Background 

Many of Europe's waters still fail the good ecological status due to excessive nutrient inputs. We presented key results and discussed the applicability of the NAPSEA approach (project related to the following EC call: Horizon Zero Pollution). This approach aimed at managing nutrients from source to sea and at integrating complementary perspectives: nutrient pathways & measures, ecosystem health, and governance. 

Ecological indicators revealed substantial reduction needs to achieve safe ecological limits of the UN World Heritage site Wadden Sea. Current policy goals concerning the treatment of wastewater, the emission of air pollutants, agriculture, and nature-based solutions do not reduce nutrient loads and concentrations sufficiently. Therefore, more drastic action is needed to secure good ecological conditions for the Wadden Sea under climate change. Questionnaires and interviews revealed the support of farmers and citizens for nutrient reduction measures but also a lack of financial, political, and behavioral support for a just agricultural transition. 

While member states struggle to maintain nutrient inputs within safe ecological limits, there is a lack of coherence between water-related policies as well as targets for inland water systems and coastal waters. Recommendations on how to improve the coherence between policies and nutrient reduction strategies were derived from a multi-dimensional, cross-sectoral, and multi-scale policy analysis ranging from EU legislation to (sub-) national policies.  

Objectives of the webinar 

Inform participants on the NAPSEA outcomes and recommendations with regards to policy, governance and acceptance on the nutrient management in Europe. 

We also invited the participants of the webinar to provide feedback on these outcomes and recommendations which served as input for our planned policy brief due end of Sep. 2025: 

• streamline nutrient-related EU policies 

• make nutrient targets stricter and more ecology-based, e.g. by considering their ratios 

• strengthen the source-to-sea approach 

• enhance cross-border coordination, data harmonization, and level of ambition 

• revise nutrient management strategies at the regional and national levels 

• foster cooperation of regional sea conventions and river basin authorities 

• implement stricter spatially targeted actions in the agro-food sector 

• make governance structures inclusive and transparent to involve farmers in policy development and decision-making 
• inform local authorities on latest scientific knowledge. 

Programme

Please see the programme at this link.

Language: The workshop will be held in English.