- 2.8 how do we involve them?

The timetable, which is linked to the program cycle of the Directive, as described in Section 3 is another determining factor in timing public participation. The different planning steps provide different possibilities for public participation. The Directive defines a number of phases and deadlines for its implementation, shown below (enumeration is not exhaustive).

Step 1 By end of 2003	Framework Identification of River Basin Districts Assignment of the Competent Authorities Transposition of the Directive into national legislation
Step 2 By end of 2004	Characterisation and Analysis (Art.4) Characterisation of the river basin district, review of the environmental impact of human activity and economic analysis of water use. Assessment of the likelihood that surface water bodies within the river basin district will fail to meet the environmental quality objectives set for the bodies under Article 4 (gap analysis Annex II (1.5)).
Step 3 By end of 2006	Planning for establishing programs of measures and outline of river basin management plans Further characterisation for those bodies identified by the gap analysis as being at risk, in order to optimise the monitoring programme and the programme of measures. Monitoring programmes start
	For Public information and consultation about the RBMP, MS make available for comments a timetable and work programme for the production of the RBMP (MS shall allow at least six months to comment on those documents).
Step 4 2007	For Public information and consultation about the RBMP, MS make available for comments an overview of the most important water management issues within the RBD (MS shall allow at least six months to comment on those documents).
Step 5 2008	For Public information and consultation about the RBMP, MS make available for comments a draft copy of River Basin Management Plan (MS shall allow at least six months to comment on those documents).
Step 6 2009	Final River Basin Management Plan published Programmes of measures shall be established.
Step 7 2012	Implementation Programmes of measures implemented
Step 8 2015	Evaluation and updating, derogations Good water status achieved? Objectives for Protected Areas achieved? Establishing and publishing the next plans and programs Derogations
Step 9 2027	Final deadline for achieving objectives, following 2 6-year prolongations

In the next Sections the Guidance will describe how the three different degrees of participation can be organised in the different planning steps:

• active involvement (Section 3);
• 3-step consultation (Section 4);
• information supply (Section 5) .

As stated many times before, every process of consultation or active involvement is unique and depending on context and circumstances. Section 7 will help you to reflect on the public participation in your situation.

Look out! Remember communication The backbone of public participation is two-way communication between the competent authorities, the participants and all other interested parties. Transfer of information between different planning steps is essential. Tools which support communication and interaction such as public meetings, interviews, workshops, websites, etc. are described in Annex I.