This digital document is a journal article from Environmental Science and Policy, published by Elsevier in 2005. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.Description: This paper describes the role of Harmoni-CA, a concerted action supported in the fifth framework of the European research activities in the field of water (Water Key Action, Environment and Sustainable Development Programme). The objective of Harmoni-CA is to create a forum for communication, information exchange and harmonizing the use and development of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT)-tools relevant to Integrated River Basin Management Plans (IRBMPs) and the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD). Since end 2003, Harmoni-CA links its activities with those initiated by DG Environment, CIS Working Group B (Integrated River Basin Management). As a result representatives of DG Env, DG RTD, Harmoni-CA/CatchMod, Joint Research Centre and WG2B leaders drafted a ''scope paper'' in order to start a discussion on the possibilities for strengthening the cooperation between RTD and those responsible for implementing the WFD. This paper describes some of the activities as proposed in the scope paper. er.