Financing Instruments for the MED component of the EU Water Initiative

The EUWI aims at an improved coordination and effective streamlining of donor assistance. In this context, there is no new financial instrument foreseen by the E.C. but a better coordination of existing ones is expected. For the Med components, the main instruments are:

•  MEDA programme for Med Partner Countries who have signed the Euro-Med Partnership

•  CARDS programme for the countries from the Western Balkan countries

•  European Investment Bank –EIB-

•  EC RTD programmes

• AID to the water sector in the Mediterranean

Complementary funding can also be provided by EU Member States and national or international financial institutions (World Bank, Arab Development Bank, African Development Bank, UN agencies, etc.). A statistical overview of the aid to the water sector in the Mediterranean has been prepared by the OECD Environment Directorate for 10th multi-stakeholder meeting (Brussels, 2004-03-16)

Today, the financial resources needed to support the administrative costs entailed by the Initiative are jointly provided by the European Commission and EU Member States (chair or co-chair of components or working groups). Members of the Multi-stakeholder Forums are financing themselves their participation and contributions to the development of this Initiative.