International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO)

The eighth European “EUROPE-INBO” Conference, organized by the « Group of European Basin Organizations for the Implementation of the Water Framework Directive », will take place, at the invitation of the French Water Agencies, on 22, 23 and 24 September in MEGEVE – France, within the International Congress on Water in Mountains.

This International meeting, in which will participate most « River Basin District Authorities» or European Basin Organizations concerned, will be organized around main and current topics on the implementation of the Framework Directive (WFD) in the National and Transboundary River Basin Districts, in particular:

Progress made in the preparation of the WFD Management Plans: their contents, follow-up methods (indicators, management charts…),
The Programs of Measures 2010 - 2015, implementation, stakeholders’ mobilization, local contracts, financing of actions,
Combined implementation of the WFD and « groundwater », « floods » and « marine strategy » Directives,
Strategies for prevention of drought risks in Europe: national strategies, monitoring, warning systems,
Measures to be planned for adapting Water Bodies to the effects of climate change, resources management, development of upper basins, upstream–downstream common cause, optimization of the water demands, agricultural policy, hydropower, navigation on waterways, reservoirs, transfers, etc.
Cooperation with the neighboring Countries, non-members of the European Union, for the application of the WFD principles and methods.

Of course, as the conference is taking place in the Alps, special attention will be paid to the characteristics of hydrological and ecological regions and water bodies in European mountains, basin heads, and to the specific measures, that should be considered for adapting to the effects of climate change on the hydrology of the big European Rivers.

Our work will be in line with the recommendations and decisions made by the Committee of the European Union’s Water Directors and by the Strategic Coordination Group led by the Commission and in which INBO is member.

The implementation of the Water Framework Directive is now in an active and operational phase, which directly involves the Basin Organizations or the « District Authorities » that are facing operational problems in its field implementation.

The aim of INBO is to enable Basin Organizations to regularly and informally meet to exchange their practical experiences and progress more effectively and synthesize their proposals for reporting to the European Commission.

See the detailed note on "Climate and Mountains" problems