The implementation of Water Framework Directive (WFD) in Greece Linking WFD with coastal water protection Anastasia Lazarou Dr. Chemist Athens, 19 January 2007
Basic Directives related with the protection of Marine Environment From Oldest Directives -Bathing Water Directive 76/160/EEC -Directive for toxic substances in surface water From Later Directives - Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive - Directive concerning the protection of water against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources Most recent Directives - The Directive 2000/60/ΕC establishing a framework of Community action in the field of water policy - The Directive 2006/7/ΕΚ concerning the management of bathing water quality and repealing Directive 76/160/EEC
WFD: A Revolutionary approach The Water Framework Directive that was transposed in Greek legislation with L. 3199/2003, represents a revolutionary approach in the field of water resources management and on the same time provides a fundamental restructuring of the competencies in water management and environmental protection in Greece.
WFD: A Revolutionary approach WFD initiates an integrated approach in protection of water resources, providing: the identification of River Basin Districts, an integrated management of all types of water bodies, the development of River Basin Management Plans
WFD: A Revolutionary approach WFD initiates a promotion of decentralization policy on: the establishment of Regional Water Directorates, the promotion of public participation
WFD: A Revolutionary approach The transitional and coastal waters are included also in the field of Directive implementation Greece is classified in Ecoregion 6 Mediterranean Sea for transitional and coastal waters
WFD implementation: Main problems The achievement of the WFD objectives, adjusted to the particularities of the Greek region Limited public awareness on water issues Lack of sufficient qualitative & economic data The complicated geological structure & overexploitation of groundwater The clarification of complex actions and implementation processes Scientific, practical and technical issues requiring further scientific elaboration
Particularities of the Greek region Unequal distribution of resources Extensive coastline River Basins of small size Over-exploitation and salinization of groundwater Transboundary river basins
Particularities of the Greek region (cont.) Unequal distribution of population Seasonal demand Large number of regions with water scarcity problems 180000-3490000 150000-180000 110000-150000 100000-110000 50000-100000 0-50000 Increased irrigation demand
WFD implementation: The challenge WFD provides the opportunity of: development of a new and effective legislative framework long term planning on water resources management decentralization and development of regional water management authorities
WFD implementation activities in Greece New Administrative Structure: The L. 3199/03 establishes the New Administrative Structure
New Administrative Structure: National Water Committee National Water Council Central Water Agency Regional Water Directorates Regional Water Councils
New Administrative Structure Government Cooperation Ministries of Interior, Development, Agriculture, Health Minister for the Environment National Water Committee National Water Council National Level Min. Env. Technical Support IGME DEI HCMR Universities EYDAP Central Water Agency Gen. Secretary of the Region Regional Water Directorate Regional Water Council NGOs Public Regional Level
WFD implementation activities in Greece River Basins Identification of River Basins Identification of River Basin Districts on the basis of river basins River Basin Districts
WFD implementation activities in Greece Establishment of Regional Directorates, their jurisdiction and operational status The establishment of protected areas register(ar.6, annexvi of Directive 2000/60/ΕC). The bathing waters are included also in the register of protected areas (2006 Bathing Areas) Transposition of principles and technical issues of WFD into national legislation (i.e. achieving cost recovery, penalty enforcement for improper use, incentives for efficient use, etc.) Competent authorities
Steering of implementation process Chair: Presidency, Co-chair: Commission Co-ordination of work programme Chair: Commission WFD implementation in Greece: Ongoing and planned activities Participation of national experts in the WGs established under the Common Implementation Strategy for the implementation of the WFD (WFD CIS) European Commission, DG Environment Οδηγία Unit D.2: Protection of 2000/60/ΕΚ: Water and Marine Environment Νέες Ευκαιρίες Water Directors Διοικητική Αναδιάρθρωση Flood Protection Strategic Co-ordination Group Art. 21 Εφαρμογή, για πρώτη φορά, ενός ενιαίου Committee θεσμικού πλαισίου Μακροπρόθεσμος σχεδιασμός στη διαχείριση υδατικών πόρωνworking Group C Working Group E Groundwater Αποκέντρωση στη Chemical διαχείριση Monitoring σε επίπεδο λεκάνης απορροής Working Group B Working Group D Integrated River Reporting Ορθολογική κοστολόγηση του νερού Basin Management "GIS Expert Network Προώθηση της βιωσιμότητας με τη χρήση Stakeholders, NGO s, Researchers, Experts, etc. οικονομικών εργαλείων Strategic Steering Group WFD and Agriculture Working Group A Ecological Status New organisation 2005/2006 Expert Advisory Forum Priority Substances Chemical Monitoring The integration of institutional framework is implemented by the Lawmaking Committee with the co-ordination of Central Water Agency National Legislation for WFD implementation 1. L. 3199/2003 2. J.M.D 43504/5-12-2005 3. M.D 34685/6-12-2005 4. M.D 26798/22-6-2005 5. J.M.D 49139/24-11-2005 6. J.M.D 47630/16-11-2005
WFD implementation in Greece: Ongoing and planned activities (cont.) The participation in the intercalibration exercise for the transitional and coastal waters Participation in the intercalibration exercise (Ar.4 annex.v, id.1.4.1) The Intercalibration exercise aims to ensure comparable ecological quality assessment systems and harmonised ecological quality criteria for surface waters (rivers, lakes, transitional & coastal waters) in the Member States. This ensures a harmonised approach to define one of the main environmental objectives of the WFD, the good ecological status For this purpose, an intercalibration network has been established, consisting of selected sites submitted by all the Member States of the EU. The exercise is coordinated by the Joint research Centre (JRC) in Ispra (Italy) together with the European Commission.
GIG Name Rivers Alpine 2 N/A Rivers Central Baltic 2 Rivers Eastern Cont. N/A 2 N/A 3 Rivers Mediterranean?? Rivers Northern Lakes Central Baltic 1 2 Lakes Mediterranean 5 1 Lakes Northern 1 2 Coastal/Trans. NE Atlantic N/A N/A 4 4 4 4 Final Milestone report from GIG to ECOSTAT June 2006 September 2006 March 2007 Milestone report approved by ECOSTAT July 2006 October 2006 April 2007 WFD Committee receives the results November 2006 January 2007 October 2007 Dashed boxes mean no intercalibration is going on or foreseen in 2007 WFD implementation in Greece: Ongoing and planned activities (cont.) From our country have been submitted 20 regions (15 in rivers, 3 coastal and 2 in lakes) in the European Committee, which already constitute part of intercalibration exercise network Greece participates in the intercalibration exercise with the regions: Southern Euvoikos Gulf Thessalonica Gulf Saronicos Gulf Macroinvertebrates Phyto-plankton (Chlorophyll) Lakes Alpine 1 Lakes Atlantic 1 2 Coastal/Trans. Mediterranean Coastal/Trans. Baltic Sea Coastal/Trans. Black Sea Phytoplankton (composition & abundance) Phytobenthos Macrophytes Macroalgae Angiosperm Fish Results incorporated in Technical Report (draft) September 2006 November 2006 May 2007 Technical Report approved by ECOSTAT October 2006 December 2006 June 2007
WFD implementation in Greece: Ongoing and planned activities (cont.) Restructuring the National Qualitative and Quantitative Monitoring Programs Encouragement of active involvement of all interested parties The WFD implementation in the Pinios Pilot River Basin Water Quality Monitoring Programs: Monitoring for Surface Water Monitoring for Groundwater Monitoring for Sea Water Bathing Water Programs Med-Pol (Open Sea, Closed Gulf, transitional and coastal water)
WFD implementation in Greece: Ongoing and planned activities (cont.) The management planning of trans-regional water problems and the development of a National Water Policy Program The updating and the integration of National Qualitative and Quantitative Water Data Bases (EDPP,ETYMP) The categorization and the determination of reference conditions on Water Bodies Development, presentation and publication of River Basin Management Plans before their integration
Conclusions The effective WFD implementation in Greece remains a key and very ambitious challenge and presupposes a joint effort between all the concerning parties