The Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council 2000/60/EC establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (Water Framework Directive - WFD) was adopted in December 2000. It will give an important impetus to management practices and policies in Europe for the next 15 years at least.

The WFD introduces or reinforces several principles that will require European countries to take action in their water basins. Some of the changes, such at organizing water management at the level of River Basins, were adopted long ago in France and therefore do not affect the Seine Normandy basin. But some other significant practices regarding the field of water regulation will require changes.

The objectives to be achieved by 2015 will be defined according to a certain status of the water. Up to now most of European regulations were defined in terms of technical means to be implemented, but did not necessarily define the results to be achieved: quality of water, minimum quantities, etc. Since adoption of the WFD, water policy-makers will have to aim at reaching certain quality objectives, and will have to define which measures for implementing them are the most efficient.

Management of water will have to be supported by an extensive process of review and analysis, on which measures taken will be based. This review process will rely to a large extent on economic analysis. All costs that are associated with any water service will have to be accounted for. The policy measures to be adopted will have to prove that they have a good cost-effectiveness ratio.

The new European Water Framework Directive puts great emphasis on public participation. It requires that the public be kept informed about all "significant issues" related to the river basin. Therefore public opinion will have to be collected and taken into account when defining objectives and measures.