Institute for European Environmental Policy                                                                                                         Member of network of academics

Evaluation of the Cost Proportionality of Reaching the Good Water Status

The proposal of the process of the justification of the cost disproportionality exemption for the purpose of Water Framework Directive goals fulfillment.

The implementation of the Water Framework Directive (No. 2000/60/EC) brought the commitment to reach “good status” of all water bodies until 2027. In reality, this means the adoption of numerous investment measures in order to decrease the pollution inflow and to improve the morphology of water bodies. However, achieving “good status” is associated with large investments, often beyond the capabilities of polluters. In justified cases, member states may request an extension of the deadline based on disproportionality of the costs of meeting the WFD requirements (Article 4). The Directive doesn’t provide a clear explanation how the cost proportionality should be assessed. Within the project, the Czech methodology certified by the Czech Ministry of Agriculture was developed. Our approach is grounded in cost-benefit analysis and compared with alternative approaches, such as “new Leipzig approach” (see the enclosed case study).

Funding Agency: Technology Agency of the Czech Republic
Duration: 1/2014–12/2015
Contact Person: Lenka Slavíková, e-mail: slavikova@ieep.cz, lenka.slavikova@ujep.cz
Funding Agency: Jan Macháč, Lenka Slavíková, Ondřej Vojáček, Jan Brabec
In Cooperation with: Water Research Institute of T. M. Masaryk
Outputs: Macháč J., Brabec J., Slavíková L. (2016): Pilot study of cost proportionality analysis according to the “new Leipzig approach” in the Czech Republic. Ústí nad Labem: IEEP, Institut pro ekonomickou a ekologickou politiku, Univerzita J. E. Purkyně (v anglickém jazyce).
 
Downloads: Pilot study of cost proportionality analysis according to the new Leipzig approach in the Czech Republic (pdf) 
Use of Results: The methodology certified by the Czech Ministry of Agriculture