On 18th September the European Union Council finally adopted a Directive of the European parliament and of the Council on the assessment and management of flood risks. The adoption followed an agreement with the European Parliament in April and the Directive will enter into force upon its publication in the Official Journal.

The Directive was proposed by the European Commission on 18/01/2006, its aim being to reduce and manage the risks that floods pose to human health, the environment, cultural heritage and economic activity. The Directive requires Member States to first carry out a preliminary assessment by 2011 to identify the river basins and associated coastal areas at risk of flooding. For such zones they would then need to draw up flood risk maps by 2013 and establish flood risk management plans focused on prevention, protection and preparedness by 2015. The Directive applies to inland waters as well as all coastal waters across the whole territory of the EU.

The Directive will be carried out in coordination with the Water Framework Directive, notably by the coordination of flood risk management plans and river basin management plans. Member States will be required to make all assessments, maps and plans prepared available to the public. They will also have to coordinate their flood risk management practices in shared river basins, including with third counties, and not undertake measures that would increase the flood risk in neighbouring countries. Member States will also be required to take into consideration long term developments, including climate change, as well as sustainable land use practices in the flood risk management cycle addressed in the Directive.