The 26 articles of the Directive 2000/60/EC – establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (The Water Framework Directive) describe what shall be done to implement the Directive and the annexes have been developed to assist Member States in ensuring that the articles are implemented in accordance with the requirements of the Directive. However, the complex nature of the Directive means that the annexes may not provide sufficient Guidance to provide Member States with the assistance they require.
The purpose of this document, along with the other Guidance Documents published by the Commission, is to provide experts and stakeholders with Guidance in the implementation of the Directive. The focus of the document is on providing Guidance on establishing programmes of measures with specific emphasis on the appropriate selection of quality elements and design of monitoring programmes in accordance with Articles 8 and 11 and Annex V.