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Water assessments for 2012 - European year of water

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European water resources: current status and future challenges

2012 was the European year of water. A series of policy reviews, namely the first review of the implementation of the Water Framework Directive, the review of the water scarcity and drought policy and the review of the climate change adaptation and vulnerability policy with respect to water, led to the publication of the Blueprint to Safeguard Europe’s Water Resources by the Commission in November 2012.

To support this policy process, the European Environment Agency presented throughout the year 2012 a series of reports to assess the state of Europe’s waters and future challenges. These reports buildup on each other and provide different levels of details on critical aspects such as resource efficiency and water economics, the status of ecology, hydromorphology, vulnerability and biodiversity. All together these reports helped to build a comprehensive knowledge-base to assist policy-makers in preserving and improving the European waters.

The structure below shows how the information builds up on each other. The respective figures and graphs can be reviewed under each of the reports accessible via the links below the graphic.

Water assessments 2012 - structure

Thematic assessments (EEA reports)

Reports of the European Topic Centre (ETC reports)

The European Topic Centre on Inland, Coastal and Marine waters (ETC/ICM) and the European Topic Centre on Climate Change Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation (ETC/CCA) have published the following thematic assessments on the Water Framework Directive (WFD):

Other related EEA reports in 2012

    Related content

    Related publications

    Publication Balancing the future of Europe's coasts — knowledge base for integrated management The objective of this report is to frame an analytical approach for coastal areas in Europe, and to place this in the context of the new socio‑economic drivers of sustainable growth, and the formation of a new integrated policy framework. This framework builds on an ecosystem‑based management approach and integrated spatial planning and management. The report presents some key sustainability challenges for European coastal areas and waters, and highlights the need for a consolidated knowledge base and widespread information‑sharing to support informed policy development and management actions.
    Publication Water resources in Europe in the context of vulnerability This report describes how the natural cycle of water availability is continuously coming under threat from a variety of different pressures like droughts and water scarcity, pollution, and flood risks which all increase the vulnerability of the freshwater ecosystems and societies. Land use, water abstraction and climate change are human-induced changes that alter the natural flow regimes that exist in water bodies.
    Publication European waters - current status and future challenges„ - a synthesis This report is a synthesis of the main messages from nine EEA reports dealing directly or indirectly with water ecosystems or the pressures acting upon them. It is the last in the series of reports published by the EEA in support of water year 2012. It seeks to first provide an overview of the state of Europe's waters and the pressures acting on those waters. It then looks in greater detail at the economic and social factors driving these pressures, and concludes with a summary of the societal and policy challenges that must be met if water is to be managed sustainably.
    Publication Climate change, impacts and vulnerability in Europe 2012 This European Environment Agency (EEA) report presents information on past and projected climate change and related impacts in Europe, based on a range of indicators. The report also assesses the vulnerability of society, human health and ecosystems in Europe and identifies those regions in Europe most at risk from climate change. Furthermore, the report discusses the principle sources of uncertainty for the indicators and notes how monitoring and scenario development can improve our understanding of climate change, its impacts and related vulnerabilities.
    Publication European waters - assessment of status and pressures This report's results present good and robust European overviews of the data reported by the first RBMPs, and of the ecological status and pressures affecting Europe's waters. Europe's waters are affected by several pressures, including water pollution, water scarcity and floods. Major modifications to water bodies also affect morphology and water flow. To maintain and improve the essential functions of our water ecosystems, we need to manage them well.
    Publication Territorial cohesion and water management in Europe: the spatial perspective This report considers the links between water management in the EU — especially the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) — and territorial cohesion (1), in the perspective of spatial analysis (2) and spatial planning (3). It looks at the role of spatial analysis and planning for the implementation of the Directive as well as related provisions such as the Floods Directive and the development and implementation of River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs). It considers links between Regional Policy (4) and water management in the EU, including the lessons from a spatial perspective. It further looks at cross‑country cooperation, a key element of both the WFD and territorial cohesion and finally considers future challenges for implementation of the Directive and the development of RBMPs, in particular considering the spatial context.
    Publication European bathing water quality in 2011 Europeans care about water quality and knowing that they have clean and safe water to swim or play in is an important factor in their choice of a holiday or weekend destination. For the tourism industry, clean and safe water is also a major factor in attracting visitors to an area. To allow Europeans to make an informed choice, the European Environment Agency and the European Commission publish an annual report on the quality of more than 22 000 bathing sites. In 2012 the report includes sites in all 27 EU Member States and three other countries. This report can help all water users find high quality bathing water across the region.
    Publication Towards efficient use of water resources in Europe This report makes the case for an integrated water management, starting with better implementation of existing legislation. Clean water is a vitally important natural resource, demanding careful management. It is essential for life and integral to virtually all economic activities, including producing food, energy and industrial outputs. The availability of clean water in sufficient quantities is not only a prerequisite for human health and well-being but also essential for freshwater ecosystems and the many services that they provide.
    Publication Hazardous substances in Europe's fresh and marine waters — An overview Chemicals are an essential part of our daily lives and are used to produce consumer goods, to protect or restore our health and to boost food production, to name but a few examples. Some chemicals, however, are hazardous, raising concerns for the environment and human health. Hazardous substances are emitted to fresh and marine waters via a number of pathways and can have detrimental effects on aquatic biota. Humans can be exposed to hazardous substances in water through the ingestion of contaminated drinking water and the consumption of contaminated freshwater fish and seafood. A wide range of legislation now exists in Europe to address the release of hazardous substances to the environment, including water. New challenges exist, however, including the issues of chemical mixtures and emerging pollutants.

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    For references, please go to https://eea.europa.eu./themes/water/european-waters/water-quality-and-water-assessment/water-assessments-2012/water-assessments-2012 or scan the QR code.

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