Description of the Water Framework Directive
The EU’s Water Framework Directive was enacted on 20 December 2000 with the aim to protect and improve the status of aquatic ecosystems and groundwater and to promote sustainable water use based on long-term protection of available water resources by applying an integrated river basin management process. The first step in the process is to transpose by December 2003 the WFD into Latvian law, define the river basin districts and to assign competent authorities which will manage the river basin management process.
The Law on Water Management (2002) has commenced the transposition process. The country has been divided into 4 River Basin Districts as indicated in the following diagram:
The Latvian Geological Survey has been appointed as the River Basin Management Authority responsible for managing the river basin management process.
Description of the Project
The Danish ( DEPA , DANCEE) and Latvian Governments ( MoE) are jointly funding a project to support the transposition and early implementation of the WFD. The project started in February 2003 and is due for completion in January 2004. It is being implemented with the support of the Danish consultancy - Carl Bro a/s and Latvian- Carl Bro SIA.
Objectives and Outputs of the Project
The overall objective is to assist the Ministry of Environment in the EU accession process via transposition of the WFD with special emphasis on deadlines up to year 2006. In particular, the project will transpose Annexes II and V into Latvian legislation, assist the Ministry to define a reference network, develop a specification for a data management and information system. This project will addresses information to the municipalities, water enterprises, water users, academic organisations and other relevant stakeholders in the form of information material on WFD principles, it’s transposition and implementation process in Latvia.
Activities
The project has recently completed the Inception Phase and drafted one of four CM regulations on Water Resource Use Permits. The activities to be undertaken further include:
- Draft Regulations for the practical implementation of the WFD:
- CM regulation on Typology ;
- CM regulation on classification of waters;
- CM regulation on monitoring programmes in the river basin areas;
- Draft proposal for the reference network;
- Draft Action Plan on how to complete the implementation of requirements related to the classification of fresh and coastal waters
- Preparation of information materials on WFD related issues
- ToR’s for a data management/ information system
Role of the Consultant
The consultancy team works closely with the Ministry of Environment staff in order to produce the necessary legislation, information material and other documentation. The team consists of lawyers, water quality experts, information management specialists, mapping experts and communication experts.
Our Partners
Whilst the Ministry of Environment is responsible for transposing and implementing the Water Framework Directive, there is a vast network of stakeholders whose co-operation is essential for the success of the project. This includes the Ministries of Health, Agriculture, the Association of Local Authorities, sector associations (e.g. Water Supply Association, Association of Latvian Contractors, Association of small hydropower plants etc.), Municipalities and Municipal Enterprises, Training institutions, NGOs and community based organisation, industry, International Financing Institutions (e.g. European Union) and donors (e.g. Danish Environment Protection Agency (DEPA).
Funds Available
The project is funded jointly by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency and the Latvian Ministry of Environment, estimated at approximately DKK3.5 million.
Project Implementation Programme
The project implementation cycle is indicated below:
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Q4 |
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| Transposition of WFD Annexes |
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| Information Material |
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| Information Management |
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Meet the Staff
There are 22 staff members working on the project.
The foreign Project manager is Ms. Mette Jeppesen (MjN@carlbro.dk) Any general queries concerning the project should be addressed to her.
The local Project Manager is Ms. Lūcija Konošonoka. Any detailed queries concerning the project should be addressed to her.
Opportunity for Providing Feedback
All stakeholders are welcome to provide feedback on all matters associated with the project. You are invited to contact the following:
Lūcija Konošonoka
Local Project Manager,
Carl Bro Latvija SIA,
Peldu iela 26/28, Room 301,
LV-1050 Riga, Latvia.
Ph: +371-7223166,
Fax: +371-7229852,
e-mail: lkn@carlbro.lv
We maintain a database of stakeholders so you are most welcome to provide summary data for our database.
The Final reports of the project ''Transposition and Implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive in Latvia'' funded by the DEPA ( DANCEE) are available. The project is implemented by consulting companies Carl Bro a/s (Denmark) in co-operation with Carl Bro SIA (Latvia) .
