The Wild Rivers project and its label will be implemented in the alpine countries and then in the Balkans.
European Rivers Network has established a partnership with WWF for the alpine region and with EURONATUR for the Balkan region.
Starting in April 2020 * is you can apply for the label and download all documents for the alpine countries, later on for the Balkan region.
More information > https://www.ern.org/en/wild-rivers/
* postponed to 2021 due to Covid 19 epidemie
Yesterday, 11 of Decembrer, European Commission release the fitness check results and they are largely positive, concluding the EU Water Framework Directive to be “fit for purpose”, acknowledging that the objectives of the law “are as relevant now as they were at the time of the adoption” and that the law has led to “a higher level of protection for water bodies and flood risk management”. The results also saying that any lack of progress is due to ‘insufficient funding, slow implementation and insufficient integration of environmental objectives in sectoral policies, and not due to a deficiency in the legislation’.
The conclusions also reference that : ‘water policy is very important to European citizens. The public consultation received more than 370,000 responses in total, which is an exceptionally high number’. Congratulations to all citizens and NGOs participated through the #ProtectWater campaign making this happen. And of course Living Rivers Europe coalition will be closely monitoring next steps.
These results are a very important first step towards bringing our European freshwater bodies back to life and must revitalize Member States who are now finalising their River Basin Management Plans to achieve the WFD’s objectives during the 2022-2027 cycle. This is an unparalleled opportunity for them to triple and speed-up their efforts on water protection, but also challenge climate change, water scarcity and pollutants of emerging concern for whom the report says that the Water Framework Directive flexible enough to accommodate this emerging pressures.
More infos
>Read Living Rivers Europe press release below
> More info about the campaign and Living Rivers Europe
> press release from ‘European Commission”
This concludes the two-year evaluation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and, by discarding the possibility of revision, sets the EU back on course to bring life back to its rivers through full implementation and enforcement of the law.
The message from the European Commission is clear: the WFD is a critical pillar of the EU’s environmental legislation and is here to stay in its current form. The fitness-check results highlight that the delay in reaching the WFD’s objectives is “largely due to insufficient funding, slow implementation and insufficient integration of environmental objectives in sectoral policies, and not due to a deficiency in the legislation.”
The conclusions come hot on the heels of the European Environment Agency’s State of the Environment Report 2020, which highlighted the WFD as being essential to halting and reversing biodiversity loss. The conclusions are strongly supported by WWF, EEB, Wetlands International, the European Rivers Network and European Anglers Alliance – who together form the Living Rivers Europe coalition and led the #ProtectWater campaign to safeguard the WFD.
Andreas Baumüller, Head of Natural Resources at WWF’s European Policy Office and Chair of the Living Rivers Europe coalition, said
“By signing off the Water Framework Directive as fit for purpose, the European Commission is standing shoulder to shoulder with the hundreds of thousands of European citizens, scientists and civil society groups who have all championed the WFD over the past two years.
We congratulate President Von der Leyen on sealing the deal before the end of the year. As the results point out, slow implementation is to blame for not having yet reached the WFD’s objectives. As expressed yesterday upon the publication of the European Green Deal, the Commission now needs to put its money where its mouth is. It must ensure that Member States submit ambitious plans and concrete actions to achieve the law’s objectives by 2027, and that this is supported by dedicated funding.”
Mark Owen, Freshwater Policy Advisor to the European Anglers Alliance and Living Rivers Europe partner, said
“For 20 years we have been battling Member States to properly implement the Water Framework Directive as the most sustainable way of restoring fish stocks for the millions of anglers who take part in recreational fishing, the thousands of jobs that depend on angling together with the rural economies that directly benefit from angling tourism. Now that the fitness check has determined that the WFD is not only fit for purpose but that failure is due to lack of implementation by Member States, we would expect urgent action to conform with the present legal requirements to deliver for fish and fishing.”
Support for the WFD stretches far and wide
Just last week, an open letter from 5,500+ scientists was sent to Executive Vice-President Timmermans and Commissioner Sinkevičius, calling on them to “save and implement the Water Framework Directive” in order to halt and reverse the catastrophic decline in freshwater biodiversity. Earlier this year, 375,386 citizens took a stand for the WFD through the #ProtectWater campaign, which facilitated citizens’ participation in the European Commission’s public consultation on the WFD (the only opportunity for the general public to have its say during the fitness-check) to express their clear opposition to changing the legislation. This made the public consultation on the WFD the third largest in the history of the EU. It went on to be supported by more than 130 civil society organisations, including national partners and offices of Greenpeace, BirdLife and Friends of the Earth, as well as unions.
A well enforced WFD must be at the heart of the European Green Deal
The gifts people and nature receive from healthy rivers, lakes and wetlands are key to delivering the four main pillars of the European Green Deal. From supporting climate adaptation to protecting biodiversity, fuelling sustainable food systems to thriving economies, a strong WFD forms the necessary baseline to secure all the benefits healthy freshwater ecosystems provide.
Next steps
Looking ahead, it is now important to pull all efforts towards reaching the objectives of the WFD by 2027.
There is a long way to go. 60% of EU surface waters are not healthy, failing to meet the WFD’s standards. Last week’s State of the Environment Report 2020 showed that, out of the four freshwater indicators analysed by the EEA, only one has shown progress over the last 10-15 years. For all indicators, the outlook to 2030 is “a mixed picture”.
However, Member States are now finalising their plans to achieve the WFD’s objectives during the 2022-2027 cycle (known as River Basin Management Plans). This is an unparalleled opportunity for them to triple and speed-up their efforts on water protection. The European Commission needs to embark all actors together in an ambitious vision for healthy and clean waters in Europe, one which requires political will, enforcement of the legislation, and investments.
Contact:
Sophie Bauer
Communications Officer (Freshwater)
WWF European Policy Office
sbauer@wwf.eu
+32 471 05 25 11
Claire Baffert
Senior Water Policy Officer
WWF European Policy Office
cbaffert@wwf.eu
+32 49273 1092
6th of Décember , an open letter from 5,500+ scientists was sent to Executive Vice-President Timmermans and Commissioner Sinkevičius, calling on them to “save and implement the Water Framework Directive” in order to halt and reverse the catastrophic decline in freshwater biodiversity. Congratulations to all signatories for this commitment!
It is still possible to join the statement and sign.
NGOs and Living Rivers Europe Coalition reaction
“Scientists and academics concerned by the dire state of European rivers, lakes and wetlands have released a statement calling on the EU to fully implement and enforce its own water law – the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) – in order to halt and reverse the catastrophic decline in the world’s freshwater biodiversity.
The statement has been endorsed by twelve scientific bodies representing over 5,000 scientists, and nearly 500 individual scientists specialising in the wide array of species impacted by the WFD – from amphibians to insects, freshwater fishes to birdlife. The scientists include Dr. Jörg Freyhof, Regional Chair of the IUCN/WI Freshwater Fish Specialist Group, and Professor Carlos Garcia de Leaniz, Director of Swansea University’s Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research.
The statement was released earlier today alongside an op-ed for Euractiv by Professor Steven Weiss – a freshwater biodiversity expert at the University of Graz and one of the statement’s signatories.
The statement describes the WFD as a critical tool for ensuring that Europe has “healthy and resilient freshwater bodies to support people and nature, today and in the future”, stressing that ‘There cannot be an effective European Green Deal without healthy freshwater ecosystems at the heart of it’. The statement is released as the European Commission is in the final stages of a standard evaluation of the WFD – known as a “fitness-check” – which is designed to assess whether the law is still relevant and fit for purpose. The final conclusions of this evaluation are expected next week.
Andreas Baumüller, Head of Natural Resources at WWF’s European Policy Office, said:
“EU Member States and business lobbies have been using the fitness-check of the Water Framework Directive to push for weaker environmental standards. The European Commission’s silence has been deafening, and it has continued to allow the impact of the WFD to be gutted by poor implementation and abuse of exemptions. We hope this massive call from thousands of scientists acts as a final wake-up call for the Commission: This law is the right tool to protect Europe’s rivers, any watering down of it would put the European Green Deal in serious jeopardy.”
ENDS
Contact:
Alexandra Chevalier
WWF European Policy Office
achevalier@wwf.eu
0032 48449 4354
Claire Baffert
Senior Water Policy Officer
WWF European Policy Office
0032 49273 1092
Jeremy Wates, Secretary General of the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) on the behalf of Living Rivers Europe coalition handovered the public consultation’s signatures officially. It took place ahead of the informal meeting of the Environment Council, 21-22 May, with Commissioner Vella, Romania as the Council Presidency, Austria and Luxembourg.
Remember : From the 9 October to 12 March, through the #ProtectWater campaign, more than 375,000 citizens accross Europe expressed to the European Commission their wish for the WFD to remain unchange.
(From left to right: EU Director General for Environment, Mr. Callega Crespo; EU Commissioner Vella; Minister Gravilescu (Environment Minister for Romania); EEB Secretary General Jeremy Wates (representing the campaign); Minister Dieschbourg (Environment Minister, Luxembourg); Mr. Gunter Liebel (Water Director, Austria), Minister Denes (Minister of Waters and Forests, Romania).
More info about the Protectwater campaign and Living Rivers Europe
During the last informal meeting of the Environment Council , 21 st of May: Germany’s representative at Council, State Secretary Jochen Flasbarth, stated that the WFD should not be re-opened.
This official statement was accompanied by a tweet:
(Translation: At today’s informal Environmental Council in Bucharest, I made it clear that we don’t want changes to the Water Framework Directive. The objectives for good status of our waters must be reached with ambition by 2027.)
Congratulations for defending one of the most advanced environmental legislation in Europe ! This is great news for all citizens who have signed the Protectwater campaign ! An inspire momentum to followed by other Member states !
More info see our last related news
The report is a collaboration between WWF,TNC, IUCN, the Stimson Center, the University of California, Berkeley, the University of California, Los Angeles, Manchester University and Stanford University Woods Institute for the Environment.
Unsustainable industries, including industrial agriculture, hydropower, and coal mining, are lobbying for devastating changes the Water Framework Directive.
A new paper from NGOs (WEAKENING THE EU WATER LAW: INDUSTRY’S WISH LIST) shows that, if ever put into effect, such changes would give these sectors the green light to undertake even more destructive activities, potentially causing havoc on our rivers and lakes. But, far from obliging these sectors to clean up their act, some Member States have compiled a strikingly similar wish list, raising serious questions as to where their true interests lie.
This document, published ahead of an informal meeting of the Environment Council in Bucharest, Romania on 20 and 21 May and reflected in a letter sent to the Environment Ministers of EU Member States, launch the second step of the campaign lead by Living Rivers Europe to ensure the integrity of the WFD, and follows the #Protectwater campaign during which more than 375,000 citizens expressed their wish for the WFD to remain unchanged.
Read the letter adress to UE Environment Ministers
Access to our campaign page
Read Press release by Living Rivers Europe
Brussels, 15 May 2019
Unsustainable industries, including industrial agriculture, hydropower, and coal mining, are lobbying for devastating changes to the EU water law – the Water Framework Directive (WFD).
A new paper from environmental groups [1] shows that, if ever put into effect, such changes would give these sectors the green light to undertake even more destructive activities, potentially causing havoc on our rivers and lakes. But, far from obliging these sectors to clean up their act, some Member States have compiled a strikingly similar wish list, raising serious questions as to where their true interests lie.
The paper, developed by WWF, EEB, Wetlands International, the European Anglers Alliance and European Rivers Network – who together form the Living Rivers Europe coalition – is published ahead of an informal meeting of the Environment Council in Bucharest, Romania on 20 and 21 May. Environment Ministers from all EU Member States will come together to discuss, amongst other topics, issues related to water management across the EU. The gathering comes in the wake of scientists declaring a state of ecological emergency, with extensive research confirming that nearly 75% of freshwater resources are now devoted to agriculture alone, and freshwater ecosystems are showing the highest rate of decline.
“Rivers, lakes and wetlands are our life-support systems, but they are being annihilated under our very eyes. We have the legal tool to stop this – the EU water law – but Member States must actively stand up to the sectors that pollute and destroy the most”, said Andreas Baumüller, Head of Natural Resources at WWF’s European Policy Office. “Through the civil society-led #ProtectWater campaign, more than 375,000 citizens called for the water law to remain unchanged. Member States’ alignment with the positions of business lobbies begs the question: Do they really have the best interests of their citizens at heart?”
The briefing shows the clear alignment between the wishes of some Member States and those of lobby groups representing the interests of the agriculture, hydropower and mining sectors, as well as German industry associations (comprised of representatives of the construction, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals industries, amongst others). These parties want to weaken the WFD’s ambitious scope and environmental objectives, and attack two of the law’s most visionary cornerstones – the “one-out, all-out principle”, as well as the “non-deterioration obligation”, both crucial in assessing the health of freshwater bodies.
Where they differ is in their reasoning, which is completely contradictory – whilst Member States argue that these changes are needed to maintain ambition in EU water management, industry groups ask for changes because the current system is too ambitious.
“Industry groups and some EU member states are calling for the same changes to the EU water law – but, bizarrely enough, how they justify the need for these changes is poles apart: Whilst some governments say they are trying to be more ambitious to protect water, the industry groups say they want these changes because the current rules are too stringent. So, if Member States want to be truly ambitious, the current law needs to be kept and the focus needs to be on properly implementing it to protect the environment and human health,” said Sergiy Moroz, Water and Biodiversity Policy Officer at the EEB.
These arguments and questions have also been reflected in a letter sent by Living Rivers Europe to the Environment Ministers of EU Member States ahead of next week’s meeting in Bucharest.
ENDS
Contact:
Sophie Bauer, Communications Officer (Freshwater)
WWF European Policy Office
sbauer@wwf.eu
+32 471 05 25 1
[1] Living Rivers Europe, 2019, Weakening the EU water law: Industry’s wish list
[2] According to the “one-out, all-out principle”, a water body (such as a river, lake or wetland) is only considered healthy if all the quality elements (for example the flow, whether it is biodiversity-rich, whether there are chemical substances) are in good status, and the overall status is defined by the quality element in the lowest class.
[3] Within the Water Framework Directive, Member States must ensure that the current state of of any given water body does not deteriorate any further.
[4] Officials from several Member States have drafted a paper on the Future of the EU Water Policy for the meeting of EU Water Directors in November 2018. The paper put forward several amendments to the WFD.
Notes to the editor:
About the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD)
Public consultation ended yesterday 12 March and #protectwater campaign managed to mobilise 375,386 people from across Europe and beyond to stand up for our strong EU water law!
Citizens have spoken up loud and clear in numbers that neither the European Commission nor Member States can turn a blind eye to
Our deepest thanks and congratulations to all citizens and NGOs who participated.
375,386 people have called on the European Commission to defend Europe’s strong water law, making the EU’s public consultation on the legislation one of the largest ever in the history of the European Union. This law is critical to ensure that Europe’s rivers, lakes and wetlands are protected and brought back to good health.
The NGO-led #ProtectWater campaign inspired citizens across Europe and beyond to take a stand for Europe’s rivers, lakes and wetlands, and the strong law which protects them, the EU Water Framework Directive, during the European Commission’s ongoing fitness-check
“375,386 citizens have spoken up for Europe’s precious rivers, lakes and wetlands, and against their ongoing destruction. They have told their governments loud and clear not to undermine the EU water law – decision-makers must now listen up and take these voices seriously”, said Ester Asin, Director of WWF’s European Policy Office, “With 60% of Europe’s waters in a critical state, the need for action from Member States is urgent. They were meant to put a stop to this destruction when they signed up to the Water Framework Directive in 2000, but, instead, have spent the best part of two decades brazenly side-stepping their commitments and not implementing it. We urge them to own up to their inaction today and, instead of pushing for this law to be changed, take citizens’ views on board.”
“One need only look elsewhere in the world to see that Europe is incredibly fortunate to have a general and cross-border legal framework in the shape of the Water Framework Directive to protect its rivers, lakes and wetlands, underlined Roberto Epple, President of the European Rivers Network, “It would be shameful to weaken it. Citizens have understood that. Member States should respect this and move up a gear to achieve the results outlined in this text, which can be considered a treasure.”
The #ProtectWater campaign was led by WWF, the European Environmental Bureau, the European Anglers Alliance, the European Rivers Network and Wetlands International – who together form the Living Rivers Europe Coalition. It facilitated citizens’ participation in the European Commission’s public consultation on the Water Framework Directive (the only opportunity for the general public to have its say during the EU fitness-check) to express their clear opposition to changing the legislation. It was launched in October 2018 and went on to be supported by more than 130 civil society organisations, including national partners and offices of Greenpeace, BirdLife and Friends of the Earth, as well as unions.
The EU’s official analysis of the public consultation, which closed on 11 March, is likely to be published in the autumn of 2019, with the final decision on the future of the legislation expected by the first half of 2020. As Living Rivers Europe, we will be there every step of the way to ensure that the Water Framework Directive remains intact, and will continue to push for this visionary legislation to be fully implemented by Member States and enforced by the European Commission so that it that the vast majority of Europe’s waters are returned to good health by 2027 (at the absolute latest).
Download press release (in english)
Contact:
Sophie Bauer, Communications Officer (Freshwater)
WWF European Policy Office
sbauer@wwf.eu
+32 471 05 25 1
Notes to the editor:
About the state of water in Europe:
About the #ProtectWater campaign:
About the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD):
Recommendations for improving the implementation of the Water Framework Directive:
The following recommendations outline some of the actions Member States and the Commission need to take to ensure no further deterioration occurs and that the majority of water bodies in the EU achieve good status by 2027.
We now have reached 340,000 signatures, which means that our campaign is now one of the top 3 largest public consultations in the history of the European Union!
THANK YOU to everyone who has signed!
Others can still do it until March 12 inclusive (extended) … and contribute to this incredible campaign too!
ERN France
ERN is the official WWF Freshwater Partner in France and cooperates with WWF Switzerland, Austria, Netherlands and others
