more
  • 08/11/2011: Guidance for administrations on making WFD agricultual measures clear and transparent at farm level
  • 08/11/2011: A study assessing how the water footprinting and virtual water approaches, as well as the water related information in agricultural products and foodstuff labelling & certification schemes could be reliably used in policy planning and implementation was adopted in October 2011. It is one of a series of studies supporting the development of the 2012 review of the water scarcity and drought policy, and the Blueprint to safeguard Europe's waters. Read more...
  • 01/09/2011: As of today, the Water Scarcity & Droughts factsheet is also available in French, German, Spanish and Italian.  The remaining language versions will be available in due course

  • News archive

gw2011
Please see Session 3.3 on Water Efficiency - every drop counts

Water Scarcity & Droughts in the European Union

dry treeWhile 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 long term imbalance resulting from water demand exceeding available water resources is no longer uncommon.

It was estimated that by 2007, at least 11 % of Europe's population and 17 % of its territory had been affected by water scarcity, putting the cost of droughts in Europe over the past thirty years at EUR 100 billion. The Commission expects further deterioration of the water situation in Europe if temperatures keep rising as a result of climate change. Water is no longer the problem of a few regions, but now concerns all 500 million Europeans.

Science-Policy Briefs from the XEROCHORE project are now available for download in 5 languages (DE, EN, ES, FR, IT). These briefs address Articles 5, 8, 9, 11 & 13 of the WFD and briefly describe limitations identified with regard to drought management, and recommendations for improving drought prepardness and mitigation.

The Handbook on Farm Advisory Systems is now available in all EU languages.

Objectives

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. Therefore, policies and actions are set up in order to prevent and to mitigate water scarcity and drought situations, with the priority to move towards a water-efficient and water-saving economy.

EU Action

The major challenge from water scarcity and droughts has been recognised in the Communication “Addressing the challenge of water scarcity and droughts" from the European Commission adopted in 2007 [COM(2007)414]. Implementation of the Communication is periodically assessed through annual Follow-up Reports.

2012 Water Scarcity and Droughts Policy Review

Based on the periodical Follow-up results, assessment of the River Basin Management Plans and further information which has not been addressed so far, a Policy Review for water scarcity and droughts is envisaged for 2012, which will be . part of the "Blue Print for Safeguarding European Waters" announced by Environment Commissioner Potočnik at the hearings in the European Parliament in January 2010.

This review will be informed by specific assessments and studies on the state of the art and good practice of policies and measures to prevent and/or minimize water scarcity and drought situations, in the fields of water efficiency, better planning and other instruments.

Please see below for more information on EU action on water scarcity and drought

What are the differences between water scarcity and drought?

Policy development from 2007 to present: The 2007 Communication, Follow-Up Reports, and preparations for the 2012 Policy Review

Current and previous studies that will contribute to the 2012 Policy Review

 Other instruments to deal with water scarcity and drought

Related research projectsand resources

For more information

 

 

 

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