MEP Ricardo Serrão Santos will chair a conference entitled “The Water Framework Directive Fitness Check and the protection of EU waters" organised by the European Parliament Forum on Recreational Fisheries and Aquatic Environment, with the support of the European Anglers Alliance (EAA) and the European Fishing Tackle Trade Association (EFTTA).
The event will take place on the 29th of January in the European Parliament (room A5G1) from 18:30 to 20:00.
The Water Framework Directive (WFD) is the most comprehensive instrument of EU water policy. The WFD’s main objective is to protect and enhance the status of aquatic ecosystems and promote sustainable water use. However, there is growing concern that the objective of good status, or higher, in all EU waters by 2027 is a long way from being achieved in many countries.
An evaluation of the WFD is ongoing to assess whether the current regulatory framework is ‘fit for purpose’. In this regard the European Commission has launched a public consultation which closes on 4 March 2019.
The aim of the conference is to bring key stakeholders, scientists and legislators together to share facts and views on the current status of the WFD.
Among the speakers environmental NGOs, including the European Anglers Alliance, will make the case that the WFD indeed is fit for purpose. They argue that no changes to the current regulatory framework are needed, but that the Member States need to speed up the implementation of existing provisions as most of them are behind schedule.
To register please send an email to marta@eaa-europe.eu by the 21st of January 2019.More information are available here.