Disastrous floods in Central Europe in 2002 showed the necessity for a harmonized approach to prevent events whose causes and consequences extend across administrative barriers. After a consultation period, the Commission published a proposal for a Flood Directive in early 2006.

The EEB advocates that the Flood Directive should support the achievement of sustainable water management and good ecological status of all waters. Floods should not be seen as catastrophic events per se, but as natural processes that are essential to some ecosystems, and as events whose consequences can be managed with appropriate planning. Therefore, the EEB had stressed the importance of including natural flood retention areas in the mapping process. The Commission’s proposal for a Directive has taken up those recommendations partially, but meeting resistance of some Member States.

You can see the EEB’s latest position on the EU Flood Policy here.