In addition to the European Water Framework Directive, the Urban Waste Water Directive (91/271/EEC), the Drinking Water Directive (98/83/EC) and the Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EC), which was repealed from December 2014 by the new Bathing Water Directive (2006/7/EC), are cornerstone Directives of the EU water legislation because they significantly contribute to protecting European water resources. The 2010 European Environment Agency’s report on the state of the environment recognises that measures under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD), the Drinking Water Directive (DWD) and the Bathing Water Directive (BWD) have substantially improved urban wastewater treatment as well as the quality of drinking and bathing water over the last 20 years, but at the same time emphasises that their objectives are far from being achieved.
To further enhance the implementation of the three directives and to respond to new policy developments, this framework contract assisted the Commission in the following fields:
- Implement the reporting processes of these directives using the procedures established in the Water Information System for Europe (WISE); plus develop innovative ways for reporting and sharing information;
- Develop policy options and provide studies and technical assessments on all issues related to current and future policy development;
- Organise expert workshops and prepare supporting documents and reports.
Together with its partners, Fresh Thoughts was part of one of the three consortia that worked within the framework contract to support the implementation of these water-related directives.