EMWIS Flash n°72, July/August 2009

2- During the Mediterranean Forum for Local and Regional Authorities, held on 22 and 23 June 2008 in Marseille by the Mediterranean Commission of United Cities and Local Governments, local and regional authorities affirmed their intention to mobilize their efforts in order to promote decentralized cooperation in the Union for the Mediterranean. The Presidency of the Union for the Mediterranean, i.e. the French Minister for Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Water, and the Egyptian Minister for Water Resources and Irrigation, proposed, during the Ministerial Conference for Water that was held in Jordan on 22 December 2008, that local authorities organize a Conference on « Water » strategy of the Union for the Mediterranean. In this context, the Mediterranean Committee of United Cities and Local Governments is organising an international conference on 23 and 24 November 2009, in Lyon (France). This conference will focus on: the contribution of local and regional authorities to the water strategy of the Union for the Mediterranean. This meeting aims to articulate the recommendations coming from local and regional authorities and to identify the actions and projects of decentralized cooperation likely to be presented at the Union for the Mediterranean while reinforcing the support from important donors for the projects led by Mediterranean authorities. Further information on EMWIS website.

3- On June 25th, the first ministerial meeting of the Union for the Mediterranean on Sustainable Development projects was held in Paris. For many participants in this meeting, it was a "revival" of the process of UfM even if the union still faces enormous challenges. Launched at the Paris Summit of July 13th 2008, the Union for the Mediterranean has witnessed a blockage following the Israeli operation on Gaza during last winter. Since then the Arab members did not wish to resume dialogue in a situation of war between Israel and Gaza. Senior official said "For the first time, we are having a meeting of ministers so consequently a political meeting: the proof that we overcome, although it is difficult, the tragedy in Gaza". Technical workshops preceded this Ministerial meeting and addressed the following themes Energy, Transport, Sustainable Urban Development and environment & Water Further information on EMWIS website.

4- The European Commission is releasing an additional €72 million for 2009-2010, for priority projects identified by the Euro-Mediterranean Heads of State and Government at the launch of the Union for the Mediterranean in Paris last year. A Commission press release gave the following breakdown -among others- of the new allocation for priority areas: Environment - De-pollution of the Mediterranean (€22 million for 2009-2010) The Programme ‘Sustainable Water Management and De-pollution of the Mediterranean’ will promote sustainable water management policies in the context of increasing water scarcity. Part of the funds will be dedicated to support the Mediterranean Water Strategy. €7 million will be dedicated to the implementation of the ‘Horizon 2020’ Programme from September 2009. The Commission is also providing a contribution of €1 million to the Euro-Mediterranean University in Portoroz (Slovenia) to allow non EU Mediterranean students to participate in the programmes, and is in the process of identifying the financial needs and possibilities related to the running of the UfM Secretariat in order to allocate funds. This latest allocation brings the total community budget dedicated since July 2008 to the priorities identified by the Union for the Mediterranean to €90 million. Further information on EMWIS website.

5- For the second time already, the G8 countries acknowledge the importance of disaster risk reduction and recognize the Hyogo Framework for Action as a tool to reduce disaster impacts, in particular in developing countries. The declaration on  ‘Responsible leadership for a sustainable future’, issued at the G8 Summit in Aquila, Italy on 8 July, explicitly identifies UNISDR and WMO as organizations to collaborate with for ‘defining common guidelines for disaster prevention and management to be used in developing national plans, building on the Hyogo Framework for Action and on national experiences’. Preceding the summit, a joint statement was issued by the seven international agencies/ organizations which form the Management Oversight Board of the ISDR partnership, urging the G8 leaders and their governments to apply their ‘considerable influence, resources and political will’ to advance disaster risk reduction, especially as the G8 countries are ‘uniquely placed to establish, support and implement nationally owned disaster risk reduction plans and help address the risks associated with climate change’. Further information on EMWIS website.

6- The Mediterranean Network of Basin Organisations (MENBO) organises its General Assembly in Beirut (Lebanon) for next 6-8 October 2009. Many issues will be discusses, among others: water & agriculture in the Mediterranean basins management plans, climate change adaptation & water economy, the interest of EU-WFD (Water Framework Directive) tools in the Mediterranean partners countries (monitoring, management plans, measures programmes, funding, etc). The Mediterranean water strategy will be also a subject of discussions as well as the research programmes progress (SPI-Water, INECO, IWRM-Net, Mediterranean Water Knowledge Hub). A side meeting will be organised by EMWIS for the Water monitoring network working group of the Phase II of the Med Joint Process between the Med-EUWI and the Water Framework Directive. This workshop will focus on the results of the water monitoring networks survey undertook among Mediterranean countries recently and the preparation a state of play. Further information on EMWIS website.

7- Within the annual World Water Week in Stockholm, the Swedish Water Authorities and the International Network of Basin Organisations (INBO) jointly organised, on 20th and 21th August 2009, a conference dedicated to the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive. These two days were specifically dedicated to the European District Authorities in charge of implementing the European Water Framework Directive in basins. Before the end of this year, the District authorities have to present their first Basin Management Plans and Programmes of Measures. The objective of the Conference was to organise the sharing of experience and a big part of the programme was devoted to group discussions, in the form of three workshops: Management Plans (focus on public participation and transboundary challenges), Climate Change (challenges for water management), Programmes of Measures (focus on the economic aspects). The basin authorities have indeed to face important challenges to maintain or recover the good water status in 2015 as required by the Water Framework Directive. Further information on EMWIS website.

8- The Arab Ministerial Water Council that was held in Algiers (Algeria) on the 29 – 30 June 2009, took many resolutions, concerning the implementation especially of : - An Arab Water Strategy. - A project about Integrated Water Resources Management in the Arab Countries. - A Study about the Implementation of the MDG`s in the Arab Countries. - Capacity building about negotiation Skills in the Arab Countries Sharing Water resources with non-Arab Countries. - Calling the Center of Water Studies and Arab Water Security - Arab League - to establish a Regional Water Information Base within the Center. - Strengthening Cooperation with regional and International , and Civil Society Organizations. - The Council decided that the 3rd of March of every year will be the Arab Water Day.  - The Council called for the International Community to help Palestinians in the Arab Occupied territories to restore their rights of water resources. - The Council executive Board will hold an International Conference about this problem . These resolutions were the fruits of the works carried out by the technical and scientific Commission, composed of high Responsibles in the Ministries of Water in the Arab Countries, in addition to the regional and International organizations concerned, the Arab and African financial institutions, and the Civil Society Organizations in the Arab Countries. Further information on EMWIS website.

9- The French Finance Act amendment to be considered at the end of 2009 should bring a new public service dedicated to the management of urban stormwater, and above all a new tax that will finance it. Its principle was adopted by the legislature under the Water Act of 30 December 2006 (LEMA). Further information on EMWIS website.

10- The Sedif just admitted the four candidates competing for the biggest public service of drinking water in France, for the time being delegated to Veolia Water. The latter, Suez Environment, the Saur group and the group formed by Derichebourg and German Remondis must submit their offer before December 4 2009. Further information on EMWIS website

11- The largest desalination plant of seawater in Spain has just opened near Barcelona. The unit, which will fill 24% of drinking water needs of the region, ends the uncertainty of supply that affected the region in recent years. Drinking water supplies by boat from Marseille will soon no longer be a bad memory for the people of Barcelona. Further information on EMWIS website.

12- The European Investment Bank (EIB) is lending CZK 3 billion (about EUR 107 million) to finance the improvement and expansion of drinking water supply and the waste water infrastructure in the Czech Republic. The new loan, the third of a series of similar contributions, is a further example of the EIB’s continuous support for this important sector, in particular with respect to smaller schemes. The wide experience gathered through the previous projects will be beneficial to the new one. The EIB funds, provided on favourable terms at a time of difficult market conditions, will co-finance local investments needed to fulfil the Czech Republic’s commitment to implementing EU legislation in the water sector. The individual investments will help to enhance the citizens’ quality of life and they involve the upgrading, improvement and expansion of the water supply and wastewater system to meet the demands of more than 110,000 citizens living in a large number of small and medium-sized municipalities all over the country. Further information on EMWIS website

13- The European Investment Bank (EIB) is lending EUR 25 million for the modernisation and extension of drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, including water and wastewater treatment in Cluj and Sălaj Counties situated in the northwest parts of Romania. This will have positive implications for public health and help Romania to fulfil the commitment to implement EU standards in the area of the environment. This is the first EIB direct loan provided to a water utility company in Romania - Compania de Apa Somes SA. EIB funds will, together with EU Cohesion Funds, co-finance the expansion and rehabilitation of the drinking water treatment system, construction and refurbishment of pumping stations and wastewater collection and treatment in eight conurbations including neighbouring villages covering an area with a total population of some half a million citizens. The investment project, worth EUR 196 million, has also benefited of JASPERS assistance during preparation. Further information on EMWIS website.

14- Morocco has proposed to host an international conference on water in the southern Mediterranean region. The proposal was made at a Mediterranean seminar held in Washington by the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE also known as Helsinki Commission). The Moroccan delegation stressed that the issue of water should be examined in all its aspects, especially the political one. Water is the source of several conflicts, notably in the Middle East, and this issue would determine the future of security in the MENA region. The participants in the seminar welcomed the proposal, which is part of the "Morocco Vision Paper" submitted by Morocco to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to reinforce the Mediterranean partnership. The meeting gathered officials from the OSCE as well as representatives of the southern shore of the Mediterranean, including Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Jordan. The Moroccan delegation underscored the need for the commission to promote cooperation with a number of organizations which share the OSCE’s concerns, including the Euro-Mediterranean parliament and the Union for the Mediterranean. Further information on EMWIS website

15- The water resources management in Morocco and Egypt has been the focus of a meeting organised in Kenitra (Morocco) by the Moroccan-Egyptian Association for friendship and brotherhood. This meeting was intended to make known the experiences of both countries in water management and their respective policies to ensure a sustainable and rational use of water. This initiative has brought the views on the issue of water between the different countries of the basin, in order to ensure sustainable development in the region. Further information on EMWIS website

16- The Algerian Minister of Water Resources, Abdelmalek Sellal, and the Syrian Minister of Irrigation, Nadir El Bouni, met in Algiers on the occasion of the 1st Ministerial Arab Water Council, have agreed to encourage exchange of experiences and information between the two countries in the field of water resources. Further information on EMWIS website.

21- In a new report, B'Tselem surveys the ongoing neglect of wastewater treatment in the West Bank. The report criticizes both Israel and the Palestinian Authority for their failures, which have harmed the health and future water supply of all residents of Israel and the West Bank. Wastewater in the West Bank – from the settlements, from parts of Jerusalem, and from Palestinian communities – amounts to 91 million cubic meters [mcm] a year.  Most of it is not treated, despite the sanitary and environmental danger inherent to wastewater flowing freely. Prolonged neglect of this issue has caused severe hazards in the West Bank and is liable to pollute the Mountain Aquifer, the most important and highest-quality water source for both Israelis and Palestinians.  Also, use of untreated wastewater for agriculture contaminates crops and harms a major sector of the Palestinian economy. In the long run, the flow of untreated wastewater will also diminish land fertility. Further information on EMWIS website

22- Financing for the expansion of Israel's Palmachim desalination plant from its current capacity of 30 million m³/year up to 45 million m³/y and ultimately even to 100 million m³/y was closed on 16 August 2009. The facility, on the Mediterranean coast between Tel Aviv and Ashdod, has been supplying water to the national water system since May 2007. The plant is privately owned owned by Granite Hacarmel, Tahal Group, Middle East Tube Co, Ocif, and Oceana. Its initial 15 million m³/year expansion is expected to take one year. Further information on EMWIS website.

23- Financing worth US$ 80 million has been agreed for the 74,000 m³/d expansion of the Hadera reverse-osmosis desalination plant in Israel, IDE Technologies announced on 3 July 2009. The agreement was signed between the H2ID consortium and the European Investment Bank, Calyon Corporate & Investment Bank (France) and two Israeli banks. Hadera was ordered by Israel's government to serve the national system and is now in an advanced construction phase. It is planned to produce desalinated water gradually from the end of 2009 with a total capacity, after the expansion, of 348,000 m³/d of high quality drinking water. Further information on EMWIS website

24- The Head of the EU Delegation to Lebanon visited four EU-funded community development projects in the Tripoli region and the Akkar on June 25. The projects are aimed at improving the economic and social situation of the most deprived categories of the Lebanese population, by implementing programmes designed to contribute to job creation and community development.  According to a Delegation press release, among the four localities visited were:  Deir Dalloum, Majdala and Mar Touma (Akkar), where EU financed water infrastructures were inaugurated; and Denbo (Akkar), where the EU financed a social centre, a medical centre, irrigation canals and a playground. The total cost of these four projects amounted to €1.37 million granted by the EU. Further information on EMWIS website

25- IWRM-Net is currently composed of 20 partners from 14 members states. IWRM-Net network is a developing community willing to set a new partnership in the different phases of its activities: identification of research needs, implementation and follow up of calls, transfer of scientific results to the targeted audience. Project IWRM-Net (2006-2010) is an ERA-NET project funded by the European Commission (EC). IWRM-Net’s concern is Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) research in the specific context of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) implementation. ERA-NET is short for European Research Area Network, a specific kind of project funded by the EC. The EC’s aim is to support European research managers in coordinating their efforts and implementing transnational and regional research activities together. While research is one output from ERA-NET projects, the EC’s funding is used to create the networks of research managers and not for the research itself. Further information on EMWIS website.

26- PCCP (from Potential Conflict to Cooperation Potential), UNESCO's programme on water conflicts and cooperation, is currently creating a database of experts and institutions involved in transboundary water issues. The database will include experts, organizations, university programs and other training courses, and will serve as a "clearinghouse" of information related to transboundary waters. Further information on EMWIS website

27- On 22 June 2009, UNESCO-IHE presented its contributions to water education to UNESCO Member States Delegates. The briefing was held during an Information Meeting on Water Education at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France. Mr Marcio Barbosa, Deputy Director-General of UNESCO, opened the meeting by expressing his concerns for water issues around the globe. Barbosa gave a comprehensive overview of the four pillars of UNESCO's freshwater actions working together to deliver water education challenges: WWAP, UNESCO-IHP, UNESCO-IHE and UNESCO water-related centres and chairs. He stressed the importance of UNESCO-IHE's as the largest postgraduate water education facility in the world and the only institution in the UN system authorised to confer accredited degrees. He asked permanent delegates to fully support UNESCO-IHE. Further information on EMWIS website

28- WWF has devoted its enhanced presence at World Water Week to highlight the urgency of considering water security for the environment and humanity more and more as regional and global issue. WWF will be keeping up the momentum in its campaign for more countries to ratify and bring into effect the UN convention on transboundary waters (UN Watercourses Convention) to provide the basis of sustainable, equitable and peaceful sharing of waters that cross international boundaries. WWF launched a  water footprint studies for German. Another key study will use the growing number of national water footprint studies to show that water conservation in the developing world is in the security, nutritional, health and economic interests of the developed world. Further information on EMWIS website

29- On July 7th-8th, IHP through its PCCP associated programme, in cooperation with UNESCO's Social and Human Sciences sector, and UNESCO ETXEA hosted a meeting of thirteen external experts and eight organizers to discuss the human right to water and challenges related to access to safe sanitation. The main objective of the meeting was to elaborate upon recommendations concerning the fulfillment of this right, which will contribute to each of the participating institutions’ ongoing work in this area. To this end, participants discussed the content of the human right to water, strategies and indicators for fulfillment, "good practices." In addition, the outputs of the meeting will contribute to a working document discussing the human right to water that will serve the Member States of UNESCO and will be distributed during its 35th Session of the General Conference. Further information on EMWIS website.

30- WWF and other NGO, research and business partners have formatted a Global Water Roundtable (GWRT) to develop global standards for freshwater stewardship. The new standard setting process, unveiled at the annual World Water Week gathering in Stockholm for water professionals from governments, businesses and NGOs, will operate under the umbrella of the Alliance for Water Stewardship of which WWF is an organising member.  The initiative is supported by a USD1 million grant from Johnson Diversey, a global provider of commercial cleaning and hygiene solutions. The GWRT will consist of a series of meetings with stakeholders around the world, initially to develop an agreed set of standards covering water impacts, quality and management schemes. Other organising members of the Alliance for Water Stewardship which will manage the process include World Wildlife Fund, the Pacific Institute, The Nature Conservancy, Water Witness International, The Water Stewardship Initiative, the Water Environment Federation and the European Water Partnership. Further information on EMWIS website