Possible Impact of EU Water Framework Directive on Energy Utilization of Water Resources in Croatia

During the nineties of the past century a debate was launched within the European Union on the re-definition of key water management principles. As a result, a new legal act - Water Framework Directive, 2000/60/EC, has been adopted. The document was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 22 December 2000, and entered into force the same day. The adopted Directive rests on the consensus of European countries on basic principles of comprehensive water management, but also allows for a certain amount of freedom in the estimate of the level of implementation of those principles, given natural, socio-economic and institutional circumstances of individual countries. The passing of the Water Framework Directive (WFD EC) represents a turning point in the development of European water policy. It establishes the framework for Community's actions in the field of water policy with the purpose of protecting inland surface and ground waters, transitional waters and coastal waters. The goals set by WFD are mainly of environmental nature, which contradicts with historical use of water in almost every EU Member State. The problems related to the implementation of Directive differ from one district to another, whereby the use of hydro power is one of most affected fields since in the majority of cases it results in hydrological and morphological interventions in the water regime, while WFD defines "natural" as the targeted status of water and aquatic ecosystems. As for energy utilization of water, the most significant problems related to future utilization of water potential and the implementation of WFD are the ban on further deterioration of water status, possible increasing minimum flows, more stringent restrictions on maximum output, and the additional costs to preserve water ecosystem. Being an EU candidate country, the Republic of Croatia is required to progressively adopt and implement all common rules of conduct and standards established at the level of the European Union. In line with the European legal system, Croatia is required to fully transpose the provisions of particular directives contained in the EU acquis communautaire into its national legislation. The undertaken international obligations have influence on the water management policy in Croatia, which is increasingly being directly or indirectly controlled by international institutions and neighboring countries. Key instrument of such control will be common (coordinated) management plans for international aquatic districts with a program of measures to meet the set objectives. Since Hrvatska Elektroprivreda is a significant user of water in the Republic of Croatia, it is interested in participating in the development of water management plans for river basin districts that constitute the basis of water management. Hrvatska Elektroprivreda is also a specific user of water and as such it is interested in determining economic significance and efficiency of use of water for electricity generation purposes. The objectives of energy policy, such as promoting energy from renewable energy sources and/or improving security of supply, can be met only by using hydro power in the best possible way (in the existing power plants and potential new capacities).