Public Participation - Key element of EU Water Policy

1. Transboundary River Basin Management: Institutional and Public Participation Aspects, Chisinau, 12 -13 May 2006 Public Participation - Key element of EU Water Policy Nicole Kranz Ecologic - Institute for International and European Environmental Policy Berlin - Brussels

2. Outline • Historical aspects • International developments • Water Framework Directive • Implementation: Focus Germany • Observations • Challenges • Best practice Dniester Workshop, Chisinau, 12/13 May 2006

3. History Early beginnings • Water management: one of the first environmental policy areas to consider interests of stakeholders • Collective management of water resources • Spain: water scarcity • Netherlands: protection against flooding • Germany: mill authorizations • Involvement of the public dependent on overall political climate and cultural landscape Dniester Workshop, Chisinau, 12/13 May 2006

4. History Relevant processes in the past 20 years: • Development of public awareness for threats to the environment • Emerging citizens’ movement in reaction • Creation of environmental NGOs • Institutionalization of public participation in integrated planning procedures BUT: • Situation varies across EU • Challenges and shortcomings still exist Dniester Workshop, Chisinau, 12/13 May 2006

5. International Developments Aarhus Convention: • Signed 1998, entry into force 2001 • Influences EU and national policy-making • Three pillars: Access to information Art. 4 & 5 Public participation in decisions (plans and programs) Art. 6 - 8 Access to justice Art. 9 Dniester Workshop, Chisinau, 12/13 May 2006

6. European Union - WFD Preamble 14: • Success of WFD directly depends on a successful implementation of PP Preamble 46: • Importance of timely information....before decisions are taken • Report on progress Dniester Workshop, Chisinau, 12/13 May 2006

7. European Union - WFD Article 14: ‘Public Information and Consultation’  Approach inspired by Aarhus: • Foundation: Information • Consultation during the planning process • Active involvement To be guaranteed To be encouraged Dniester Workshop, Chisinau, 12/13 May 2006

8. Water Framework Directive Article 14: Consultation 12/’06: timetable for the production of the RBMP incl. PP 12/’07: interim overview of significant management issues 12/’08: draft copies of RBMP Final RBMP contains: 6 months for comments in writing from public 6 months for comments in writing from public 6 months for comments in writing from public Summary of public information measures taken, their results and changes to the plan made as a consequence Contact points and procedures for obtaining background documentation and information, details on measures and monitoring data Dniester Workshop, Chisinau, 12/13 May 2006

9. Water Framework Directive What’s new? “active involvement” ...from the beginning Self determination Co-Decision-making Challenge for water managers Active involvement Dniester Workshop, Chisinau, 12/13 May 2006

10. Support with Implementation EU level: CIS - Working group (until 12/’02) ‘Guidance on Public Participation in the WFD’ • Explanations Art. 14 and recommendations • Instruments and techniques • Case studies Germany: Länder Working Group Water (LAWA) • Guideline for the implementation of the WFD • Updated continually • Contains references to PP Dniester Workshop, Chisinau, 12/13 May 2006

11. Functions of PP • Improving policy-making • Increasing transparency in decision-making • Increasing the efficiency of the implementation of planning decisions • Improving the acceptance of decisions by stakeholder groups • Creation of awareness for environmental issues • Social learning • Using existing experience of stakeholder groups Dniester Workshop, Chisinau, 12/13 May 2006

12. The public Aarhus Convention WFD considers • organized public • interest groups: industry, fisheries, agriculture • special role: environment NGOs • general public • ‘interested parties’ (Art. 14) = public Article 2 (4) “The public means one or more natural or legal persons, and, in accordance with national legislation or practice, their associations, organizations or groups” Dniester Workshop, Chisinau, 12/13 May 2006

13. Implementation Multi-dimensional process: variety of approaches Country Level River Basins Local Level Actors Themes Goal Process Good ecological status Dniester Workshop, Chisinau, 12/13 May 2006

14. Examples International level • International river basin; beyond German borders • Decisions need to be taken in co-ordination with neighbors • International commissions • Stakeholders participation starting at this level • Different cultures and approaches need to be aligned Dniester Workshop, Chisinau, 12/13 May 2006

15. Examples from Germany North Rhine-Westphalia Stakeholder structure Länder Authorities ... Environment NGOs Agriculture Fisheries Industry Water Associations Municipalities Dniester Workshop, Chisinau, 12/13 May 2006

16. Examples from Germany North Rhine-Westphalia Länder level • Advisory council, implementation of the WFD • Working group on PP • NRW-Guidance on PP (status analysis) River basin level • Local environment agencies • Working groups  interest groups, organized stakeholders • Fora  information of the public Dniester Workshop, Chisinau, 12/13 May 2006

17. Examples from Germany Schleswig-Holstein • Working groups in 30 river basin districts • Lead: Water and Soil Associations (!) • Participants • Representatives of municipalities • Authorities • Associations of agriculture, industry, fisheries • Themes • Status analysis • Data collection Dniester Workshop, Chisinau, 12/13 May 2006

18. Examples from Germany Local Level • Strong link to Local Agenda 21 • Role of water associations • Possibility to reach general public • Hands-on experiences with river management • Creating a stronger awareness for water management issues Dniester Workshop, Chisinau, 12/13 May 2006

19. Observations: Germany Based on Ecologic’s work: general considerations • PP is responsibility of the Länder • Competent authority for PP is the Länder Ministry for Environment (strategy) • Water authorities ensure the implementation on the regional / local level • Local initiatives bring river basin management closer to the people Dniester Workshop, Chisinau, 12/13 May 2006

20. Observations / EU State-of-Play • Different status of implementation Focus • Information and consultation prevails, active involvement less frequent • Concentration on status analysis with new challenges coming up Different approaches • Set up of institutional structures (ad-hoc-process) • Activities of stakeholders Dniester Workshop, Chisinau, 12/13 May 2006

21. Challenges Creation of linkages • Different actor and themes • Different structures • Transboundary co-ordination (national & international) Creation of capacities • Access to participatory approaches • Support for participation Effectiveness of PP • Legitimacy of representation Dniester Workshop, Chisinau, 12/13 May 2006

22. Best Practice • Early involvement • Stakeholder analysis • Wide range of stakeholders • Clear rules for interaction • Transparency • Using existing potentials • Successful public participation, better decisions, better environmental quality! Dniester Workshop, Chisinau, 12/13 May 2006

23. Public Participation - Key element of EU Water Policy Nicole Kranz Ecologic - Institute for International and European Environmental Policy Berlin - Brussels

24. Public Participation - Key element of EU Water Policy Nicole Kranz Ecologic - Institute for International and European Environmental Policy Berlin - Brussels