Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC)

The pollution of water, whether by households, industry or agriculture can have serious consequences for the environment and for human health. The objective of the Water Framework Directive is therefore to to increase water protection for lakes, rivers, coastal beaches and groundwater sites by cleaning up water sites and preventing possible pollution.

The Directive aims to be the framework for European Water Policy and arose from a need to draw together all the existing water policy legislation which was considered fragmented and incomplete. The aims of the Directive are specifically to protect all waters, surface waters and groundwater.

A Common Implementation Strategy (CIS) has been agreed on by Member States, Norway and the Commission. Since many of the European river basins are international, crossing administrative and territorial borders this common implementation strategy is considered important for the correct and effective implementation of the Directive.