The problem

The EU’s Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) seeks to prevent the deterioration of surface water, groundwater and coastal water, as well as to ensure sustainable good water status by 2015. Implementing the Directive requires close collaboration between policy-makers, researchers investigating water in the environment and the managers of water resources. Experience has shown that the links between these groups do not work as efficiently as they could and additional effort is needed to allow emerging research results to be used for the implementation of related EU policies.

Overview:

SPI-Water will set up a ‘science-policy interface’ to make it easier for research and technological development results to be used by policy-makers implementing the Water Framework Directive (WFD).

The project will:

• Investigate the existing links between the science and policy sectors related to river basin management
• Develop and improve the Water Information System for Europe web portal (WISE-RTD)to allow more efficient retrieval and use of RTD results in water management policies
• Extend the information system to non-EU countries, taking account of their specific needs

Contribution to policy development:

• SPI-Water will enhance links between the science and policy sectors.
• It will lead to the more efficient transfer of research results to the policy domain.
• The project will help improve policy-making in non-EU countries by inputting European experiences.

Project deliverables

• A detailed analysis of the results of different RTD projects (FP5 and FP6) and of different LIFE projects and their applicability to the WFD implementation tasks – from April 2006 to March 2008
• Recommendations to facilitate the implementation of WFD and integrated water resources management principles on non EU countries – August 2008
• Adaptation and expansion of the WISE-RTD Web Portal to be available to river basin– September 2008

Dissemination

• Project website – from January 2007
• Project brochures and e-bulletins – at regular intervals
• Dissemination workshops –May 2006-July 2008
• Direct links with existing river basin information networks – as appropriate
• Final symposium – September 2008

Technical information

Project acronym: SPI-Water
Project’s official full title: Science-Policy Interfacing in support of the Water Framework Directive implementation
Research priority:Sustainable management of Europe’s natural resources” – Topic 1.5
Specific webpage: http://www.spi-water.eu
Proposal/contract no: 044357
Start date: 1 November 2006
Kick off meeting: 27 November 2006
Completion date: 31 October 2008
European Commission scientific officer: P.Balabanis

Coordinator:
Name: HydroScan
Abbreviated name: HydroScan
Address: Tiensevest 26/4- B-3000 Leuven
Country: Belgium
Tel: +32 (0)16 24 05 05
Fax: +32 (0)16 24 05 09
Website: http://www.hydroscan.be

Partners

Name: QualityConsult - Associazione per lo Sviluppo Della Qualita Ambientale
Abbreviated name: QC
Country: Italy

Name: Rijksinstituut voor Integraal Zoetwaterbeheer en Afvalwaterbehandeling
Abbreviated name: RIZA
Country: Netherlands

Name: Red Mediterranea de Organismos de Cuenca
Abbreviated name: MENBO
Country: Spain

Name: Environment Agency of England and Wales
Abbreviated name: UKEA
Country: United Kingdom

Name: XPRO Consulting Ltd
Abbreviated name: XPRO
Country: Cyprus

Name: Eric Evrard
Abbreviated name: Evrard
Country: Belgium

Name: National Technical University of Athens
Abbreviated name: NTUA
Country: Greece

Name: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Abbreviated name: KUL
Country: Belgium

Name: Potsdam Institut fuer Klimafolgenforschung
Abbreviated name: PIK
Country: Germany

Name: Office International de l’EAU
Abbreviated name: OIEAU
Country: France

Name: 2Mpact N.V.
Abbreviated name: 2Mpact
Country: Belgium

Name: Aristotelio Panepistimio Thessalonikis
Abbreviated name: AUTh
Country: Greece

Name: WWF European Policy Programme
Abbreviated name: WWF
Country: Italy

Name: Litani River Authority
Abbreviated name: LRA
Country: Lebanon

Name: Agence de Bassin Hydraulique du Sebou
Abbreviated name: ABHS
Country: Morocco