See WFD page at EMWIS new website.

The EU Water Framework Directive
(A new scheme for integrated river basin management)

•  On 23 October 2000, the "Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for the Community action in the field of water policy" or short the EU Water Framework Directive (or even shorter the WFD) was finally adopted.

•  The Directive which was published in the Official Journal (OJ L 327) on 22 December 2000 and entered into force the same day can be downloaded hereafter: 

The implementation of the WFD resides fully within the competence of individual Member States it was recognised that a common approach to some of these challenges would allow the sharing of expertise, information, experience and resources whilst facilitating, as far as possible, a coherent and harmonious implementation of the Directive. A Common Implementation Strategy (CIS) was thus agreed in May 2001 between Member States, Norway and the European Commission. The aim of the Common Implementation Strategy (CIS) is to allow, as far as possible, the coherent implementation of the Water Framework Directive, whilst focusing on methodological questions relating to achieving a common understanding of the technical and scientific implications of the Directive.  Guidance documents, recommendations for operational methods and other supporting information may be developed, but the implementation of the Directive will be the responsibility of the Member State. As such, these documents are informal and non-legally binding in character, but should limit any risks associated with the application of the Directive.

• ambitious objectives and clear deadlines,
• the introduction of River Basin Management on a Europe-wide scale,
• the requirement for cross border co-operation in water management between
• countries and all involved parties,
• pollution prevention and control on the basis of the so called "combined approach",
• greater public participation in water management, and
• economic analysis of water use.

 The Water Framework Directive (also known as the WFD or Directive 2000/60/EC) is a legislative framework to protect and improve the quality of all water resources such as rivers, lakes, groundwater, transitional and coastal water within the European Union.