IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EUROPEAN WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE IN TURKEY

Bilgehan Nas, Selcuk University, Department of Environmental Engineering, Konya, Turkey
Nermin Çiçek, Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs, General Directorate of Water Management, Ankara, Turkey
Ali Berktay, Selcuk University, Department of Environmental Engineering, Konya, Turkey

Abstract

On October 23, 2000 the European Union adopted the EU Water Framework Directive, which aims at protection and amelioration of all waters of the European Union, as a result of the co-decision of the European Parliament and the Council of Europe.
The Water Framework Directive constitutes a framework for the environmental acts. The Directive, which aims at harmonizing the current EU water policies and developing the water quality all around the aquatic environment within the borders of the Community, is a new integrated approach willing to protect and develop the sustainable use of all waters.
It aims to harmonize and streamline existing water legislation throughout the EU in order to achieve a “good water status” of all EU waters by 2015, at the latest.  The WFD sets out a timetable for the implementation of requirements for EU member countries. The candidate countries like Turkey will also adapt the directive and prepare an individual implementation plan. The implementation process of WFD has recently started in Turkey. The process raises a number of shared technical challenges in Turkey having one of the largest surface areas as the candidate among member countries.
Regarding the implementation of WFD and the adaptation of water related EU directives, Turkey has made an effort to establish new legislations. Turkish water authorities have completed the determination of the river basin structure of Turkey.
In this study, the legislative, political, and technical progress and attempts for the implementation of WFD in Turkey are discussed and some recommendations are given for the future activities. The existing institutional situation in Turkey has been examined and the developments in the EU Accession Process have been mentioned.