The NenuPhar partner EEB has been a full member of the EU’s innovative platform that brings together European Commission officials, practitioners from the Member States as well as stakeholders and NGOs to address shortcomings in the implementation of the EU’s flagship water law (the so called WFD CIS platform). The WFD sets an ambitious goal for the EU to bring all its waters to good ecological and good chemical status until 2027 at the latest.
The implementation of the WFD raises a number of shared technical challenges for the Member States, the Commission and EEA as well as stakeholders and NGOs. The CIS platform helps Member States and other stakeholders to develop guidance or thematic documents as well as exchange best practice for the coherent and harmonious implementation of the WFD and its daughter directives (such as the Nitrates Directive). Various working groups addressing the different needs and topics have been establishd, several of which the EEB has been an active member since the beginning.
In the last months, the following observations relevant for the project could be made based on the EEB’ participation in the WFD CIS:
- Working Group on ecological status (Ecostat)
The ECOSTAT WG met on 25-26 March 2025 and continued its work on harmonizing methodologies, improving nutrient load targets, using DNA-based monitoring, and setting salinization goals. New tools like Earth observation and automatic monitoring systems are being explored. A streamlined, digital reporting process is planned, including training for Member States officials.
- Working Group on water scarcity and droughts
This group is now a permanent working group under WFD CIS with clear deliverables for 2025-2027 mandate such as updating the CIS Technical Guidance on Drought Management Plans or recommendations for achieving water efficiency in agriculture. A deep dive into water scarcity & agriculture allowed experts to exchange views with representatives of the agricultural sector and with water managers in Northern Italy as well as the European Court of Auditors. A second deep dive explored the increasing problem of low flows on Europe’s largest transboundary rivers.
