Development of a scientific observational network on European river basinsand coastal zones

European policy for the protection of the environment, and specially with r egard to the problem of limiting the effects of eutrophication of rivers an d coastal ecosystems from different types of pollution sources such as (a) agriculture and land use, (b) point source emissions, i.e. industrial waste and sewage discharge from urban areas and (c) atmospheric deposition, is c arried out through the application of a range of EU Water Directives. The J RC in collaboration with DG XI and EEA are initiating a programme to identi fy and develop a network of small river basins-coastal zones across a range of European climatic conditions (Norwegian Sea, Baltic Sea, North Sea, Atl antic, Mediterranean and Black Seas) and investigate methodologies for asse ssing the efficiency of the application of selected Water Directives in ter ms of water quality and socio-economic cost-benefit.