LEX-FAOC124061

The purpose of this Directive is to establish a framework for the protection of inland surface waters, transitional waters, coastal waters and groundwater which: (a) prevents further deterioration and protects and enhances the status of aquatic ecosystems , (b) promotes sustainable water use based on a long-term protection of available water resources; (c) aims at enhanced protection and improvement of the aquatic environment, (d) ensures the progressive reduction of pollution of groundwater and prevents its further pollution, and (e) contributes to mitigating the effects of floods and droughts.; Member States shall identify the individual river basins lying within their national territory and, for the purposes of this Directive, shall assign them to individual river basin districts. Small river basins may be combined with larger river basins or joined with neighbouring small basins to form individual river basin districts where appropriate. Member States shall ensure the establishment of a register or registers of all areas lying within each river basin district which have been designated as requiring special protection. The European Parliament and the Council shall adopt specific measures against pollution of water by individual pollutants or groups of pollutants presenting a significant risk to or via the aquatic environment, including such risks to waters used for the abstraction of drinking water.; Annex I regards the information that the Member States shall provide on all competent authorities within each of its river basin districts as well as the portion of any international river basin district lying within their territory, Annex II concerns surface and groundwater, Annex III the economic analysis, Annex IV protected areas, Annex V surface and groundwater status, Annex VI the list of measures to be taken, Annex VII river basin management plans, Annex VIII the list of main pollutants, Annex IX The limit values" and "quality objectives"