Workshop on water availability and abstraction in Europe

In recent years, a growing concern has been expressed throughout the EU regarding water scarcity and drought (WS&D) events. For an increasing number of EU Member States the occurrence of seasonal or longer term droughts and water scarcity situations have become a noticeable reality in recent years. This is not limited anymore to Southern Europe as it was traditionally the case but concerns also UK and Sweden for example.

The European Commission carried out an assessment of water scarcity and drought in 2006 and early 2007 (see DG Environment's homepage). The assessment identified the principle sectoral water users; the extent of water scarcity and drought was studied; and possible gaps in the implementation of existing EU policy instruments were highlighted.

On 18 July 2007, the Commission adopted a Communication: Addressing the challenge of water scarcity and droughts in the European Union. During summer 2007 the Commission also published a study in order to estimate the water saving potential across Europe . The informal council of Environment Ministers discussed water scarcity and drought end August 2007 and the European Parliament had a public hearing on WS&D in April 2008.

The assessment confirmed by the council conclusions also noted high data gaps and data uncertainty in estimating water availability, and water abstraction. Indeed, the Water Frame Directive allows valuable reporting on water quality issues but not on quantity and abstration. In order to agree on significant data and indicators related to WS&D, experts from EU memberstates are working together with the European Environment Agency, EuroStat and the DG Environment of the European Commission. A preliminary DPSIR indicator framework (Driving Force, Pressure, State, Impact Response) for WS&D has been defined in order to prepare a State of Environement focusing on WS&D. An EU test on water quantity reporting has been carried out and discussed. The full framework is expected for late 2008.

To get additional input in particular from non EU Mediterranean countries, the work in progress at EU level on the indicator framework could be presented at a meeting of the Med working group on WS_D, which could be organised back to back to the next meeting of the core group of the WS&D network (planed early October 2008 in Brussels). To complete this process, EMWIS will prepare an analysis of data availability in non EU Mediterranean countries.