Implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive

The EU Water Framework Directive is a subject of heated debate among hydro-power operators in Europe. On the one hand, the sector is confronted with an environmental instrument with clearly defined goals and a very strong focus on water ecology; on the other hand, implementation of the Directive, as a process accompanied and controlled by the European Commission and its Directorate General for the Environment, still requires clarification of numerous details. The potential danger for any type of water use in general, and hydro power in particular, should not be underestimated.