Article 11: Program of Measures

Under Article 11 of the WFD, from 2006-2012, member states will need to develop the Program of Measures (POMs) for each River Basin District (RBD) taking into consideration the results of characterisation.

A Programme of Measures implemented at a national or local level within countries may include wide-ranging actions such as:

- measures to manage specific pressures arising from: forestry, agriculture, urban development, etc;

- control regimes or environmental permitting systems;

- water demand management measures;

- economic instruments such as incentives, taxes on fertilizers, etc;

- river restoration strategies, etc.

How these are applied will depend on identifying the most cost effective mechanism to meet the objectives set for each RBD.

Programmes of Measures (as specified in river basin management plans) are required to be operational by 2012. The competent authorities (supported by UKTAG) are reviewing the requirements of this Directive and developing the technical policy framework now as future measures will:

- need to be considered in the development of river basin management plans; and

- involve many stakeholders from different levels of government, industry, business and community both in the planning and the implementation.

Early notification about future activities in this area is considered to be helpful to all stakeholders.

UKTAG actions in this area

UKTAG, via its Programme of Measure Task Team, is reviewing how the requirements of the WFD can be met within UK systems for:

1. environmental objectives under WFD; this work can be found under Article 4;

2. classification schemes and environmental standards which aim to ensure UK regimes are WFD compliant;

3. managing the interaction of WFD with other European directives being implemented by the UK;

4. developing the framework for assessing cost-effective programme of measures.

Guidance in these areas is still developing across Europe. During 2004-2006, UKTAG will work towards supporting consistent approaches being adopted across the UK, recognizing that ultimately responsibility rest with each country. It will also work with the UK administrations to promote UK policy directions in Europe.