Water, Marine & Fisheries

Our Work

IEEP undertakes a wide range of work on EU water policy, focusing not only on the strategic but hugely challenging Water Framework Directive, but also on the many ‘supporting’ Directives on priority substances, flood management, ground water, bathing water, and so on. Member States have had enormous problems implementing these Directives and our analysis has sought to address both the practical challenges and the fundamental principles of water protection.

Our key work in this area includes:

Highly influential projects for the Commission, such as supporting development of the Water Blueprint and supporting the Common Implementation Strategy.

Leading studies for the European Commission to support the Fitness Check of EU water policy and to develop policy options to support the Commission Blueprint to Safeguard Europe’s Water Resources.

Leading projects to support activities under the Common Implementation Strategy of the Water Framework Directive. Undertaking detailed policy analysis within the 6th Research Framework Project ‘SCENES’ (Water Scenarios for Europe and for Neighbouring States), developing scenarios for the future of Europe’s inland waters.

Undertaking a series of studies to examine the interactions between EU water policy and EU industrial pollution control policy. Water scarcity and droughts. This study for the European Parliament looks at the EU’s approach to water scarcity and droughts, an issue which is swiftly rising up the policy agenda.

Regarding work in this area please contact: Andrew Farmer.

More about our work in this area...

Latest in Water Policy

  • The Manual: Chapter 5 - Water and marine

    This is a chapter of IEEP’s Manual of European Environmental Policy. In this chapter the development of EU water pollution policy is explored, including the Water Framework Directive, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, and other directives and policies covering flooding; water scarcity; and dangerous substances in water.

  • New report: The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for Water and Wetlands

    This new IEEP-led report presents insights on the importance of wetlands in delivering ecosystem services that are needed to support human life, and also for people’s livelihoods and the world’s economies. The report shows that demonstrating and using the values of ecosystem services related to water and wetlands can lead to better informed, more cost-effective, and fairer decision- making.

  • The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for Water and Wetlands

    This new IEEP-led report presents insights on the importance of wetlands in delivering ecosystem services that are needed to support human life, and also for people’s livelihoods and the world’s economies. The report shows that demonstrating and using the values of ecosystem services related to water and wetlands can lead to better informed, more cost-effective, and fairer decision- making.

  • The EU Water Blueprint: Assessing the policy options

    The Water Blueprint proposes action to address 12 key problems for Europe’s waters. An IEEP led study found that improved guidance, information system, data exchange and funding were the best instruments to address many of these problems, with limited scope for new law.

  • EU Water Policy – fit for purpose?

    New report from Deloitte and IEEP assesses the relevance, coherence, effectiveness and efficiency of EU Water Policy.

  • Key Messages on the Future of Europe’s Waters

    IEEP has contributed to the production of the key messages from a major water conference contributing to future EU policy development.

  • Valuing and Conserving Ecosystem Services: a Scoping Case Study in the Danube Basin

    The report for WWF provides an assessment of the value and status of some key ecosystem services in the Danube Basin, and some policy instruments to support them.