The EU Water Framework Directive

The EU is introducing directives for the 25 Member States in areas including the environment. The Water Framework Directive is one such example. Its aims are to improve water quality and water ecology within the EU and to promote the sustainable use of water. By 2009 every river basin in the EU should have developed a plan setting out the quality objectives for all water sources, as well as the measures that need to be taken per river basin. In 2015 Brussels will examine whether the objectives have been met. Further information on the EU Water Framework Directive can be found at http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/water/water-framework/index_en.htmlThe Netherlands is made up of five river basins. Waterschap Veluwe belongs to the Rijn-Midden river basin region. The first step is to ascertain the current situation regarding ground and surface water for this part river basin, and then to estimate whether the water quality in 2015 can meet the required objectives. This assessment of the part river basin Rijn-Midden can be downloaded from the Internet site of Europese Kaderrichtlijn Water (only available in Dutch). In 2005 the first measures will be drawn up. These will be measures that all parties can agree to.