The Water Framework Directive in the Baltic Sea Region Countries - vertical implementation, horizontal integration and transnational cooperation The Water Framework Directive in the Baltic Sea Region Countries – vertical implementation, horizon- tal integration and transnational cooperation Sigrid Hedin, Alexandre Dubois, Riikka Ikonen, Patrick Lindblom, Susanna Nilsson, Veli-Pekka Tynkkynen, Michael Viehhauser, Ülle Leisk & Kristina Veidemane Nordregio Report 2007:2 ISSN 1403-2503 ISBN 978-91-89332-63-8 © Nordregio 2007 Nordregio P.O. Box 1658 SE–111 86 Stockholm, Sweden [email protected] www.nordregio.se www.norden.org Analyses & text: Sigrid Hedin, Alexandre Dubois, Riikka Ikonen, Patrick Lindblom, Susanna Nilsson, Veli- Pekka Tynkkynen, Michael Viehhauser, Ülle Leisk & Kristina Veidemane Dtp: Hanna Pitkänen Linguistic editing: Chris Smith Repro and print: Allduplo, Stockholm, Sweden Omslagsbild: Bengt af Geijerstam/Bildhuset/Scanpix. The European Commission does not have responsibility for the content of the report. Nordic co-operation takes place among the countries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, as well as the autonomous ter- ritories of the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland. The Nordic Council is a forum for co-operation between the Nordic parliaments and governments. The Council consists of 87 parlia- mentarians form the Nordic countries. The Nordic Council takes policy initiatives and monitors Nordic co-opera- tion. Founded in 1952. The Nordic Council of Ministers is a forum of co-operation between the Nordic governments. The Nordic Council of Ministers implements Nordic co-operation. The prime ministers have the overall responsibility. Its activities are co-ordinated by the Nordic min- isters for co-operation, the Nordic Committee for co-operation and portfolio ministers. Founded in 1971. Nordregio – Nordic Centre for Spatial Development works in the f ield of spatial development, which includes physical planning and regional policies, in particular with a Nordic and European comparative perspective. Nordregio is active in research, education and knowledge dissemina- tion and provides policy-relevant data. Nordregio was established in 1997 by the Nordic Council of Ministers. The centre is owned by the f ive Nordic countries and builds upon more than 30 years of Nordic cooperation in its f ield. Stockholm, Sweden 2007 Contents Preface 9 Executive Summary 11 Part I: Introduction 15 The WFD - a tool for achieving good water quality 17 Aim and analytical approach of the study 20 Methodology 21 WFD background 22 The integrative approach of the WFD 23 The planning process of the WFD 25 Cross analysis 26 Introduction of the key WDF principles 27 Process of vertical implementation 28 Process of horizontal integration 36 Discussion and perspectives 39 Vertical implementation 39 Horizontal integration 40 Transnational cooperation 43 Concluding remarks 44 References 44 Part II: Country Reports 47 Belarus 49 Introduction 49 Coherence with the WFD 53 Conclusions 57 References 58 Denmark 59 Introduction 59 Implementation of the WFD 61 Conclusions 65 References 65 Estonia 67 Introduction 67 Implementation of the WFD 68 Conclusions 74 References 74 Finland 77 Introduction 77 Implementation of the WFD 79 Conclusions 85 References 85 Germany 87 Introduction 87 Implementation of the WFD 89 Impacts and effects on planning systems: the case of the State of Brandenburg 93 Conclusions 95 References 96. Latvia 97 Introduction 97 Implementation of the WFD 98 Conclusions 102 References 102 Lithuania 105 Introduction 105 Implementaion of the WFD 106 Conclusions 111 References 111 Norway 113 Introduction 113 Implementation of the WFD 116 Conclusions 119 References 119 Poland 121 Introduction 121 Implementation of the WFD 122 Conclusions 129 References 129 Russia 131 Introduction 131 Application of the WFD 133 Conclusions 136 References 137 Sweden 139 Introduction 139 Implementation of the WFD 140 Conclusions 147 References 147 Part III: Case studies 151 Water management issues in spatial plans – examples from Latvia, Lithuania and Russia 153 The Narva basin - water cooperation in the Estonian-Russian transboundrary commission 156 Odra Commission as an example for successful international collaboration in water issues 161 Appendix 169 Guidelines country reports 169 Main findings Workshop I, 13-14 February 2006 171 Participant list Workshop I 171 Main findings Workshop II, 20-21 November, 2006 172 Participant list Workshop II 173 Preface TRABANT (Transnational River Basin Districts on the across the Baltic Sea Region (BSR). Eastern Side of the Baltic Sea Network) is an Interreg IIIB 4. Establish an institutional partnership network, initi- Baltic Sea Region (BSR) project led by the Finnish Envi- ate and carry out a number of activities for the transfer ronment Institute (SYKE). The INTERREG III B of knowledge supporting the development of joint programme´s specific feature is to promote joint solutions River Basin Management Plans (RBMP). to joint problems through transnational co-operation and 5. Produce guidelines and recommendations usable in by funding projects that include an analysis of the eco- River Basin Management (RBM) in transnational nomic, social, spatial and environmental potential of the River Basins. BSR. The TRABANT project was launched in July 2005 and has 13 partners in total. TRABANT concentrates on co-operation between EU and non-EU countries in the international river basins of • Finnish Environment Institute (Lead Partner) Vuoksi, Narva, Daugava and Nemunas, all discharging • South East Finland Regional Environment Centre, into the Baltic Sea. The number and area of international Finland river basins that will potentially be managed jointly under • Regional Council of South-Karelia, Finland the WFD are significant; thus this is a crucial issue in the • Peipsi Center for Transboundary Cooperation, Esto- implementation of the WFD, and in respect of water is- nia sues, in international river basins more generally. • Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia The project was divided into four work packages (WP). • Jõgevamaa County Environmental Department, Es- This study belongs to work package 2: “Interface between tonia spatial planning and river basin management planning”. • Nordregio The main output of WP 2 is this research report including • Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Sweden an overview and analysis of the adaptations of national • Jekabpils District Council, Latvia spatial planning systems in respect of the WFD in the • Baltic Environmental Forum, Latvia countries of the BSR. • Central Research Institute for Complex Use of Water The work carried out within the context of work pack- Resources, Belarus age 2 has been led by Nordregio who, in cooperation with • Baltic Environmental Forum, Lithuania KTH, have been responsible for the work. In addition, • Center for Transboundary Cooperation-St.Peters- work has also been performed by the Finnish Environ- burg, Russian Federation ment Institute, the South East Finland Regional Environ- ment Centre, the Regional Council of South-Karelia, Bal- The overall objective of the TRABANT project is to con- tic Environmental Forum (Latvia) and Tallinn University tribute to enhancing the ‘good water status’ of the Baltic of Technology. The project team would like to thank all Sea and its surroundings, while also supporting the wise participants in Workshop I and II (see Appendix) for their management of waters in transnational river basin districts contribution to the findings of the report. within this area. The project also aims to strengthen the links between the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) Outline of the report and spatial planning. More specifically, the project has as The report is divided into three parts. Part I includes an its objectives, to: introduction to the study and the WFD. This section is followed by a section which includes a cross analysis of the 1. Review the current development of management ar- country reports. In the cross analysis and the concluding rangements in respect of international river basins. section of Part I focus is placed on the broad patterns con- 2. Review and evaluate up-to-date methods and tools, cerning WFD application/implementation in the investi- and make proposals for their development and har- gated countries, if the reader is interested in the details we ad- monised use (including water status and impact as- vice them to have a look at the country reports found in Part II. sessment, as well as planning procedures, communi- Part I concludes with the main findings of the study while also cation strategies and public participation). highlighting the further research needed in the field. In Part II 3. Review the consequences of the implementation of the country reports for the eleven investigated countries can be the WFD on spatial planning systems in countries found. Part III includes the three case studies. NORDREGIO REPORT 2007:2 9 Executive Summary The European Union Water Framework Directive (WFD) in order to adapt to the Directive. It is also evident that was adopted in 2000. The WFD takes an integrated ap- significant efforts have indeed been made to adapt to the proach to water management and the overall objective is Directive. Among the non-EU-countries, Norway is im- to achieve “good water status” for all waters in Europe by plementing the Directive. In Belarus and Russia some of 2015. In the following report we investigate how the WFD the WFD principles are now applied. has been implemented