EMWIS Flash N°79, April 2010

EMWIS Flash - April 2010 Euro-Mediterranean Information System on the know-how in the Water Sector EMWIS is a program of the Union for the Mediterranean. For further information: http://www.emwis.net Monthly Flash produced by the EMWIS Technical Unit- OIEAU, CEDEX, SOGESID- It is available in English, French & Arabic. (French & Arabic versions are available few days later)

========================
In this issue N°79 (http://www.emwis.net/thematicdirs/eflash/flash79)
========================
HEADLINE
1-  IV Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Water, 13 April 2010, Barcelona (Spain) ends in failure
IN BRIEF
2- Union for the Mediterranean Next Ministerial Meetings
3- UfM challenges in focus at 28th Malta seminar for Euro-Mediterranean diplomats
4- 6th World Water Forum Kick-Off Meeting
5- The Water framework directive conference 2010, Lille (France) 26-28 April 2010
6- Arab states urged to be open on water scarcity & sharing information
7- African Water Information System: Review of the pilot phase and launch of the expansion phase.
8- EU statement for the World Water Day 2010: The EU supports the right to water
9- Spain: Major research project on the effects of climate change on Spanish rivers
10- Portugal: Pioneer experience for forecasting climate change impact on the rivers
11- Syria and Japan signed minutes of meeting of the Information Center of Water Resources Project in Syria
12- Syria: Ray of hope for drought-affected farmers
13- Syria and Kuwaiti Fund Signed Agreement to Expand Damascus Water Network
14- Israel is threatening to shut down water supply to the Palestinians
15- Tunisia: National Sanitation Utility (ONAS) starts international operations
16- Algeria: The price of water has increased?
17- Morocco: The King Mohammed VI will formally announce a National Charter for Environmental and Sustainable Development on Earth Day 2010.
18- Morocco: Creation of a center of expertise on Environment, Water Management and Sustainable Development
19- ESA’s Tiger II to support 20 water projects in Africa
20- EC recommends 2 billion EUR for external EIB climate actions
21- New research network launched: Arab Scientific Research and Education Network (ASREN)
22- ESA: New navsat sensor improves water monitoring
NOMINATIONS and VACANCIES
PUBLICATIONS  
CALL FOR TENDERS and PROPOSALS
CALL FOR PAPERS
TRAINING
EVENTS
BRIEF EMWIS SITE MAP
CONTACT US / COMMENTS

=================================================
HEADLINE
=================================================

1- Talks aimed at adopting a long term strategy for water in the Mediterranean failed last 13 April in Barcelona. Although an agreement was reached on technical aspects of the Strategy, this document could not be adopted because of a lack of agreement on the denomination of "Occupied Territories". The reference to the UN Convention on the Law of Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses of 1997 required also some adjustments. The text prepared by the Water Expert Group set-up by the Ministerial conference de the Dead Sea (Jordan, December 2008) is proposing a joint strategy for guaranteeing the water resources of the whole Mediterranean basin. The strategy was supposed to establish the political, methodological and financial framework for bringing in regional policies on the matter. It also envisaged reducing the consumption of water between now and the year 2025, to levels 25 percent below those of 2005. It is now up to the heads of the 43 countries of the Union for the Mediterranean to decide on the next steps. Further information on EMWIS website.

=================================================
IN BRIEF (Full news)
=================================================

2- The Union for the Mediterranean Meeting of Environment Ministers that was supposed to be held on 21-22 of April 2010 in Dubrovnik (Croatia) was cancelled. However, the 2nd Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Higher Education, Research and Innovation is kept (Brdo, Slovenia - 25-26/04/2010). This conference, which convenes for the first time under the framework of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), intends to address the urgent challenges and opportunities which the UfM has identified. With the Cairo Declaration as its framework, and in line with the sectors set by the Marseille and the Paris Declarations, there is a need to direct the efforts to advance cooperation in areas of high priority and great potential through an ad-hoc action plan with tangible proposals. The participation in the ministerial meeting is by invitation only, because of the limited number of places available. In order to gather policy-makers and experts focused on the higher education, research and innovation. On the other hand, the 2nd Union for the Mediterranean Summit is scheduled to be held in Barcelona next June, 7th 2010. Further information on EMWIS website.

3- The 28th Information and Training Seminar for Euro-Med Diplomats ‘Malta Seminar' kicks off in Malta today, from 23 to 26 April 2010, with discussions focused around the challenges facing the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM). The three-days seminar is addressing, among other topics: the UfM and the Spanish Presidency, an Arab perspective on the UfM, the UfM and the energy security challenge, as well as sessions on globalisation and the Mediterranean, trade and investment issues, and the role of civil society. Participants include EC and national officials, researchers and academics.
Malta Seminars for diplomats is an EU-funded project that carries out training for EU and Mediterranean diplomats aiming to provide them with regular and updated information on the European Institutions and the key aspects of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. The project also has a valuable networking function. Further information on EMWIS website.

4- A first opening ceremony of the 6th World Water Forumwill be held in Paris, France on 2 June 2010, followed by a working meeting on 3-4 June 2010 in Marseilles, France. The Kick-off meeting will be an opportunity for organisations to contribute with their ideas and experience in the very first step of the preparation of the 6th World Water Forum (Marseille, 2012). A detailed programme and logistical information will be published in the coming weeks. The 6th World Water Forum will build upon previous Fora, but it will go further, seeking to identify, promote and implement concrete solutions and actions for water and sanitation. Through this event, the aim is to create a willingness and appetite for all stakeholders to contribute to and engage in the 6th World Water Forum process. During the kick-off, discussion and exchange on vital questions and issues will help orient the preparatory process and its focus on "Solutions for Water." In addition, it will be the opportunity to learn more about what will make this Forum unique, in particular its emphasis on solutions and citizens involvement, and about the processes that are envisaged to build the 6th World Water Forum together. Note that participation in the kick-off is upon invitation only. Further information on EMWIS website.

5- The Water framework directive conference 2010 is taking place in Lille 26-28 April; It will focus on aspects of integration, looking at the way cross-sectoral and multidisciplinary co-operation has developed, and how emerging issues such as adaptation to climate changes will be considered in the future. Topics to be addressed go beyond the WFD and open up to related policies concerning, for example, priority substances, groundwater, floods, climate change adaptation, etc. Further information on EMWIS website.

6- People in the Arab world need fuller and freer information about shrinking water supplies but their governments are withholding it for fear of fuelling unrest, a United Nations expert said last 1st April. Arable land makes up just 4.2 percent of the Middle East and North Africa and is expected to shrink due to climate change -- a potential source of political instability, analysts say, in a region where economic privation has sometimes sparked conflict. Moreover, Arab countries do not disclose enough information on their water out of concern that transparency could fuel unnecessary public concern and unrest.  People in the Middle East and North Africa have access to an average of just 1,000 cubic meters of water a year, seven times lower than the worldwide rate, according to the UNDP's Arab Human Development Report. As climate change takes its toll and the region's populations grow at nearly twice the global average, that figure is projected to shrink to just 460 cubic meters by 2025. Coordinated water policy will be a challenge in a region where water politics is often seen as a zero-sum game and can be used as a lever in larger political feuds. Experts urged immediate action to confront the dire issue. Further information on EMWIS website.

7- Two years after its launch of the African Water Information & Documentation System (AWIS) project, the partners met to review the pilot phase and launch the new  phase. This workshop was held in Mbodiène, Senegal, from 18 to 20 January 2010. The aim was to learn from past activities, to define an action plan for the next 6 months, and strengthen the capacity of members on using information management tools. The next steps will be to sustain the AWIS portal and the network as part of a new project over 3 years, starting in 2011. Further information on EMWIS website.

8- Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the Council of the European Union has announced in an official statement dated March 22 that the 27 EU Member States recognize the right to water and sanitation. The European Union recalled that all States have obligations regarding human rights on access to drinking water, which must be available, physically accessible, affordable and with acceptable quality. The EU also believes that the obligations of human rights relating to access to safe water and sanitation are closely related to human rights as the right to housing, the diet and health. With this long-awaited recognition, states will be encouraged to pass laws and adopt regulations that establish the right to water and sanitation. Further information on EMWIS website.

9- More than 100 scientists will evaluate and predict the changes that global warming will make to the availability and quality of water, and the socio-economic impact in the Mediterranean coastal areas of Spain. The launch meeting for SCARCE, a multidisciplinary research project, was held in Barcelona on 7 April. The main goal of the project is to describe and predict the impact of climate change on the availability and quality of water and on ecosystems, as well as on society and the economy in the Mediterranean basins of the Iberian Peninsula. The project will help improve river management and at the same time promote significant interaction between the scientific community and managers of hydrological basins. SCARCE has a fund of 4.5 million euros and will last five years. The research will be based on estimates at different scales, including historical data and field studies in four representative hydrological basins in Spain: Llobregat, Ebro, Jucar, and Guadalquivir. These basins represent a very large area of Mediterranean Spain and many social and ecological circumstances. Further information on EMWIS website.

10- A pioneering and unique experience in Europe will be made soon in the Candal river in the mountains of Lousã (Portugal) to predict the effects of warming on the rivers. A multidisciplinary team of researchers from the University of Coimbra, in collaboration with foreign universities and the University of Minho, will monitor the temperature of the water of this river on a stretch of 22 meters.  Researchers have previously evaluated carefully river biodiversity. They sought to understand the current functioning of the ecosystem in order to better assess the potential effects of global warming on water resources. The information obtained from this study will help to develop strategies for enhancing the management and preservation of rivers. Further information on EMWIS website.

11- State Planning Commission of Syria and JICA (Japaneese cooperation) agreed last February on the second phase of the Information Center of Water Resources Project which will be implemented by the General Commission for Water Resources. The project includes creating regional information centers for water resources in Al Badia basin in Homs, Hama, Raqa and Sweida and providing computers and the necessary equipments for climate, surface and underground monitoring and connecting these centers with the main center to exchange information and having training sessions to enhance the efficiency of the staff.  The General Director of General Commission for Water Resources Mr. Hussein Makhlouf said "this project is one of the biggest grants provided by JICA in the region which indicates the importance and the successful evaluation of the previous phase of the project and it is incentive to develop our work." The second phase will start in May. Further information on EMWIS website.

12- While severe drought in eastern and northeastern Syria is seriously affecting lives and livelihoods, farmers may draw some hope and comfort from an irrigation success story in the central district of Salamieh. An experimental drip irrigation project run by the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (RSP) in the village of Fraytan (17 farmers) in 2003, has spread to 52 villages today. The drip irrigation systems are operational for 5-10 years, resulting in more profits for farmers long after the systems have been installed and paid for. With a drip system, upwards of 90 percent of the water is used by the plant, while with surface irrigation this rate drops below 60 percent.  Over the past 25 years, the area of irrigated land around Salamieh has more than halved, and 60 percent of the wells there have dried up. The water table has been dropping in some areas at a rate of one metre per year since 1985, and Syria has already become "water scarce". The real success of the project has been the combination of increased incomes and a reduced use of water. The farmers used about 30 percent less water this year to grow their summer vegetables and the collective adoption of new technologies resulted in increased yields of nearly 60 percent, according to the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). Further information on EMWIS website.

13- Last 9 March, Syria and Kuwaiti Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) signed an agreement to provide Syria with a loan to rehabilitate and expand Damascus potable water network. The amount of the loan signed by the State Planning Commission is 15 million Kuwaiti Dinars (51 million U.S Dollars). The project is expected to meet the needs of Damascus and its suburbs for potable water till 2022. It will also improve the effectiveness of the network and decrease water losses. The Kuwaiti bank is supporting and financing development projects in Syria, particularly electric power, irrigation and agriculture and drinking water projects, including irrigation project of the Tigris River in Hasaka province and dragging the Euphrates water to the central region. Further information on EMWIS website.

14- The Jerusalem Post stated that "National Infrastructures Minister Uzi Landau said that Israel should consider ceasing water flow to the Palestinians if they do not stop contaminating the water with sewage". In this valley, the towering Israel settlement of Ariel dominates the valley. In the middle lies the Palestinian town of Salfit and below is the domain of some Bedouin families and farmers. These families live literally next to open sewage. Untreated waste water from both the Israeli settlements and Salfit contaminate the valley of Salfit. One man explained how he has to cope with expensive water tankers for supply, living next to a black river created by sewage from both Salfit and Ariel. Israel completely control the water supply and sewage management in this area. Further information on EMWIS website.

15- Under the patronage of the Tunisian Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, ONAS signed a partnership agreement with the enterprise “Ajroudi Investment” on 27 March 2010 concerning the setting up of ONAS International. ONAS International will conduct studies and operations on behalf of environmental institutions (master plan studies, engineering studies), It will also provide technical assistance, training and management services. This new enterprise will promote Tunisian capacities, expertise and technologies in water pollution control in particular in Arab Gulf countries. It will help creating enterprises overseas and boost employment in the water, wastewater and environmental protection fields. Further information on EMWIS website.

16- The first water bill sent to the first quarter of 2010 in Algeria has aroused astonishment and questions among subscribers of SEOR (Water and Sanitation Company of Oran). The new water & sanitation bills are more detailed. It does - they experienced increases as certains users think? SEOR denies it, the voice of the communication department of the company. The increase in water rates can be made by ministerial decision. It is therefore not the responsibility of the water companies such increase. But how to explain the multiple salt invoices sent to subscribers during this quarter, particularly to large consumers? For many customers, who have contacted their nearest SEOR commercial, it would be rather "an increase that has targeted the fee on Sanitation" and that perhaps in return for SEOR reportedly introduced to absorb on cost-management wastewater treatment plant. Further information on EMWIS website.

17- The King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, will formally announce a National Charter for Environmental and Sustainable Development at the Earth Day 2010. The novel idea was inspired by the Earth Day movement in the U.S. Earth Day Network's marquee event in the U.S. is an April 25 star-studded rally in Washington, D.C., calling on the nation's political leaders to combat global warming. Big-name speakers at the rally include the Reverend Jesse Jackson; film director James Cameron; and a roster of musical guests including Sting, Bob Weir, and Tao Rodríguez-Seeger, grandson of folk singer Pete Seeger, who performed at the first Earth Day teach-in in Washington, D.C. Further information on EMWIS website.

18- University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah (USMBA) of Fez (Morocco) has just created a pole of competitiveness and expertise on Environment, Water Management and Sustainable Development. This project will involve involve academic researchers, businesses, industries and local stakeholders in projects to preserve the environment and water management at Fez and Taza Boulemane- Hoceima. The University and two companies specialized in environment, will undertake studies, technical assistance and training. The pole will be hosted at the Regional University Center of Interface Curia. With sophisticated equipment, this technology platform has several areas devoted to business incubation, scientific experimentation and technological enhancement of research, training and development. Further information on EMWIS website.

19- ESA's TIGER II initiative has selected 20 project proposals across Africa to receive support from Earth observation technology to learn more about the water cycle and to improve water-monitoring resources. TIGER II is based on the results and achievements of its precursor TIGER I, which sought to help African countries overcome water problems and to bridge Africa's water information gap using Earth-observation (EO) technology. A major component of TIGER II is devoted to supporting African scientists, technical centres and water authorities to develop the scientific skills and the technical capacity to make the best use of EO technology to understand better, assess and monitor the status of the water resources in Africa. The initiative is also devoted to supporting the African partners to gain a better understanding of how EO may help assess the potential impacts of climate change on water resources and thus to establish a sound scientific basis for developing effective adaptation and mitigation measures across the continent. TIGER is an international endeavour that contributes to the strategy of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) and involves the contributions of UNESCO (the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), the Canadian Space Agency and the African Ministerial Council on Water (AMCOW). Further information on EMWIS website.

20- The European Commission is proposing to make available an extra €2 billion of loans available to help other countries combat climate change. The proposal comes in the Commission's review of the external lending mandate until 2013 of the EU's funding arm, the European Investment Bank (EIB). Further information on EMWIS website.

21- An Arab Scientific Research and Education Network (ASREN) has been launched at an EU-MED Event on e-Infrastructures held in Brussels, the third of a series of high-level policy meetings, aimed to help secure sustainable e-Infrastructures across the Arab world. Building on EUMEDCONNECT2, the high-capacity internet network for research and education in the Mediterranean, which is co-funded by the European Commission, ASREN sets out to widen its geographical footprint by connecting other Arab national research and education networks (NRENs) in addition to the current seven EUMEDCONNECT2 member countries: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Palestine, Syria and Tunisia. The use of e-Infrastructures, such as the EUMEDGRID infrastructure co-funded by the EC in the framework of FP6, was enabling a new wave of collaborative research through remote access to computing services, instrumentation and resources bringing ‘real-world' benefits that impact on daily lives, such as: Agricultural research against the backdrop of desertification and limited water resources. Further information on EMWIS website.

22- The start-up company Star2Earth, reared in the ESA Business Incubation Centre in the Netherlands, will improve electricity production from a hydroelectric plant on Lake Laja in Chile by using navigation satellite signals to measure water levels and wave heights. The hydrologic models represent Lake Laja's water cycle and are used to predict the amount of water in the lake during the year, drawing on information such as snow coverage and the actual water level. The models are used by energy company Endesa to plan electricity production. The prototype sensor for Oceanpal was developed by Starlab, Star2Earth's parent company in Barcelona, based on ESA technology that uses navigation satellite signals reflected from a water surface. Mounted on a platform just above the water, the sensor measures reflected navsat signals and combines them with the direct signals to calculate real-time wave heights and water levels. Oceanpal is an economical solution for monitoring water reservoirs. Existing systems work out the amount of water in a reservoir by measuring the water pressure at a specific depth. They are complicated to calibrate and need frequent maintenance by divers. When the Catalan Water Authority was looking for a more efficient alternative for their water reservoir at LaBaells, Oceanpal provided the perfect solution. Further information on EMWIS website.

=================================================
NOMINATIONS and VACANCIES
=================================================

23- Mauritania joint the EMWIS community : Dr. Mohamed Ould Lemine Aboye, Minister of Water and Sanitation of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania has appointed a National Focal Point Coordinator, Mr OULD MOHAMED Saadou Ebih El Hacen, director of the National Center for Water Resources, which is the technical structure that will ensure EMWIS Focal Point activities in Mauritania. Further information on EMWIS website.

24- Marta Gomez has been appointed the new Communication Officer of EUREAU, the European Federation of National Associations of Water and Waste Water Services. Further information on EMWIS website.

25- The Mediterranean Action Plan Secretariat seeks a Coordinator. The Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) is one of the UNEP's Regional Seas Programmes encompassing a comprehensive system of activities for the protection and the sustainable development of the Mediterranean region based on a legal framework (the Barcelona Convention and its Protocols). This coordinator should work under the overall guidance of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Barcelona Convention. Deadline for applications: 21 May 2010. Further information on EMWIS website.

26- The EU Delegation in Lebanon is calling on young amateur photographers to take part in a competition around the theme of ‘Climate Change and Environment in Lebanon', with €1,000 for the winner. The deadline for the submission of photos is 16 June, 2010. Prizes will be awarded for the best three photos: 1^st prize: € 1,000, 2^nd prize: € 750 & 3^rd prize: € 500. Further information on EMWIS website.

=================================================
PUBLICATIONS
=================================================

27- EMWIS has just published its newsletter n°6, which was prepared for the Ministerial conference on water of the Union for the Mediterranean, Barcelona, 13 April 2010. This issue includes topics such as: the main steps of the water cooperation in the Euro-Mediterranean region since Barcelona 1995, the first National Water information System in the Mediterranean (Tunisia), Converging interests with the african water facility (Tunisia), Water monitoring networks and programmes (Beirut), Drought and water scarcity (Madrid), Cataloguing water information sources (Nice), and the agreement signed between EMWIS and "Ambassade de l'Eau". Further information on EMWIS website.

28- Water for life – LIFE for water (March 2010): Issues of water quantity and quality are of concern to many European citizens and transcend national boundaries. The contents of this LIFE Focus publication are drawn from the proceedings of the first LIFE Environment thematic conference, ‘Water for life - LIFE for water', which took place in Brussels in October 2009. Further information on EMWIS website.

29- Launch of the 2010 GLAAS Report: The Global Annual Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS) is a UN-Water initiative implemented by the World Health Organization (WHO). The objective of UN-Water GLAAS is to provide policy makers at all levels with a reliable, easily accessible, comprehensive and global analysis of the evidence to make informed decisions in sanitation and drinking-water.  Further information on EMWIS website.

30- JMP Report: progress on sanitation and drinking-water 2010. With 87 per cent of the world's population or approximately 5.9 billion people using safe drinking-water sources, the world is on track to meet or even exceed the drinking-water target of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), according to the new WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) report. Further information on EMWIS website.

31- OECD publication "The price of water and drinking water services and sanitation": The OECD countries, and also non-member countries are facing several challenges related to water: increased competition among water uses, lower quality of the resource, the impacts of climate change and mismanagement of the resource. In this context, the question arises of how countries can ensure that everyone has access to public water and adequate, durable and affordable sanitation. Charging for services related to water is an essential part of the answer.  Further information on EMWIS website.

32- A new International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) book on water policy answers the urgent call for smart policy and investment solutions to the developing world's 21st century water resource quantity and quality challenges. Published by Springer, "Global Change: Impacts on Water and Food Security" examines the interplay between globalization, water management, and food security, and recommends innovative approaches to water management in the global context. Further information on EMWIS website.

33- Syrian – German Development Cooperation in the Water Sector, Quarterly press review – No.1 - 2010. Articles of this issue: 1. Water Crisis Brings misery and uncertainty; 2. Kuwait 2nd biggest investor in Syria; 3. Syria and Japan signed minutes of meeting of the Information Center of Water Resources Project in Syria; 4. Syria plans to increase public investment in next five-year plan; 5. Syria and Kuwaiti Fund Signed Agreement to Expand Damascus Water Network; 6. Damascus water festival to raise water consumption awareness. Further information on EMWIS website.

34- Sustainable Management of Water Resources in Agriculture: This report shows the trends and outlook for water use in agriculture, examines the policy experiences of OECD countries in managing their resources - and recommends what countries should be doing and why. Further information on EMWIS website.

35- Silva Mediterranea, a statutory body of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) covering the Mediterranean region, released its third newsletter, which presents activities, studies and projects on adaptation of forests to climate change across the Mediterranean region. Further information on EMWIS website.

36- DVD: "Water & the Arabs" is a new production of the Spanish association "La huella arabe". Further information on EMWIS website.

37- Atlas of the Biosphere: This amazing FREE GIS data portal is hosted by the University of Wisconsin - Madison. The objective of this site is to gather and deliver as much information about the environment as possible. The Data and Maps sections contain "ready-to-download" geographically explicit data (in GIS ESRI ArcView Format) broken down into four general categories: Humans, Land Use, Ecosystems, and Water Resources. Further information on EMWIS website.

=================================================
CALL FOR TENDERS and PROPOSALS
=================================================

38- "ENPI-MED CBC: call for strategic projects announced": The Joint Management Authority announced that the call for proposal on strategic projects for Cross-Boarder Cooperation in the Mediterranean will be launched during the second semester 2010. These projects will involve a minimum of four partners representing four different countries, of which at least one EU Mediterranean Country and one Mediterranean Partner Country. Their budget range from a minimum of € 2 million up to a maximum of € 5 million. Budget announced for this call about € 37 million. Water management will be one of the priority topics with 2 sub-themes: i) Quantity and quality of supply, with a focus on alternative water supplies and wastewater re-use; ii) Efficient use of water resources, with a focus on agricultural use. The following partner countries have signed a Financing Agreement with the European Commission : - Egypt - Israel - Jordan - Lebanon - Palestinian Authority - Syria - Tunisia. These countries are now fully eligible to receive Programme funds. All the Financing Agreements have been countersigned by the Joint Managing Authority. Further information on EMWIS website.

39- LIFE+ 2010 call for proposals: The next Call for proposals is scheduled to be announced on the web site of the EC DG ENV on 15 May 2010. It is suggested that you start preparing your 2010 proposals already on the basis of the 2009 application package. It is however very important that the final version you submit in 2010 uses only the 2010 application forms and follows all the instructions in the 2010 application guide (these will be made available on 5 May 2010 on the web site of the EC DG ENV). Deadline for applicants to send proposals to Member State authorities: 1/09/2010. Further information on EMWIS website.

40- EC launches €35 million call for projects that turn environmental challenges into business opportunities: Under the 2010 CIP Eco-innovation call for proposals, funds are available for new projects in the area of materials recycling, sustainable building products, the food and drink sector and green business practices. Applications are particularly welcome from small businesses with green products or services that need backing to penetrate markets. The call runs until 9 September 2010. Some 50 projects could end up being chosen for funding. Some 44 projects are currently running under the scheme, and another 45 are set to launch in the course of this year. Some examples include: converting used tyres into valuable insulation materials; using bamboo plantations to purify 'grey' water; and replacing conventional paper labels with innovative laser technologies. Further information on EMWIS website.

41- EuropeAid/129937/D/SER/EG ENPI Contract Forecast: :"Improving the capacity of the Holding Company for Water and Waste Water (HCWW) - Egyptian Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Development": The aim of this contract is to assist the Holding Company for Water and Waste Water (HCWW) in effectively undertaking its role, as the organization responsible for the provision of water and waste water services delivered through the Affiliated Companies (ACs), by introducing EU good practices in specified areas of management and sector governance, with an indicative budget of 1,500,000 EUR. Intended timing of publication of the procurement notice: May 17th, 2010. Further information on EMWIS website.

42- Training & Development Program on Sanitation (Notice of National Open Tender IEA/A/2010 # 02): This operation is part of measures to support ONEP (the National Office of Potable Water in Morocco) by KfW, to the programs of sanitation facilities development and assistance to develop a Programme of Training and Development (PEP II ). This consultation is open to companies who meet the conditions specified in the settlement of purchases of ONEP. The offers should be submitted in accordance with the requirements of the Rules of the consultation and should reach the Procurement Office of the International Institute for Water and Sanitation at the latest Friday, 04/06/2010 before 12:00 PM. Further information on EMWIS website.

=================================================
CALL FOR PAPERS
=================================================

43- Call for Papers for the 4th International Symposium on Water Resources and Sustainable Development: As part of this symposium to be held on 22-23 February 2011 in Algiers. Deadline for receipt of abstracts (one page, character 12): May 15, 2010. Further information on EMWIS website.

44- SedNet calls for abstracts for platform presentations and posters for the Open Conference. Abstracts related to the main issues of the Conference with a special focus on the Mediterranean area will be particularly welcomed. Issues to be addressed among others are: Sediment management measures and cost-benefit analysis, Climate change and sediment: effects on bio-availability and contaminant biogeochemical cycles, Sediment Environmental Quality Standards and monitoring. Deadline for abstract submission: 1 September 2010. Further information on EMWIS website.

45- Call for papers for the Social capital and sustainable development conference: A session of the 3rd International Conference on Social Sciences.  The deadline for full papers submission is 28 May 2010. Further information on EMWIS website.

46- The PROMITHEAS Network is organizing for the third year the International Scientific Conference on "Energy and Climate Change " during 7-8 October 2010 in Athens (Greece). The Scientific Committee invites scientists, researchers, PhD candidates and policy makers from all over the world to participate. Further information on EMWIS website.

47- The Laboratory Population - Environment - Development (LPED) and the Mediterranean Institute of Ecology and Paleoecology (IMEP) will hold on 20 and 21 January 2011 in Marseille (Centre Saint-Charles) an international symposium entitled: "Uses of ecological, economic and social agricultural water in the Mediterranean: the challenges for which services?". Submission of abstracts: 01 June 2010 at the latest. Further information on EMWIS website.

=================================================
TRAINING
=================================================

=================================================
EVENTS (Full Agenda)
=================================================

===============================================
BRIEF EMWIS SITE MAP
===============================================
ABOUT EMWIS (Priorities, Activities, Objectives, Structure, Funding, Team)
WATER in the EURO-MED PARTNERSHIP (MEDA programme, Key dates, European Neighbourhood Policy)
EMWIS NATIONAL WEBSITES: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Cyprus, Malta, Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Austria, Greece, Belgium, Luxembourg
EMWIS WATER MULTILINGUAL THESAURUS (Available in English, French, Arabic, Spanish & Italian)- Water glossaries
WATER PROJECTS DATABASE (MEDA-NIPs, MEDA-Water, LIFE, SMAP, INCO-MED, FP4-FP6, INTERREG, etc)
DOCUMENTATION (EMWIS meetings, Documentary database, Funding for water, Key documents, Water Legislation)
WHO DOES WHAT IN THE WATER SECTOR (By contacts, organisations & information sources)
PARTNERS & SPONSORS (OIEau, CEDEX, SOGESID, EC, INBO, IME, GWP-Med, MED-EUWI, SMAP-RMSU)
MEDA-WATER PROJECTS (ADIRA, EMPOWERS, EMWater, IrWA, ISIIMM, MEDAWARE, MEDROPLAN, MEDWA, Zer0-M)
WATER INITIATIVES (MED-EUWI, WFD, INCO-MED, LIFE, MEDSTAT, SMAP, EXACT, UNEP-MAP, MSSD, HORIZON 2020, Union for the Mediterranean) & Mediterranean Water Information Mechanism
FORUM ; FAQ ; TOPICS (MedWIP, Water scarcity, groundwater, wastewater reuse, desalination, satellite data, etc)
SEARCH EMWIS WEBSITE
EMWIS SITEMAP
=================================================
CONTACT US
=================================================
- This is a monthly Flash provided by the EMWIS Technical Unit (sent to: 17623 subscribers), to which you can get a free subscription, click here for an open subscription.
- The EMWIS Flash gives you regular and quality information on the water sector in the Euro-Mediterranean area. The main headlines are: Institutions, Documentation, Training, Research and Development, Data Administration. You will also find updates on: international events, relevant web sites, the Euro-Med Water programme of the European Commission, and much more ...
- This Flash exists also in French and Arabic, you can view it and also the previous issues in our website.
- This Flash is also yours, please give us your comments and information to improve it Contact the EMWIS Technical Unit.
=================================================