The overall goal for water management is good ecological status ges 15 years after implementation of the wfd. Member states have had to draw up river basin management plans rbmps to safeguard each one of the 110 river basin districts. Public participation in the implementation of the water. It is a crucial resource for humanity, generating and sustaining economic growth and prosperity. Theoretically, the wfd identifies several advantages of public participation, such as the better use of knowledge and experiences from different stakeholders, increases in public acceptance and reduced litigation, delays, and inefficiencies in implementation. Directive 200060ec of the european parliament and of the council of 23 october 2000 establishing a framework for community action in the field of water policy. Water councils in river basin districts were established to provide public input on how to improve the physical conditions in streams. Public participation and the water framework directive public participation is a core requirement of the water framework directive wfd. The water framework directive restructures the legislative frame for the protection of european water bodies and establishes new approaches to an integrated and comprehensive management of river basins.
It is one of the aarhus rights that all eu citizens enjoy see the box below. The european water framework directive wfd constitutes a complex regulation that calls for numerous decisions under uncertainty on the part of the implementing agencies in the member states. European water framework directive wfd in 2000 wfd 200060ec as a joint decision to improve the water quality within the union. This contribution first discusses two different types of uncertainty that may arise in the implementation of the wfd and identifies ways to manage them. Public participation in the water framework directive. A comparison with the water framework directive, early evidence from germany, and a research agenda jens newig, edward challies, nicolas jager, elisa kochskamper this is the accepted version of an article that will appear in environmental policy and governance. The directive is non prescriptive as to how public participation in water management should be operationalised in practice, and this creates a wider role for research that can. It can be practiced in different phases of integrated river basin management, but the public s environmental understanding forms one basis for participation. It is a means of improving decisionmaking, to create awareness of environmental issues and to help increase acceptance and commitment towards intended. The netherlands, spain and the commission are responsible for the secretariat and.
Here, the water framework directive wfd calls for providing information to the public on river basin management plans. We are grateful to all who attended and contributed to positive discussions. Public participation in the water framework directive common implementation strategy pilot river basin testing exercise and in the implementation of the water framework directive. The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of the challenges for public participation in river basin management and planning and to develop a set of guidelines for a successful public consultation. An outline of the general planning stages is provided. Swan recommendations swan has been making the case for meaningful public engagement in water management and the implementation of the water framework directive wfd for almost a decade, and it is regrettable that there is less provision for this public participation now than there was nine years ago. Within european legislation, the eu water framework directive wfd was the first material directive to explicitly combine substantive environmental policy goals with public participation. Public participation in river basin management in germany. A resource inventory or analysis of existing cee ngo expertise on river basin management, sustainable water management, public participation, integration of sectoral. Addressees of the programme of public participation in implementation of the water. It examines three strategic challenges of representation, accountability and the role. Citizens juries cjs are recommended as one approach that might be used to encourage the active involvement of interested parties in the implementation of the eu water framework directive wfd. The european union eu water framework directive wfd requires eu member states to produce and implement river basin management plans, which are to be designed and updated via participatory processes that inform, consult with, and actively involve all interested stakeholders.
In 2018 we held a workshop in each district to bring stakeholders and government departments together water framework directive. The overall goal for water management is given as good ecological status ges 15 years after implementation of the wfd. Guidance on public participation in relation to the water framework directive. Author links open overlay panel ioanna mouratiadou a b. In urban areas, the public participation presents the same profile for another reason. The european union accepted and approved the european water framework directive wfd in 2000 through the european parliament wfd 200060ec. Article 2 public participation concerning plans and programmes 1. Salar valinia masters thesis 30 hec advanced a2e integrated water resource management uppsala 2011. Nov 21, 2008 stakeholder involvement and public participation. Public participation is a fundamental principle, so european citizens are playing an in. The role of public participation in managing uncertainty. The purpose of the directive was to establish a framework for the protection of european waters in order for member.
Guidance document on identification and designation of heavily modified and artificial water bodies. This chapter gives an overview of the growing participatory rights and how participatory processes have influenced the institutional, legal, and. International and regional instruments provide mechanisms for local community participation in water related projects and policies. The eu water framework directive requires the involvement and participation of stakeholders and the public, and considers full cost recovery for water services for enhancing the sustainability of. Water framework directive programme of measures measures for water pricing based on cost recovery. The water framework directive 200060ec wfd is widely accepted as the most substantial and ambitious piece of european environmental legislation to date. Public participation is the process by which parliament and provincial legislatures consult with the people and interested or affected individuals, organisations and government entities before making a decision. A directive 200060ec the water framework directive firstly, though it should be noted that the term public participation is not used in the water framework directive, the concept is underpinned by preamble, articles, and annexes which are relevant to the issue. The water framework directive restructures the legislative frame for the protection of european water bodies and establishes new approaches to an integrated. This caused a paradigm shift in danish water planning. Key questions of the water framework directive ii public participation p2 in the eu water framework directive wfd guido schmidt.
Public participation can generally be defined as allowing people stakeholders, interested parties, public to influence the outcome of plans and working processes that constitute the operations of governance cis 2003. The water framework directive, assessment, participation and. Delivering meaningful public participation in water. Public participation in river basin management in germany pdf, 698 kb, english ecologic related articles public participation and the european water framework directive harmonicop. Public participation and the water framework directive. Google scholar arizona department of water resources adwr. Public participation is often presented as a virtue a normative good, but the strategy comes with its own mechanical flaws. It has been referred to as a once in a generation opportunity to restore europes waters and a potential template for future environmental regulations. The study traces and discusses a number of mechanistic issues related to public participation. The water framework directive and public participation the european water framework directive wfd is the most important water directive of recent years. Requirements of public participation in the water framework directive 2.
Pdf public participation in river basin management in. The eu water framework directive wfd, which went into effect in 2000, places public participation pp at the center stage of water management as part of its integrated approach to water management. Pdf what role for public participation in implementing the. Under the water framework directive, public participation was identified as a key part of water planning. Common implementation strategy for the water framework. Public participation and the european water framework. Public participation and the european water framework directive developing water citizenship. All official european union website addresses are in the domain. It calls for pp in order to ensure protection and a sustainable use of the european river basins huitema et al. Public participation in implementation of the water framework.
Public participation and the european water framework directive. It clarifies the obligations related to public participation, and presents case studies from different parties, as well as from other regional instruments. Policy documents have high expectations from public and stakeholder participation for maintaining and improving water resources. Public participation can generally be defined as allowing people to influence the outcome of plans and working processes. Public participation, ngos and the water framework. Water notes on the implementation of the water framework. Participation occurs via consultation mechanisms that government bodies use to consult people and interested organisations stakeholders to gain from.
An overview of the challenges for public participation in. Public participation p2 in the eu water framework directive. Directive 200060ec of the european parliament and of the council. Common implementation strategy pilot river basin testing exercise and in the implementation of the. The water framework directive offers significant opportunities for enhanced and more sustainable environmental management throughout europe. Public participation under the eu water framework directive. This paper discusses progress with implementation of the wfd in denmark and the measures taken to conform to the requirements for public participation. Public participation is considered a key issue for adaptive and integrated water management pahlwostl and hare 2004. The paper gives a short presentation of the public participation in the water framework directive and complementary eu directives. Public participation depends on another aarhus right, public information.
The water framework directive, assessment, participation. Request pdf public participation, the aarhus convention and the water framework directive public participation is a feature of modern decisionmaking and the legislation governing it. The backbone of the wfd is a system of river basin management planning. What role for public participation in implementing the eu.
Guide to public participation according to article 14 of the. The netherlands, spain and the commission are responsible for the secretariat and animation of the working group that is composed of experts from governmental and non. It was seen as a joint decision to improve the water quality within the unions borders. Nov 25, 2005 the european water framework directive wfd constitutes a complex regulation that calls for numerous decisions under uncertainty on the part of the implementing agencies in the member states. Guide to public participation according to article 14 of. Public participation in water planning in spain introduction to water management and public participation public participation in planning cycle 3. Public participation in relation to the water framework directive. The eu water framework directive requires the involvement and participation of stakeholders and the public for enhancing the sustainability of water resource management. The assumption of the european commission is that stakeholder participation, and institutional adaptation and. It calls for pp in order to ensure protection and a sustainable use. Deconstructing public participation in the water framework. Key organisations and citizens groups likely to be affected by the plan need to be. Participation of all stakehoders and general public why participation to management water availability participation to improve the water planning process and decisionmaking main changes brought about by wfd in terms of public. Public participation, the aarhus convention and the water.
The european commission increasingly mandates its member states to involve the general public in policymaking through public participation. The case of implementing the eu water framework directive in the netherlands. A comparison with the water framework directive, early evidence from germany and a research agenda. What role for public participation in implementing the eu floods directive. Public participation framework for the south african. This brief gives our current understanding and position with regard to some of the key issues key issues stakeholders, including the public, will play a major role in the implementation of the wfd. Policy debates and the literature have for a long time been dominated by this idea of public participation as a virtue, but. Office for official publications of the european communities. Public participation a bestfit definition for the south african legislative sector. Public participation in the water framework directive common. Public participation, ngos and the water framework directive. This article offers a fresh reading of the water framework directive wfd and of the common implementation strategy guidance document number 8 on public participation pp aimed at identifying the conditions required for successful implementation. Public participation in implementation of the water.
The european water framework directive10 states that its success in improving the aquatic environment, relies on close cooperation and coherent action at community, member state and local level as well as on. The english and welsh approach to customer involvement in water supply, presently in its fourth iteration as the newly independent consumer council for water, now has to find its role within the framework of the article 14 requirements of the european water framework directive. Customer committees, economic regulation and the water. Evaluating public participation in denmarks water councils. The participation requirements 14 of the ec water framework directive wfd launched, for the first time, a broader discussion about participatory approaches in water management. The eu water framework directive requires the involvement and participation of stakeholders and the public, and considers full cost recovery for water. Still, the demand for policies, which are oriented toward the public and public participation, is nothing new. Implementing the water framework directive and tackling diffuse. Directive wfd calls for providing information to the public on river basin management plans. A comprehensive directive with antagonistic poles or a harmonious monopole. The guide to public participation under the protocol on water and health is based on experience and good practices in the paneuropean region. Public participation in the form of informing, consulting and actively involving all interested parties is required during the implementation of the water framework directive wfd. It is also at the core of natural ecosystems and climate regulation. How useful are they in facilitating public participation in the eu water framework directive.
Horizontal guidance on public participation in relation to the water framework directive 31 iii. Water framework directive in the netherlands, aiming to highlight these difficulties, to provide an example of how a member state may cope with forced public participation in a neocorporatist environment, and to question whether. May 17, 2016 public and stakeholder participation in water management is a crucial element in the eu water framework directive wfd. As a whole, wfd is an unambiguous and important piece of legislation that. Area cooperations as an instrument of public participation. Public participation in water management remains an evolving issue. The introduction of the eu water framework directive 200060ec wfd aimed to bring in a new era for european water management, focusing on understanding and integrating all aspects of the water environment to be effective and sustainable teodosiu et al. Public participation in relation to the water framework directive public participation 2003 this guidance document provides specific assistance on how to involve the public in the different levels of the implementation process.
Participation in the implementation of the water framework. Mapping public participation in the water framework directive. Public participation in water governance springerlink. Key words policy making, interest group representation, public participation, water policy. The role of public participation in managing uncertainty in. Stakeholder and public participation in river basin. Public participation means giving the public and stakeholders the opportunity to influence the outcome of the plans and then working processes. It requires member states to manage their basins as a whole and reach a good water status for all their waters by 2015. Guidance for the analysis of pressures and impacts in accordance with the water framework directive 34 v. Mapping public participation in the water framework.
This is the thinking behind the water framework directive. An official website of the european unionan official eu websitehow do you know. An important aspect of contemporary european policymaking is public participation. Public participation extends to all water users, to nongovernmental organisations, such as local and national environmental groups, and to other stakeholders. Copies of the presentations and notes from the workshop groups are here.