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1.3 Assessment methodologies

The results in this report present a European overviews of the data reported by the second RBMPs and the status and pressures affecting Europe's waters. Caution is advised for Member State comparisons and comparison between first and second RBMPs, as the results are affected by the methodological approach used by the individual Member States. The following text describes some issues that may affect the interpretation of results.

Difficulties in assessing change from the first to the second RBMPs

Comparisons between the two RBMPs are difficult for several reasons. Firstly, the WFD Reporting Guidance was significantly revised and extended in 2016. There have been many changes in how Member States implement the Directive, e.g. water body re-delineation and improvement of assessment methods. Some of the issues relevant for the understanding of this report are discussed below.