The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for Water and Wetlands

This new IEEP-led report presents insights on the importance of wetlands in delivering ecosystem services that are needed to support human life, and also for people’s livelihoods and the world’s economies. The report shows that demonstrating and using the values of ecosystem services related to water and wetlands can lead to better informed, more cost-effective, and fairer decision- making.

The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for Water and Wetlands

This new IEEP-led report presents insights on the importance of wetlands in delivering ecosystem services that are needed to support human life, and also for people’s livelihoods and the world’s economies. The report shows that demonstrating and using the values of ecosystem services related to water and wetlands can lead to better informed, more cost-effective, and fairer decision- making.

Socio-economic importance of ecosystem services in the Nordic countries

New TEEB-inspired regional assessment (published on 31 January) shows that nature and its ecosystem services are of high socio-economic significance for the Nordic countries. In order to be truly sustainable, Nordic economic systems need to build on a more comprehensive appreciation and understanding of the value of natural capital.

The EU Water Blueprint: Assessing the policy options

The Water Blueprint proposes action to address 12 key problems for Europe’s waters. An IEEP led study found that improved guidance, information system, data exchange and funding were the best instruments to address many of these problems, with limited scope for new law.

Designing RDPs fit for the environment

Substantial changes to rural development regulation have been proposed which provide significant opportunities for Member States to deliver more for the environment. This report highlights some of these opportunities and sets out a series of principles and environmental priorities to help guide Member States in designing their future rural development programmes.

Estimating the Overall Economic Value of the Benefits provided by the Natura 2000 Network

Estimated benefits provided to EU citizens from the EU’s Natura 2000 Network could be in the range of €200 to €300 billion a year.

Benefit Assessment Manual for Policy Makers: Assessment of Social and Economic Benefits of Enhanced Environmental Protection in the ENPI countries

This benefit Assessment Manual, originally for internal use, has been turned into a Benefit Assessment Manual for policy makers and experts for wider dissemination and provides an understanding of the methodologies applied for the country benefit assessments.

Analysis for European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) Countries and the Russian Federation on social and economic benefits of enhanced environmental protection – Egypt Country Report

There are considerable benefits from taking immediate action to address the environmental problems facing Egypt, including in the area of air pollution, water quality and infrastructures and waste management, and safeguarding its natural heritage.

Regional Synthesis Report: ENPI South - Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, occupied Palestinian territory, Syria and Tunisia

Investing in improving environmental standards in the ENPI South countries would offer huge benefits in terms of cost savings, improved security (food, water, energy and climate), and improved quality of life.

Fitness Check of EU water policy – stakeholder views

IEEP provided support to the Commission’s development of the Fitness Check through the organisation of an online public consultation and a stakeholder workshop. The results of these two activities can be downloaded here.

Transboundary Water Security in Central Asia: Addressing the Crisis

Transboundary water issues pose significant security concerns in Central Asia. This briefing summaries the results of a roundtable on the issue, attended by IEEP's Andrew Farmer.

EU Water Policy – fit for purpose?

New report from Deloitte and IEEP assesses the relevance, coherence, effectiveness and efficiency of EU Water Policy.

Costs of delivering environmental benefits through agriculture and forestry management

For the first time, this report provides an estimate of the scale of funding needed to achieve environmental outcomes through agricultural and forestry management in the EU to 2020.

Cross-scale governance for water management

A new paper on the challenges of cross-scale governance for water management has been published.

Key Messages on the Future of Europe’s Waters

IEEP has contributed to the production of the key messages from a major water conference contributing to future EU policy development.

Briefing on the European Commission Proposal for a Directive on the protection of groundwater against pollution COM (2003) 550

Prospects for the Implementation of selected new and future EU Environmental legislation in the Acceding Countries

A written briefing assessing, for the candidate countries, the challenge constituted by those parts of the environmental acquis which did not form part of the acquis at the time accession was agreed, and ...

Progress in the Implementation of Five Environmental Directives in the Acceding Countries

Briefing on the practical problems and prospects concerning the implementation in the accession countries of the Directive 91/271/EEC, 1999/31/EC, 2001/80/EC, 1999/13/EC and 96/61/EC.

EP Briefing Note on the Commission proposal for a directive on the protection of groundwater against pollution