Water, Marine & Fisheries

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Our Work

IEEP undertakes a wide range of work on EU water policy, focusing not only on the strategic but hugely challenging Water Framework Directive, but also on the many ‘supporting’ Directives on priority substances, flood management, ground water, bathing water, and so on. Member States have had enormous problems implementing these Directives and our analysis has sought to address both the practical challenges and the fundamental principles of water protection.

Our key work in this area includes:

Undertaking detailed policy analysis within the 6th Research Framework Project ‘SCENES’ (Water Scenarios for Europe and for Neighbouring States), developing scenarios for the future of Europe’s inland waters.

Water scarcity and droughts. This study for the European Parliament looks at the EU’s approach to water scarcity and droughts, an issue which is swiftly rising up the policy agenda.

Interactions of EU Legal Instruments Establishing Broad Principles of Environmental Management: The Water Framework Directive and the IPPC Directive. This book chapter by Andrew Farmer offers a detailed examination of the policy interactions between different legal instruments with an impact on water quality.

Regarding work in this area please contact:

Andrew Farmer

More about our work in this area...

Latest in Water Policy

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.
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.
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.
Linking the Water Framework Directive and the IPPC Directive: Phase 2

Integrating pollution control into river basin management is a major challenge. A report for IMPEL explores how Member States address this.
EU Water Policy – fit for purpose?

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

Integrating pollution control into river basin management is a major challenge. A new report for IMPEL explores how EU addresses this interaction.
Challenges of Developing an EU Strategic Approach to Water Scarcity

The introduction in 2000 of the Water Framework Directive provided the first coherent EU legal tool to address water scarcity and this has been supported by further policy aimed directly at ...
Water Framework Directive Implementation Report

EU Policy Briefing
Interactions of EU Legal Instruments Establishing Broad Principles of Environmental Management: The Water Framework Directive and the IPPC Directive.

This book chapter examines the multiple interactions of the water framework and IPPC Directives with a range of other EU laws and international Conventions. It identifies significant synergies and conclusions ...
A European Union Directive on Flood Management

A new paper has been written by Andrew Farmer on the forthcoming proposal for an EU flood Directive. The paper explores the development of the Directive, the likely contents of the proposal and how these ...

Highlights

A European Union Directive on Flood Management

A new paper has been written by Andrew Farmer on the forthcoming proposal for an EU flood Directive. The paper explores the development of the Directive, the likely contents of the proposal and how these ...