Key indicators and management strategies for Water cycling and purification

Considering the large differences across Europe in soils, climate and options for management, a ‘one size fits all’ strategy is inappropriate and so are regulations prescribing such uniform strategies. Current statutory instruments aim to control the use of agriculture nutrients in isolation of the drivers of nutrient transfer. Consequently, better use of soil information and land use at catchment scale and targeting measures to areas where soil type is driving nutrient losses is more appropriate. In this context, the current proposals by the European Commission for the mid-term review of the CAP to allow for regional differentiation in policies to meet harmonised objectives, are a welcome step towards context-specific, and hence more effective management strategies for WR.