Extreme flood events which have occurred during the last 15 years have brought the Environment Council of the EU to the conclusion to recommend an action plan for the improvement of the flood protection in European river basins. It also comprises a directive which foresees an evaluation of the flood risk and its control in every river basin district.

Flood Risk Management Directive (EC 2007/60/EC) entered into force 2007 and provides a cross-over from flood protection to an advanced flood risk management. By the demand for the involvement of all affected parties in a risk area an additional sensibility to the topic could be created. There are already many so-called flood protection plans available for various areas in Germany, which have to be conformed to the provisions of the new directive and added to by new aspects of risk management.

The purpose of the Directive is primarily the documentation of flood risks and improvement of the flood prognosis and risk management. Based on the knowledge about the risks, the flood protection can be enhanced, the measures for flood prognosis applied more strongly and technical flood protection measures implemented in a more targeted and efficient way.

EU Floods Directive