Common use of Baseline and the justification for EU level action Clause in Contracts

Baseline and the justification for EU level action. In Europe, household and industrial water metering continues to increase. Many Member States already meter the majority of water uses. However, in many countries and in relation to agriculture water use metering is still limited81. The assessment of RBMPs shows that the absence of metering for many major water users prevents any volumetric charging for water. The Pressures and Measures study found that 40% of RBMPs include actions to enhance metering, but it is not clear how far the problem gap will be addressed82. For a limited number of Member States, the following data could be collected from case studies on the share of metered connections. In Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France and Germany, the share amounts to 100% for both domestic and industrial water use. In the Netherlands the metered share is 96% for domestic water and 100% for industrial water. In Sweden it amounts to 95% for domestic water and 100% for industrial water, in the Czech Republic 93% for both domestic and industrial water use, in the UK 42% for domestic water use37. Metering is not yet employed to its full potential in the European agricultural sector. It is expanding but still insufficient to verify if the water allocation plans are followed, or if the gap between water availability and consumption continues to increase; and monitoring of abstractions is also considered weak83,84. In some cases, metering is obliged for permit holders, though limited evidence on the actual implementation and control at the farm level 80 Ex-post evaluation case studies of Cyprus, France and Romania have confirmed the positive impact metering has on water use and promoting water savings in agriculture through volumetric pricing (ARCADIS et al., 2012). 81 See xxxx://xxx.xxx.xxxxxx.xx/themes/water/water-resources/policies-and-measures-to-promote- sustainable-water-use 82 WRc, ACTeon, Ecologic, XXXX, XXXXX, Intersus, ARCADIS (2012). Comparative Study of Pressures and Measures in the Major River Basin Management Plans, study commissioned by DG ENV 83 Xxxxxxxx, X.; Xxxxxx, M.R.; Xxxxxxxxx–Xxxx, N.; Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, L.; Xxxxxxxx–Xxxxxx, P. (2009). Issues related to intensive groundwater use. In: Xxxxxxx, A.; Xxxxxx, R. (Ed.) (2009). Water policy in Spain. Balkema

Baseline and the justification for EU level action. ‌ In Europe, household and industrial water metering continues to increase. Many Member States already meter the majority of water uses. However, in many countries and in relation to agriculture water use metering is still limited81limited83. The assessment of RBMPs shows that the absence of metering for many major water users prevents any volumetric charging for water. The Pressures and Measures study found that 40% of RBMPs include actions to enhance metering, but it is not clear how far the problem gap will be addressed82addressed84. For a limited number of Member States, the following data could be collected from case studies on the share of metered connections. In Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France and Germany, the share amounts to 100% for both domestic and industrial water use. In the Netherlands the metered share is 96% for domestic water and 100% for industrial water. In Sweden it amounts to 95% for domestic water and 100% for industrial water, in the Czech Republic 93% for both domestic and industrial water use, in the UK 42% for domestic water use37use12. Metering is not yet employed to its full potential in the European agricultural sector. It is expanding but still insufficient to verify if the water allocation plans are followed, or if the gap between water availability and consumption continues to increaseincreasing; and monitoring of abstractions is also considered weak83,84. In some cases, metering is obliged for permit holders, though limited evidence on the actual implementation and control at the farm level 80 82 Ex-post evaluation case studies of Cyprus, France and Romania have confirmed the positive impact metering has on water use and promoting water savings in agriculture through volumetric pricing (ARCADIS et al., 2012). 81 83 See xxxx://xxx.xxx.xxxxxx.xx/themes/water/water-resources/policies-and-measures-to-promote- xxxx://xxx.xxx.xxxxxx.xx/themes/water/water-resources/policies-and-measures-to- promote-sustainable-water-use 82 84 WRc, ACTeon, Ecologic, XXXX, XXXXX, Intersus, ARCADIS (2012). Comparative Study of Pressures and Measures in the Major River Basin Management Plans, study commissioned by DG ENV 83 abstractions is also considered weak85,86. In some cases, metering is obliged for permit holders, though limited evidence on the actual implementation and control at the farm level can be identified sometimes. A lack of capacity to control and enforce can be regarded as a barrier to effectiveness of existing metering. Water metering for permitted abstractions in agriculture is at least obliged in Belgium (Flanders), Bulgaria, Czech Republic (above a certain threshold), Denmark, Estonia, France, Malta (groundwater), Lithuania, Romania and Spain. It is of note that the list may not be exhaustive, as some other EU Member States also apply volumetric charges which necessitates some type of water metering14. The EU disposes of a number of public financial instruments that can be used to improve water efficiency and/or plays a role in poorer regions to develop the necessary water infrastructures, both for water supply (and accompanying measures such as metering) and for water treatment. €8 billion of regional and Cohesion Funds have been allocated over the period 2007-2013 to finance leakages, improving connections and develop infrastructures87. The European Commission presented its proposals for cohesion policy 2014-2020 in October 2011. It was decided that cohesion policy, rural development and maritime and fisheries policies should remain essential elements of the 2014-20 financial package because of their pivotal role in delivering the Europe 2020 strategy88. According to the proposed Cohesion policy, the role of innovative financial instruments will be enhanced, by extending their scope, rendering their implementation frameworks more flexible and effective, and encouraging their use as a more efficient alternative, or in a complementary way with traditional grants. In October 2011 the Commission presented a set of legal proposals designed to make the CAP a more effective policy for a more competitive and sustainable agriculture and vibrant rural areas. The Commission proposals are currently being discussed in Council and European Parliament. The second pillar of the CAP directly or indirectly can support water pricing mechanisms and metering. There are a number of measures that can be offered in 85 Xxxxxxxx, X.; Xxxxxx, M.R.; Xxxxxxxxx–Xxxx, N.; Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, L.; Xxxxxxxx–Xxxxxx, P. (2009). Issues related to intensive groundwater use. In: Xxxxxxx, A.; Xxxxxx, R. (Ed.) (2009). Water policy in Spain. Balkema

Baseline and the justification for EU level action. In Europe, household and industrial water metering continues to increase. Many Member States already meter the majority of water uses. However, in many countries and in relation to agriculture water use metering is still limited81. The assessment of RBMPs shows that the absence of metering for many major water users prevents any volumetric charging for water. The Pressures and Measures study found that 40% of RBMPs include actions to enhance metering, but it is not clear how far the problem gap will be addressed82. For a limited number of Member States, the following data could be collected from case studies on the share of metered connections. In Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France and Germany, the share amounts to 100% for both domestic and industrial water use. In the Netherlands the metered share is 96% for domestic water and 100% for industrial water. In Sweden it amounts to 95% for domestic water and 100% for industrial water, in the Czech Republic 93% for both domestic and industrial water use, in the UK 42% for domestic water use37. Metering is not yet employed to its full potential in the European agricultural sector. It is expanding but still insufficient to verify if the water allocation plans are followed, or if the gap between water availability and consumption continues to increase; and monitoring of abstractions is also considered weak83,84. In some cases, metering is obliged for permit holders, though limited evidence on the actual implementation and control at the farm level 80 Ex-post evaluation case studies of Cyprus, France and Romania have confirmed the positive impact metering has on water use and promoting water savings in agriculture through volumetric pricing (ARCADIS et al., 2012). 81 See xxxx://xxx.xxx.xxxxxx.xx/themes/water/water-resources/policies-and-measures-to-promote- sustainable-water-use 82 WRc, ACTeon, Ecologic, XXXX, XXXXX, Intersus, ARCADIS (2012). Comparative Study of Pressures and Measures in the Major River Basin Management Plans, study commissioned by DG ENV 83 Xxxxxxxx, X.; Xxxxxx, M.R.; Xxxxxxxxx–Xxxx, N.; Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, L.X.; Xxxxxxxx–Xxxxxx, P. (2009). Issues related to intensive groundwater use. In: Xxxxxxx, A.; Xxxxxx, R. (Ed.) (2009). Water policy in Spain. Balkema