EU WATER POLICY WORKSHOP

09 - 10th September 2005, Brussels, Belgium

09:30 Welcome and opening statements - Stefan Scheuer, EEB

WFD IMPLEMENTATION: INTERCALIBRATION - WHERE ARE THE FISH? - Chair: Stefan Scheuer, EEB

09:45 Progress with environmental objective setting and inercalibration to achieve a WFD consistent and EU comparable ecological classification

Q: Will the Intercalibration support meaningful objectives? What is the interface between Intercalibration and exemptions? What are the legal leverages to ensure WFD compliant intercalibration and ecological classification schemes?

° Mr. Joachim D'Eugenio, DG Environment, European Commission
° Ms. Sarah Oppenheimer, RSPB

Followed by discussion

10:45 Coffee Break

WFD IMPLEMENTATION: TOWARDS STRATEGIC COMPLAINTS

11.00 NGO presentations on gaps between practice and law: Art 5 economic analysis, designation of competent authorities

° on Art 5 Economic Analysis: Wim van Gils (Belgium)(ppt presentation) , Markus Ehrenpaar (Austria), Graciela Ferrer (Spain)(ptt presentation)
° on competent authorities: Sinead O'Brien (Ireland)(ppt presentation), Paula Chainho (Portugal)(ppt presentation), Markus Ehrenpaar (Austria)

12.30 Lunch

13.00 Visit to Brussels' Sewerage Museum

MARINE PROTECTION STRATEGY

15.15 Commission proposal for a Directive and NGO demands

° Mr. Patrick Murphy, DG Environment, European Commission
° Ms. Gaia Angelini, International Fund for Animal Welfare (Belgium)

Followed by discussion

16.15 Coffee Break

GROUNDWATER PROTECTION

16.30 Update on state of affairs and how to prevent weakening exisitng protection standards

° Mr. Patrick Murphy, DG Environment, European Commission
° Mr. Rob Cunningham, RSPB (UK)

Followed by discussion

17.30 Conclusions - Stefan Scheuer, EEB

17.45 END

NGO SESSION - IDENTIFYING PRIORITIES AND STRATEGIES
September 10th, 2005

10:00 Introduction and recap Day 1 - Stefan Scheuer, EEB

10.15 Tour de Table

11.00 Report on WG activities - Stefan Scheuer, EEB

11.15 Reasons for the involvement of NGOs in the economic analysis of the water management

° Ben Hermans, Stichting Natuur en Milieu, the Netherlands

NGO activities on WFD implementation:

* Is the focus right (intercalibration, article 5 reports, competent authorities)?
* Is strategic complaint and legal action feasible or necessary?

12.00 Parallel working groups:

1. Ecological classification/monitoring
2. Strategic complaints (Stefan Scheuer, EEB)
What is the objective? What information is needed and who can fill info gaps? Developing action plan
3. Groundwater Directive
How to avoid a role-back in protection standards? Lobby strategies and activities
Nitrates

Lunch

14.30 Report back

15.30 Coffee

16.00 Activities 2005 & Planning next workshop

17.00 END

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