Assessment of the third river basin management plans under water framework directives : Spain

In Spain there is large number of competent authorities for its RBDs. These include the river basin authorities (Confederaciones hidrográficas) of the RBDs of river catchment areas that cross several regions (Autonomous Communities) that are named "inter-community RBDs" and the hydraulic administrations for river basins within the same region, that are named "intra-community RBDs". All the Balearic Islands (ES110) form a single RBD whilst each of the 7 Canary Islands have their own individual RBD. The national authorities are responsible for the liaison between inter-community RBDs, while the Autonomous Regions are responsible for the implementation of the WFD provisions within the intra-community RBDs. The RBMPs note the change in governance responsibilities as the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenges (MITERD) supplements the previous competent authorities Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and the Environment In this section four RBMPs were assessed in detail (i.e. Jucar (ES080), Segura (ES070), Guadiana (ES040) and Ebro (ES091) RBMPs, Guadalquivir (ES050) RBMP was not covered). Joint consultation has been organised for the RBMPs and the Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMPs) in all intercommunity RBDs and in most intracommunity ones. WFD and FD measures are integrated in the PoM of all RBMPs. Spain has four International RBDs shared with Portugal and two with France. For all these RBDs, there is an international agreement and permanent co-operation body in place (designated as category 2). Additionally, one RBD is shared with Andora (Ebro (ES091) RBD) and two with Morocco (Ceuta (ES150) RBD and Melilla (ES160) RBD). The timetable, work programme, consultation plan, overview of significant water management issues and the draft RBMPs were available for consultation for 6 months in all the RBMPs assessed in detail. A joint consultation was organised for the RBMPs and the Flood Risk Management Plans, as it is the case for all RBDs. In order to guarantee the maximum transparency and availability of the data by the general public, there is a public national database of the RBMPs, which includes the officially reported information by Spain.