Report on Harmonisation of freshwater biological methods

practice guides for identification keys, lake hydromorphological assessment, thedevelopment of a scoring system for assessing the quality of physical features inrivers and the quantification and use of performance characteristics in ecologicalassessment methods, amongst many others that are, at the current time, given lowerpriority.D. Current contribution to WFD intercalibration90. All of the recently published standards contribute to the intercalibration process,where the GIGs choose to use the same method of ecological assessment.91. Additionally, the advanced drafts available for several biological and ecologicalassessment methods could also support the process, particularly where these arepending formal vote for adoption as EU standards. In formulating theirintercalibration strategies, the GIGs and ECOSTAT should consider not only the useof these standards for future data collection, but also advise WG 2 of priority gaps thatneed to be addressed in method standardization.E. Future liaison and involvement with ECOSTAT WG 2A92. CEN/TC 230/WG 2 states in its mission statement that "it is committed to thedelivery of scientifically robust methods for biological and ecological assessment andclassification in support of European Union legislation and sound science".93. The priority objectives of WG 2 are hence to:(i) examine the present state of standardization of biological and ecologicalassessment methods;(ii) advise CEN/TC 230, the Commission, its expert groups and its delegatedagencies of progress in, and barriers to, the standardization of biological andecological assessment methods;(iii)determine, evaluate and advise CEN and others of gaps in the availableresearch that need to be addressed prior to normalization;(iv) identify needs in the knowledge-base supporting European standardization andidentify and promote appropriate project proposals;23