FP7-SCIENCE-IN-SOCIETY-2013-1: Topic SiS.2013.1.2-1: Mobilisation and Mutual Learning (MML) Action Plans: mainstreaming Science in Society actions in research – Specific challenge n°3 water challenge

FP7-SCIENCE-IN-SOCIETY-2013-1 Science in Society 2013

Water: The following topic will develop constructive dialogue and participatory research across sectors, disciplines and stakeholders, linked with an EU integrated management of water resources, against the background of 2012, the European Year of water and the priority set on the European political agenda by the Cypriot Presidency:

- Topic SiS.2013.1.2-1: Mobilisation and Mutual Learning (MML) Action Plans: mainstreaming Science in Society actions in research – Specific challenge n°3 water challenge

- Specific Challenge 3: Water Challenge:

2012 is the European Year for Water and the Cypriot Presidency has put 'Water & climate as a key priority in its political agenda. Currently, a European Innovation Partnership on Water is being developed, whereas the World Water Forum, which took place in Marseille in March 2012, increased the momentum for a sustainable water management at the global level. The drought that will be affecting many parts of EU in 2012 will make Europeans more aware of the need to save water and be more receptive to water efficiency messages.

Since the adoption of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) in 2000, EU water policy took an integrated approach on the basis of the concept of river basin management aimed at achieving good status of all EU waters by 2015. However, as pointed out in the 2010 State of the Environment Report, the achievement of EU water policy goals appears far from certain due to a number of old and emerging challenges. Article 14 of the WFD specifically requires member states "to encourage the active involvement of interested parties" in the implementation of the directive. However, despite the regular science-policy interactions occurring within the Common Implementation Strategy (CIS) for WFD, which is a stable exchange platform among Member States and stakeholders, a number of substantial and persisting difficulties hinder the effective science-policy interactions in the European Union. 

A commonly shared diagnosis is the need for a streamlined flow of information, appropriate education efforts and cross-border capacity-building at all levels. 

The Blueprint to Safeguard Europe's Water Resources, which will be the EU policy response to these challenges, is the specific policy context in which the MMLAP topic on 'Water challenge' is to be inscribed. (8)

The Blueprint Roadmap will aim at ensuring good quality water in sufficient quantities for all legitimate uses, and by being closely related to the EU’s 2020 strategy, its recommendations should be implemented by 2020. However, it will drive policy for a longer duration as the analysis underpinning the Blueprint will cover the period up to 2050. In this context, the MMLAP on Water challenge will set up a system of mediation between Researchers, policy-makers, users/citizens and businesses, at appropriate EU, national and regional levels and create platforms of constructive dialogue and participatory research across sectors, disciplines and types of stakeholders, linked with an EU integrated management of water resources. The 'Water' MMLAP has the following objectives:

• - Raise the awareness of researchers about the concerns of the European publics, both as users and as citizens,
• - Explore inputs to responsible and innovative mechanisms that will enable Member States to anticipate the challenges linked with the implementation of the Blueprint roadmap to Safeguard Europe's Water Resources,
• - Embed the concept of Responsible Research and Innovation in the 'Water resources' management',
• - Provide evidence for a new paradigm of resilient and adaptive management of water resources, balancing environmental, economic and social priorities, through integrated approaches and effective cooperation between public authorities and stakeholders,
• - Explore and assess opportunities for collaboration of R&I organisations, universities, SMEs and Civil Society to boost innovation in the water sector,
• - Facilitate the transfer of research results into policy.

The MML should seek to establish links with the actors that are involved in the development of the European Innovation Partnership on Water. The MMLAP could have a specific focus on participatory research, participation of social scientists, participation of socially responsible companies, social-network analysis and multi-criteria analysis; cultural and institutional aspects, ethical dilemmas and the role of ethics to provide frameworks for the conceptualisation of different water management perspectives; ethical - formal and nonformal - 'water use' education for the youth [UNESCO report (9)], links between social innovation and water challenges, links with EU transversal processes: Mediterranean, Arab, Central Asia; challenges linked with urbanisation  

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8: The Blueprint to Safeguard Europe's Water Resources (still under preparation) will be officially presented during the GREEN WEEK (22-25 May 2012) by the Commissioners ENV and CLIMA and it will be effectively

9: In 2011, UNESCO published a report on 'Water Ethics and Water Resource Management': http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0019/001922/192256e.pdf

Contact information	n/a
News type	Procurement
File link	http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portalplus/static/docs/calls/fp7/common/32895-annex_9_sis_wp2013_for_cap_en.pdf
File link local	MML-calltext_water.pdf (PDF, 848 Kb)
Source of information	EC DG Research & Innovation
Keyword(s)	EU-INCO-MED, FP7, EU-WFD
Subject(s)	DRINKING WATER , METHTODOLOGY - STATISTICS - DECISION AID , NATURAL MEDIUM , POLICY-WATER POLICY AND WATER MANAGEMENT , RIGHT
Relation	http://www.2020-horizon.com/FP7-SCIENCE-IN-SOCIETY-2013-1-Science-in-Society-2013-c109.html
Geographical coverage	n/a
News date	09/01/2013
Working language(s)	ENGLISH