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7-c) Expert Group & 7-c) Expert Group & River Basins Network River Basins Network

AGRICULTUREAGRICULTURE

Strategic Co-ordination GroupStrategic Co-ordination Group

Brussels, 11-12 May 2011Brussels, 11-12 May 2011

Nicolas Rouyer & Ville Keskisarja Nicolas Rouyer & Ville Keskisarja European CommissionEuropean CommissionDG EnvironmentDG EnvironmentWater Unit (D1)Water Unit (D1)

1. Key events in the period1. Key events in the period

Joint meeting of the Expert Group on WFD & agriculture and the River Basins Network on 5 & 6 April in Brussels:

• Expert Group meeting on 5 April• Workshop on clear measures for farmers on 6 April

Preparation of the guidance on clear and transparent measures at farm level in April-May

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2. Upcoming key events2. Upcoming key events

• Second meeting of the EG on 13 September 2011 in Warsaw

• Annual conference on water & agriculture dedicated to water pricing on 14 & 15 September in Warsaw organised with the Polish Presidency back to back with the EG meeting.

• Workshop on agriculture & climate change organised by the EG on climate change and to which the EG on agriculture will be associated.

• 2nd Water Science meet Policy CIS event on ecosystems services in 29-30 September 2011. The event is organised by the SPI activity, but the EG on agriculture will contribute as well.

• River Basins Network, a workshop is planned to be held in November/December 2011.

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3. Work programme deliverables3. Work programme deliverables

Issues discussed in the EG meeting on 5 April:

• Current CAP & WFD implementation• MS presented current situation• DG AGRI’s review on water related GAECs

• CAP reform: cross-compliance, greening & water protection

• DG AGRI’s presentation• Debate on different options

• COM studies on water & agriculture in 2011• Water pricing and water saving

• Water protection measures and competiveness• COPA COGECA presentation

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3. Work programme deliverables3. Work programme deliverables

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3. Work programme deliverables3. Work programme deliverables

Water pricing and water saving study:

• Review of the current situation at EU level

• SCG helped in identifying water pricing experts • (BE(FL), CY, DE, EE, ES, FR, IT, MT, NL, PL, RO, UK)

• Next phases include a detailed analysis of case studies• Water pricing (CY, FR, ES, NL, RO, Australia & Mexico)• Water saving (CY, FR, UK, ?)

• CIS EG on WFD & Agri conference on 15 September in Warsaw organised with the Polish Presidency.

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3. Work programme deliverables3. Work programme deliverables

Guidance on how to make agricultural measures clear & transparent at farm level:

• Agricultural measures are a key to meet WFD objectives• Communication on CAP reform confirms water protection as

a high priority• WFD measures should be operational in 2012 (WFD article

11.7)

Success of agricultural measures is only possible if farmers know what they need to do to protect water resources in their farms

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3. Work programme deliverables3. Work programme deliverables

Guidance on how to make agricultural measures clear & transparent at farm level:

• Aim is to support the national and river basin management authorities in making agricultural measures in the PoMs operational

• Content includes key issues and priorities in linking POMs and farm level actions

• At Member States level• At River Basin or sub-basin level• At Farm level

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3. Work programme deliverables3. Work programme deliverables

Guidance on how to make agricultural measures clear & transparent at farm level:

• Key issues include• Enhancement of co-operation• More detailed planning of the implementation of the PoMs• Identifying and agreeing, in particular, on funding

mechanisms• Making the requirements and measures clear, acceptable

and encouraging

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3. Work programme deliverables3. Work programme deliverables

Guidance on how to make agricultural measures clear & transparent at farm level:

• March – Draft outline and first round of comments• 6 April - Workshop: brainstorming and exchange experiences• 15 April – First draft version and second round of comments• 5 May – Final draft version circulated to SCG members

• Editing work still in progress

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• SGC 12 May – Agree on the need for final round of comments and forwarding the guidance after the final round to the Water Directors

• 18 May – Deadline for final round of comments• 26-27 May – Discussion and endorsement at the WD meeting in

Budapest