Past and future Sustainability of Water Policies in Europe

Transcription

1 Athens Week Nov Agroparistech-ENGREF, Paris Past and future Sustainability of Water Policies in Europe Presentation of the European Directives Concerning Water Bernard Barraqué, DR CNRS

2 European Water Policy in 3 Stages (3 first framework programmes): - Limited competency of Commission to public health policy + harmonizing competition conditions between industries (levelling the playing field) - 7 Directives from 1975 to 1980 (surface water; toxic substances in groundwater; drinking water, bathing, shellfish ) - The first Directive (75/440/EC) prohibits making drinking water from polluted surface water, which indirectly shifts policies from public health to environment The Commission relied upon this Directive To get France condemned by the European Court of Justice for 14 non-complying catchments in Brittany

3 European Water Policy: phase (3 first framework programmes) (4th framework program + Maastricht treaty 1992): - First common environment policy, & rise of international commissions (ICPR, CIPEL, Baltic sea) Rhine Pollution (Sandoz fire) in 1986; Helsinki convention new Directives on urban & rural emissons: UWWD, 91/271/EC ; & NAD, 91/676/EC - Cost recovery issue and debate on combined approach : emissions/ immissions => a third Directive on ecological quality of rivers abandoned - But partial inclusion with stricter standards in sensitive / vulnerable areas

4 European Water Policy: phase (3 first framework programmes) (4th framework program + Maastricht treaty) (5th-6th framework progr. Amsterdam Treaty 1997, Aarhus Convention 2008): Integrated and participative approach ; sustainable development ; merging many Directives into a global one? Taskforce Water Framework Directive (WFD, 2000/60/EC) initiated under French presidency & adopted under Portuguese presidency; 1st case of conciliation (Commission-Council-Parliament) under the Amsterdam treaty; Uncomplteted to come out on time => guidelines taskforces

5 E.U. Water Framework Directive: the 3 E s 1 Environment 1 Aquatic environment : good ecological & chemical status within 15 years 2 Economic target: water users should pay the full cost of the water services (including environmental cost) 3 Ethics Economics 2 3 Ethics/Equity: water policy should be transparent and the public should be invited to participate Not easy to implement!

6 6 crucial issues in the WFD Hydrographic Districts: size, type of authority Reaching the state of reference: integrated indicators Economic analysis and full cost recovery -> Heavily Modified Water Bodies Public information, consultation and involvement Dangerous substances (additional REACH regulation) Groundwater: quantity/quality, rights to use/ to own Unspoken: extreme events and coastal environment

7 The notion of Full cost pricing («ideal translation» in economic terms of the 3 E s) 2 Environmental externalities 3 1 Economic externalities Opportunity cost Capital charges Operating and maintenance cost Full supply cost Full use cost (=Economic cost) Full cost (From P. Rogers & al. GWP-TAC paper)

8 25 articles & 11 annexes 1. Object 2. Definitions 3. Creation of hydrogr. districts 4. Environmental targets Surface water Groundwater Protected areas 5. Characterization, impact of human activities, économic analysis 6. Registration of protected zones 7. Potable water catchment areas 8. Monitoring & reporting 9. Cost recovery of services rendered by water 10. Combined Approach 11. Programs of measures 12. Issues betwenn Mb-States 13. Hydrogr Distr.Management Plans 14. Information/consultation of the public 15. Notification to Commission 16. Priority Substances 17. Groundwater recovery. 18. Commission s reporting 19. WFD Updating procedure Abrogation of some earlier Directives 23. Sanctions

9 Important issue: art. 14 Art. 14 is about public information consultation & involvement But what is the public? Stakeholders or man-in-the-street? The issue is representative vs participative democracy Legitimacy given by general elections: police, tax, planning Efficiency implies qualitative representation of stakeholders Transaction costs and debate of subsidiarity vs liberalism

10 Issues covered after 2000 Dangerous substances reduction & elimination: heavy removal costs: list of substances forecast in annex 10 WFD REACH regulation (Registration Evaluation Authorisation & Restriction of Chemicals) 1907/2006/EC Groundwater quantitative/qualitative management: New Directive on GW quality 118/2006/EC Extreme events: redefining droughts & floods in terms of vulnerability : Floods Directive 60/2007/EC; Communication on droughts : Com(2007)414 Directive is pending). Coastal water and bathing: Bathing water Directive reframed 7/2006/EC; Marine Strategy Framework Directive 56/2008/EC (aires marines protégées)

11 Example: The territories of the 6 Agences de l eau were created in They are groups of river basins. They were kept to implement the Water Framework Directive as 6 Hydrographic districts