On October 23, 2007, Directive 2007/60/EC of the European Parliament and the Council on the assessment and management of flood risks was passed; it came into force on November 25, 2007.

By adopting this directive in addition to Directive 2000/60/EC from October 23, 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (Water Framework Directive: WFD), the European Union's water policy set a new task for itself, namely to establish a framework for the assessment and management of flood risks, aiming at the reduction of the adverse consequences for

• human health,
• the environment,
• cultural heritage and
• economic activities

associated with floods in river basin communities.

Both the flood risk management plans and the river basin management plans under Directive 2000/60/EC are elements of integrated river basin management.