EMWIS English Flash N°45, March 2007

EMWIS Flash - March 2007 Euro-Mediterranean Information System on the know-how in the Water Sector EMWIS is a program of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. For further information: http://www.emwis.net Monthly Flash produced by the EMWIS Technical Unit- OIEAU, CEDEX, SOGESID- with the support of the E.C. It is available in English, French & Arabic.

Please, change your links to EMWIS from www.emwis.org to www.emwis.net

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In this issue N°45 (http://www.emwis.net/thematicdirs/eflash/flash45)
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HEADLINE
1- Mediterranean Water Information Partnership Meeting conclusions
IN BRIEF
2- The First MEDA WATER Partners Conference
3- Water Demand Management and Sustainable Development
4- EU Water Conference & launch of the Water Information System for Europe
5- EU Project to Integrate European Flood Research
6- EU funded project investigates environmental policy integration
7- EU water conference: Progress on the WFD implementation
8- EU New law to tackle groundwater pollution
9- EU bottled water boom poses environmental questions
10- EU targets water as foreign policy tool
11- France: Public water policy - Experience in support of international initiatives
12- Italy: Drought alarm issued, Prodi mobilizes prefectures
13- UK: Flood project restores London's lost river
14- Kosovo: The Right to Water
15- Kosovo: Water Resources Management
16- Egypt: Cooperation with Europe on science plan
17- Lebanon: Water supply is priority issue for the south
18- Tunisia: Research partnership with the United States
19- Morocco: Wastewater collection and treatment for Tarfaya
20- Global Partnership on Output-Based Aid New Water Projects
21- Satellite project discovers groundwater in Sharjah (UAE)
22- Interactive Map of Europe
23- Pan Arab Initiative of an Annual State of the Environment Report
24- UNDP and UNEP Cement their Partnership with New Poverty and Environment Facility
25- 'Waste membrane' could help crops conserve water
NOMINATIONS & VACANCIES
PUBLICATIONS   
CALL FOR TENDERS and PROPOSALS
CALL FOR PAPERS
TRAINING
EVENTS
BRIEF EMWIS SITE MAP
CONTACT US / COMMENTS
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HEADLINE
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1- The first recommendations resulting from the feasibility study of a Mediterranean water observation mechanism were approved by the Euromed Water Directors in Athens (November 2006). On this basis the 2nd phase will be carried out in 2007 focusing on the potential development of a Mediterranean Water Information Partnership –MedWIP- with existing regional/international initiatives and complementary national studies with voluntary countries. The study Steering Group met in Paris, the 5th March to launch this 2nd phase with the involvement of 4 more countries: Cyprus, Malta, Libya and Morocco. See 1st phase reports online. Further information on EMWIS website.

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IN BRIEF (Full news)
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2- The First MEDA Water Partners Conference (FMWPC) to be held on 15 and 16 April 2007 in the Dead Sea (Jordan) is organised by the RMSU in the framework of the MEDA Water Programme “Euro-Mediterranean Regional Programme for Local Water Management” and in coherence with the Declaration of the Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Local Water Management in Turin (1999). The Conference first objective is to highlight the importance of the first phase of MEDA Water Programme and, at the same time, to make clear that this first MEDA Water phase allowed to identify important issues, to develop social and institutional approaches and relevant guidances for the MEDA countries and to disseminate these. The MEDA Water projects will have a chance to present their objectives and achieved results, highlighting the effectiveness and relevance of all implemented actions. Considering the achieved results and lessons learnt, the projects will suggest strategies, ways and means to progressively expand the coverage of promising achievements to ensure optimal water availability to the population and to increase the sustainability of water management at local level. Further information on EMWIS website.

3- Over a hundred participants from 14 Mediterranean countries attended the 3rd regional workshop on water and sustainable development in the Mediterranean region in Saragossa on 19, 20 and 21 March 2007. This international event was organised by Plan Bleu under the aegis of the Mediterranean Commission for Sustainable Development. The debates focused on water demand management and highlighted the need to share successful experiences, to draw up reports on progress made in terms of water demand management in the Mediterranean countries, to analyse the policy instruments implemented, to identify the main obstacles and to formulate proposals for the integration of water demand in water, sectorial policies as well as in international cooperation policies. The conclusions include the need to improve knowledge concerning available resources, as well as present and future water needs, to contribute to setting up a Mediterranean Water Observatory, to raise the awareness of the general public on water scarcity and the need to save water, to involve local players in the steps to be taken for water demand management and to integrate climate change issues in water management strategies. The main recommendations were presented at the 7th public session of the Permanent Forum on Water and Sustainability of Expo Zaragoza 2008. Further information on EMWIS website.

4- The Water Information System for Europe (WISE): http://water.europa.eu/ was launched with preliminary information on 23rd March 2007 during the EU Water Conference held in Brussels. WISE is a web portal which provides the public with a wealth of information on water and water-related topics such as bathing and other water quality data and information on urban wastewater treatment sites. It will be fully operational in 2010. The portal is a collaborative effort between the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Commission (Environment, Joint Research Centre and Eurostat). Further information on EMWIS website.

5- A recent report 'National research programmes on Flood Risk Management across Europe', found that research programmes across the 11 countries amounted to over €55 million. The increased flood risk is likely to be one of the most damaging impacts of climate change in Europe, while the costs of flooding in Europe are to increase 10 to 20 fold to over €100 billion each year if no action is taken. An EU funded initiative is preparing an integration of national flood research programmes, developing a deeper understanding of the impacts of flooding and climate change in order to avoid escalating costs and damages. Further information on EMWIS website.

6- Whilst environmental issues have steadily risen on citizens' lists of most critical concerns facing society, have public authorities done enough to address these concerns? The Coordinated Action project funded under FP6, Environmental Policy Integration and multi-level Governance (EPIGOV) is trying to answer this particular question. A first meeting was held to identify which sectors are best placed to address issues of climate change and pollution. Further information on EMWIS website.

7- The EC has adopted a communication towards sustainable water management in the EU giving a snapshot of the status of the Water Framework Directive -WFD- implementation in the member states. This assessment, presented at the EU water conference, is based on the official reporting from the EU Member States. It focuses on 3 elements of the WFD that have to be implemented before 2007: transposition into national law (art. 24 - Dec'03), administrative arrangements (designation of 110 River basin districts -art. 3) and environmental & economical analysis (art. 5). The main conclusions are that the implementation of the WFD is well advanced with some very positive examples, some significant shortcomings have been identified requiring more efforts from the Member States but there is still time to achieve the objectives by 2015. Further information on EMWIS website.

8- All pollution in water, whether injected by industry, agriculture or households, returns back and may cause damage to human health or the environment. However, this critical situation rarely hits the headlines as it is often overshadowed by water-related problems in other parts of the world. One of the main EU solutions rests with the groundwater-protection directive, shifting the focus from "at the tap" to "at the source." The new groundwater directive is designed to help meet the overall targets of the EU's Framework Water Directive which dates back to the year 2000. Groundwater, acting as a prime reservoir, supplies 75 percent of the EU's public drinking water. However, it is estimated that 800,000 people in France, 850,000 in the UK and 2.5 million in Germany are drinking water with nitrate concentrations above the permitted EU limit. Further information on EMWIS website.

9- Europeans are drinking more and more bottled water amid preoccupation with weight loss and cravings for emotional experiences like "naturalness," industry surveys show, but the water boom has an environmental cost and water marketing is not always what it seems. European consumers drank 50.3 billion litres of bottled water in 2006, with average market growth of 3.3 percent a year since 2000. The UN's millennium development goal for halving the 1 billion people worldwide with no access to safe drinking water calls for €23 billion a year spending on global water management projects. Based on conservative estimates, EU consumers spend well over €25 billion a year on their bottled water appetite today. Further information on EMWIS website.

10- Water management is climbing the agenda in EU foreign policy and internal security plans, making up a large part of Europe's new thrust to engage with Central Asia states, soothe tensions in the Middle East and cement conflict resolution in the Western Balkans. The commission attaches great importance to the issue of water in the occupied Palestinian territories in the framework of the resolution of the conflict, with Brussels helping support water-access talks between Israel, Jordan and Palestine through the so-called EXACT regional forum since 1995. The EU contributed $30 million to the building of a new waste-water plant in Beit Lahia, Gaza, to help get rid of open, foetid lakes. Further information on EMWIS website.

11- France has many years of experience in the field of international initiatives to aid developed, emerging, transitional and developing countries, both in terms of integrated management of water resources and access to water and sanitation. France currently provides €268 million per year of bilateral aid and €100 million per year of multi-lateral aid. Its objective for developing countries is to double its water related aid, with a priority on Africa. Further information on EMWIS website.

12- In Rome, Italy, Prime Minister Romano Prodi sounded an alarm over the effects of the winter's drought upon the country's water supplies. Criticizing the current scattergun approach to watershed management, he asked regional, provincial, and private-sector water officials to cooperate on an emergency plan. According to Civil Defense statistics, winter precipitation has been 20-40% lower than average, and even 50-60% lower in some areas of the northeast and central Italy. Snowpack is only a third of what it was last year. The Po River's flows have dropped drastically, to 500 cubic meters per second, and Lake Garda is well below normal levels. Further information on EMWIS website.

13- One of London's historic watercourses was brought back to life as part of an award-winning flood defence project. The river Quaggy in Lewisham, South East London, was forced underground when the area urbanised, with most of the river's 17 kilometre course now artificially channelled underground. But the Environment Agency has now brought a section of the river back to the surface as part of a local flood alleviation scheme, using historical data to cut its channel through Sutcliffe Park in Greenwich. Further information on EMWIS website.

14- Kosovo is implementing the Water Law approved by the Parliament only in 2004. This law is stipulating the competent authorities for Water Management and focuses mainly on the protection of water resources but pays little attention to access to water and sanitation as a human right. There is not yet institution nor organisation responsible for regular monitoring and implementation of the right to water. The decentralisation in the water and sanitation sector is expected to start soon as well as the set-up of a National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP). Further information on EMWIS website.

15- Many regions of Kosovo suffer from water scarcity and poor drinking water quality. The relatively high population density and the traditionally irrigated agriculture have to cope with warm and dry summers and lacking waste water treatment. This naturally difficult situation in Kosovo regarding water resources management has been aggravated due to the political instability during the past few years, leading to a poor state regarding planning and economical use of resources. The Swiss Cooperation Agency -SECO- started a project to support the water resources management in Kosovo, addressing the present shortcomings. Further information on EMWIS website.

16- Egypt has agreed to a series of scientific and technological reforms under a European Union (EU) initiative to foster deeper political and economic harmony with its neighbours. The reforms were agreed by the EU-Egypt Association Council in early March 2007 as part of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). The European Commission has approved around US$733 million to help Egypt implement the ENP reforms from 2007–2010. Egypt will also increase its collaboration with the EU in various domains including environmental issues, such cleaning up pollution in the Mediterranean. Further information on EMWIS website.

17- Water supply to hundreds of thousands of people across southern Lebanon remains the priority development issue, say officials, seven months after Israel's bombardment of the area severely damaged an already inadequate water and sanitation system. The UN Children's Agency, UNICEF, is implementing a series of projects across Lebanon to improve water supply, through its Water, Environment, Sanitation and Hygiene (WESH) unit. According to WESH figures, only 56 percent of Lebanese are connected to the mains water supply, which in poorer rural areas sometimes only works one day a week. Nearly one in three Lebanese buy drinking water while average leakages of 50 percent from pipes leave an annual water shortfall of around 40 per cent, largely supplemented by mobile water trucks. By the end of March, 29 gas chlorination systems will have been installed across southern Lebanon, with WESH assistance, to increase water quality, while the EU and World Bank are working on a scheme to build 12 sewage treatment stations across the country. Further information on EMWIS website.

18- A delegation of the American university visited recently Tunis (Tunisia). They were received by M.Taïeb Hadhri, Minister for the scientific Research, the Technology and the Development of competences. The American representatives expressed the availability of their university to intensify the co-operation with Tunisian researchers in the water and energy sectors more particularly. Further information on EMWIS website.

19- Wastewater collection and treatment is a key issue in Morocco water policies. At present, less than 5% of household discharge is treated, posing a serious threat to the environment and public health. Accordingly, Belgium Cooperation is preparing support to catch up in this area in both rural and semi-rural settings. Further information on EMWIS website.

20- During October 2006-February 2007, GPOBA (Global Partnership for Output-Based Aid Trust Fund) has signed three grant agreements related to the water and sanitation sector, in Kenya, Morocco and Uganda. GPOBA also approved five projects for commitment, 3 of which are related to the water and sanitation sector, and approved eleven projects for eligibility, five of which in the water and sanitation sector. The objective of the project in Morocco (see EMWIS website) is to demonstrate an output-based subsidy mechanism to facilitate access to water and sanitation services for approximately 11,300 low income households in selected peri-urban neighborhoods of Casablanca, Tangiers and Meknès, also targeted by the National Initiative for Human Development (“INDH”). Further information on EMWIS website.

21- The Center for Remote Sensing from Boston University in Massachusetts, USA, reported that satellite images had revealed the presence of groundwater in Sharjah, one of the United Arab Emirates. Thanks to this research project for exploring ground water by using space images, launched five years ago, the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority will know exactly where to drill new wells as they are needed. Further information on EMWIS website.

22- Satellite imagery constitutes a great opportunity to visually illustrate the territorial diversity of the European Union, highlighting the elements of relief, hydrography, land use and structure of the territory beyond the national borders, thus creating a connection between common elements and problems of a cross-boarder nature. The catholic University of Louvain has produced an interactive program which includes a satellite map of Europe based on a year synthesis of VEGETATION data, a sensor onboard of the SPOT 4 satellite. The program provides a timeline illustrating the various stages of the construction of Europe, gives access to a calendar displaying the life cycles of the principal earth observation satellites (135 satellites and sensors). Further information on EMWIS website.

23- Developing a common market for environmentally-friendly technologies and products is among the aims of a new initiative called the Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) whose forward-looking work programme was announced last 7th February in Nairobi. Other targets include an annual progress report, detailing how countries in the Arab world are performing in respect to international sustainable development treaties and agreements. Further information on EMWIS website.

24- The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Environment Programme (UNEP) cemented the bond between fighting poverty and protecting the environment last 6th Febraury by launching the joint Poverty and Environment Facility in Nairobi during the twenty fourth session of the UNEP Governing Council. Further information on EMWIS website.

25- Scientists have developed a sponge-like membrane that enables plant roots to retain more water and regulate soil temperature — which could help agriculture in parched lands. The eco-friendly membrane is made from organic waste matter, such as seaweed, fish bones and chicken manure. The development was announced at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science on 18 February. Lead scientist Torleiv Bilstad, of the Norway-based University of Stavanger, explained that, in desert soils, no matter how much the land is irrigated, water simply drains away deep into the soil and mostly evaporates. The membrane helps absorb more of the water around the roots, before it drains away. It comes in the form of a powder that is dissolved in water and then applied to seedlings. After absorption into the soil, the material forms a membrane around plant roots and helps them retain available water. The technology is already being promoted in Nigeria, with plans to extend trials to Algeria and western Europe. Bilstad is considering starting a company to expand the use of the membrane globally and develop it for wider applications. Further information on EMWIS website.

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NOMINATIONS & VACANCIES
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26- EU-FP7 Call for proposals - Marie Curie Awards. It is intended to award five prizes per year. The prizes are awarded to individuals. Candidates for the prizes can apply directly or can be nominated by others. The candidates shall be among those who have been awarded a Marie Curie fellowship under the Sixth Framework Programme, or have participated in a training or mobility action of one of the previous Framework Programmes, for a minimum period of 12 months, and who have achieved excellent research results. Deadline for application: April 26, 2007. Further information on EMWIS website.

27- Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Hydraulic Engineering and River Basin Development, Department of Water Engineering, UNESCO-IHE, Delft: Desirable qualifications are: a Ph.D. degree in a relevant field; teaching experience at postgraduate level and an understanding of pedagogical issues; participation in teaching, research and project activities undertaken in least developed countries and emerging economies; a research track record demonstrated through publication and funding; command of an internationally used language other than English. Deadline for application: April 9, 2007. Further information on EMWIS website.

28- Senior Programme Specialist, Chief of Section on Sustainable Water Resources Development and Management, Division of Water Sciences, UNESCO/IHP, Paris: Applicants should have an advanced University Degree (preferably PhD or equivalent scientific qualifications) in civil or environmental engineering with emphasis on water resources management, system analysis, hydrology and water quality, especially in integrated water resources management studies; and 10 to 15 years of experience, of which at least 5 years with managerial responsibilities with experience in policy development and decision making processes.
Applications are now being accepted only through UNESCO RecruitWeb online. Closing date: April 19, 2007. Further information on EMWIS website.

29- Post-doctorate researcher for the Mediterranean Wetlands Observatory: Tour du Valat is looking for a post-doctorate researcher for the Mediterranean Wetlands Observatory for a period of 18 months with a view to carrying out a synthesis of the available and most relevant indicators and putting forward proposals that can be applied throughout the Mediterranean region. Deadline for application: April 1st 2007. Further information on EMWIS website.

30- GoverNat seeks researchers on Biodiversity and water governance: The "Multi-level Governance of Natural Resources: Tools and Processes for Water and Biodiversity Governance in Europe" (GoverNat) project has openings for experienced researchers. Appointees will be trained and undertake research on European environmental governance, particularly of biodiversity and water, to design solutions for communication between policy makers, scientists and the public in science-policy interfaces.  Application deadline is 15 April 2007. Further information on EMWIS website.

31- BGR Vacancy Announcement for Beirut/Lebanon - Project Adviser for AWARENET: AWARENET, the Arab Integrated Water Resources Management Network, seeks to improve awareness among professionals working in water and waterrelated institutions about Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and to strengthen technical, institutional and managerial capacity for the application of IWRM principles in the Arab region. The Adviser will work under a local employment contract with BGR, initially limited to 6 months, with the possibility of extension pending availability of funds and outcomes of the AWARENET General Assembly. The deadline for applications is: April 8, 2007. Further information on EMWIS website.

32- Professor Perry L. McCarty from Stanford University, California, a pioneer in the development of the understanding of biological and chemical processes for the safe supply and treatment of water, was named on 22nd March the 2007 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate. Further information on EMWIS website.

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PUBLICATIONS
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33- New World Bank Report on Water in the Middle East and North Africa Region: The World Bank Middle East and North Africa Region launched in Cairo last 11st March the Regional Report on Water: Making the Most of Scarcity. This is the fifth report in a series that highlights key challenges facing the region. The event was hosted by H.E. Dr.Mahmoud Abu Zeid, Minister of Water resources and Irrigation in Egypt and the Chairman of the Arab Water Council. A group of Egyptian children called The Egyptian Droplets communicated their hopes and concerns for the future in a widely applauded dance performance. The World Bank report discusses how water management solutions need to be considered as part of the wider economic policies of the countries of the region. Further information on EMWIS website.

34- Mediterranean Groundwater Report: The final version of the Mediterranean Groundwater report, prepared in the framework of the MED-EUWI/WFD Joint Process by the Mediterranean Groundwater Working Group, is available. Hard copies of the report will also be available in the coming months. Further information on EMWIS website.

35- "Who's Who 2007" of the Barcelona Convention: In a new section on the MSSD (Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development) Web site, called MEDIA CENTER, you can find updates to the “WHO IS WHO”, as well as the NEWSLETTER, BULLETTIN and MAGAZINE of the MAP (Mediterranean Action Plan) Components. Further information on EMWIS website.

36- Financial Times special report on ‘Business and Water’: The Politics of Water; The Business of Water; Water Conservation and Management; Water in the Country; Water in the City; Pollution: the China Question; Sewage Treatment; Unlocking the Sea; Hydroelectricity; Climate Change, etc. Further information on EMWIS website.

37- Transboundary Water Management as a Regional Public Good: Financing development – an example from the Nile Basin. This report, published by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) focuses on public goods in the context of the Nile Basin. It explores public goods as one justification for soft financing such as grant financing that complements other sources of public and private financing, thus enhancing the financial sustainability of cooperative river-basin management and development projects which provide important public goods. Further information on EMWIS website.

38- UNEP’s GEMS/Water Launches Water Quality Outlook: Water Quality Outlook, launched as part of World water day’s observance, provides a snapshot of key water quality issues as they relate to achieving the international goals on water, sanitation and biodiversity. It notes that there are significant emerging threats to water quality, ranging from climate change to invasive species, and from waterborne pathogens to chemical contaminants. Further information on EMWIS website.

39- The domestic water invoice in 2004 in France: 177 euros per person and per annum the "4 pages" n° 117 of the French Institute of the Environment (Ifen) is the first results of the investigation 2004 on water and sanitation, carried out with the central Service of the investigations and statistical studies (Scees) of the ministry of Agriculture and Fishing. It notes the disparities of consumed volumes, the expenditure and the tariffs applied in urban and rural area. Further information on EMWIS website.

40- The multilingual thesaurus InterWATER is now on line: The InterWATER thesaurus developed by the IRC and its partners offers the possibility to check the equivalent of the Spanish terms or French in English and vice versa. The InterWATER thesaurus is a standardized vocabulary for the concepts of water and sanitation. The terms appear according to the alphabetical order. The thesaurus comes from the collaboration of the IRC since the Eighties with organizations from the United Kingdom, France, Peru, Jordan, Burkina Faso and Thailand. Further information on EMWIS website.

41- ENMaR (European Network of Municipalities and Rivers) Newsletter number 9, issue 1/2007, published on 22nd March 2007. Further information on EMWIS website.

42- « La Houille Blanche » online: "The Hydro-electric power", an international Revue of water, published by the Company of water-supply engineering of France (SHF), and is from now on available on Internet. Further information on EMWIS website.

43- A new approach to international S&T cooperation in the EU's FP7 (2007-2013): The approach on international cooperation under FP7 is significantly different than under FP6. It aims at integrating international research collaboration throughout the Framework Programme and includes both geographical and thematic targeting. Three basic principles have been adopted in order to expand the international collaboration: Programming, Targeting, Partnership and dialogue. Further information on EMWIS website.

44- IPTRID Publications: Annual Report 2006, GRID 26 and Workshop Proceedings are now available online. Proceedings of the Workshop on 'Monitoring and evaluation of capacity development strategies in agricultural water management' held in September 2006 (Malaysia) as well as previous proceedings are available from the IPTRID website. Further information on EMWIS website.

45- WWC Newsletter N°22: In this issue, many themes were presented: Building the village of water, Kick-Off Meeting in Istanbul, 4th Forum outcomes, The NWB Fund: a result of the Gurria Task Force on Financing Water for All, Bridges Over Water - Understanding Transboundary Water Conflict, Negotiation and Cooperation, etc. Further information on EMWIS website.

46- March 2007 African Water Association newsletter: It is available in English and French. Further information on EMWIS website.

47- African Water newsletter 4, March 2007: This quarter's African Water newsletter again takes the form of an email bulletin including: * website update * the latest news on FP7; * an announcement about the 2007 UKRO conference - you could get funding to attend! * a report of the first African Water training workshop; * networking with African scientists; * a summary of the 7th WATERNET/WARFSA/GWP-SA symposium. Further information on EMWIS website.

48- WSSTP - Deliverables now available: The Water Supply and Sanitation Technology Platform (WSSTP) is one of the technology platforms that are set up within the European Environmental Technology Action Plan (ETAP) that was adopted by the European Commission in 2004. The three deliverables of the WSSTP are now available: - The Vision Document "Water Safe, Strong and Sustainable" paints a picture of what could be achieved by 2030 if resources for research and development resources are available and targeted to respond onto the issues and challenges that the European water sector is facing. - The Strategic Research Agenda ‘Water Research - A necessary investment in our common future", describes the research which must be undertaken to realise the vision. - The Implementation Plan describes the initial ideas for demonstration pilots and implementation cases and mechanisms for financial engineering of grants and debts. Further information on EMWIS website.

49- How IWRM Will Contribute to Achieving the MDGs : This brief is part of a series of policy and technical briefs designed to help countries accelerate their efforts to achieve the action target for the preparation of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and water efficiency strategies and plans set by the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development and reinforced by the 2005 World Summit. The series tackles key issues and potential stumbling blocks and attempts to give countries at the beginning of the process the benefit of lessons learned from those further down the path. The series complements Catalyzing Change: A Handbook for Developing Integrated Water Resources Management and Water Efficiency Strategies. Further information on EMWIS website.

50- World Bank donors Informal Meeting - Water Week minutes: Held one day before the start of the Water Week, at the invitation of the World Bank. Changes to activities between 2000 -2005 include a shift to multi-sector projects; a renewed focus on results brought about by the MDGs; the need for sub-national support as expressed by the Camdessus Panel. Public investment in the sector is decreasing, bilateral donor support is 'at best stable' but Bank investment is on the increase - around 2.5 billion USD this coming financial year. Further information on EMWIS website.

51- Task Force on Financing Water for All - report 1: Enhancing access to finance for local governments - Financing water for agriculture. Further information on EMWIS website.

52- The "Monitoring Report 2005" - EC DG Research: Implementation of Indirect Research Activities of the 6th Framework programes of the European Community (EC) and of the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM). Further information on EMWIS website.

53- The Ecoflood Guidelines on "How to use floodplains for flood risk reduction" have been printed. The main objective of the making of the guidelines is to promote the use of floodplains as natural defence measures, while at the same time optimising other compatible functions and values through conservation and restoration. Further information on EMWIS website

54- Making the Most of Scarcity: Accountability for Better Water Management in the Middle East and North Africa. Water in the Middle East and North Africa region already causes major social and economic problems, resulting from insufficient supply, unreliable services and environmental damage. Per capita availability will fall by half by 2050, water quality is deteriorating, many aquifers are on the verge of exhaustion, and climate change may alter rainfall patterns. Unless current practices change, then, the situation will worsen considerably. Turning the potential into real improved water outcomes will depend upon three things. First, developing reform proposals that that respond to the dynamics of the political economy. Second, recognizing that the water sector cannot act alone. Some of the reforms that will have most impact on water outcomes relate to policies such as trade, agriculture, finance, energy, and social protection. Third, implementing policies and practices that increase accountability of government institutions and service providers to the public. Further information on EMWIS website.

55- Financing Water for Agriculture - Progress Report n°1 Working Group on Financing Water for Agriculture: The Progress Report was presented and discussed at a meeting of the Gurria Task Force on Financing Water for All, held in Paris on February 2-3, 2006 and a summary of the key points included in the Task Force Report. Further information on EMWIS website.

56- The right to water: From Concept to Implementation, World Water Council. 2006. Further information on EMWIS website.

57- Basin Water Management: Understanding Water Productivity. This research theme seeks to provide a better understanding of the tradeoffs and options in agricultural water management at the basin scale and contribute to improved equity and productivity in water use through the development of appropriate tools... Further information on EMWIS website.

58- Draft Chemical Background document on Cyanogen Chloride to the Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality available for comments: In developing the second addendum to the third edition of the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality, Cyanogen Chloride, a chemical background document has been prepared. Comments on the draft background paper should be sent to gdwqcyan@who.int. Closing date for receiving comments 17 May 2007. Further information on EMWIS website.

59- Draft Chemical Background document on Pirimiphos-methyl in Drinking-water available for comments: In developing the second addendum to the third edition of the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality, Pirimiphos-methyl in drinking-water, a chemical background document has been prepared. Comments on the draft background paper should be sent to gdwqpirimiphos@who.int. Closing date for receiving comments 30 May 2007. Further information on EMWIS website.
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CALL FOR TENDERS and PROPOSALS
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60- EU-FP7 Call for proposals - International Reintegration Grants (IRG): Call identifier: FP7-PEOPLE-2007-4-3-IRG, Indicative budget: 14.5 M€. This action consists of financial support during at least 2 and up to 4 years for professional (re)integration projects in the research area in a host organisation in a Member State or Associated country. The project can, amongst other things, address research activities, training, teaching, transfer of knowledge, commercial exploitation, diffusion, development of co-operation with the scientific and / or industrial sector of the third country from which the researcher is returning. Deadline for application: April 25, 2007 and October 17, 2007. Further information on EMWIS website.

61- EU-FP7 Call for proposals - Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology (General Call 1): Call identifier: FP7-KBBE-2007-1, Indicative budget: 192 M€. This call includes a.o. the following topics: - Activity 2.1: Sustainable production and management of biological resources from land, forest and aquatic environments. Deadline for application: May 2, 2007. Further information on EMWIS website.

62- EU-FP7 Call for proposals - ERC Starting Independent Researcher Grant: Call identifier: ERC-2007-StG, Indicative budget: 289 M€. The objective of these grants offered by the European Research Council (ERC) is to provide adequate support to the independent careers of excellent researchers, whatever their nationality, located in or moving to the EU and associated countries, who are at the stage of establishing and leading their first research team or programme. Deadline for application: April 25, 2007 and September 17, 2007. Further information on EMWIS website.

63- EU-FP7 Call for proposals - Marie Curie Initial Training Networks: Call identifier: FP7-PEOPLE-2007-1-1-ITN, Indicative budget: 240 M€. The action will be implemented by supporting competitively selected networks of organisations from different countries engaged in research training. The networks will be built on a joint research training programme, responding to well identified training needs in defined scientific or technological areas, with appropriate references to interdisciplinary and newly emerging supra-disciplinary fields. Deadline for application: May 07, 2007 and September 25, 2007. Further information on EMWIS website.

64- EU-FP7 Call for proposals - Environment (including Climate Change): Call identifier: FP7-ENV-2007-1, Indicative budget: 200 M€. Deadline for application: May 2, 2007. Further information on EMWIS website.

65- Catalogue of offers for collaboration in the research related to “WATER” from Czech Republic environmental research partners. These offers may interest all the research groups looking for partners in Czech Republic to present proposals for the FP7 calls. Further information on EMWIS website.

66- Catalogue of offers for collaboration in the research related to “WATER” from Hungarian environmental research partners. These offers may interest all the research groups looking for partners in Hungary to present proposals for the FP7 calls. Further information on EMWIS website.

67- Catalogue of offers for collaboration in the research related to “WATER” from Polish environmental research partners. This catalogue may interest all the research groups looking for partners in Poland to present proposals for the FP7 calls. Further information on EMWIS website.

68- Catalogue of offers for collaboration in the research related to “CLIMATE” from Polish environmental research partners. This catalogue may interest all the research groups looking for partners in Poland to present proposals for the FP7 calls. Further information on EMWIS website.

69- EU-FP7 Call for proposals - ERA-NET Plus Call 2007: Call identifier: FP7-ERANET-2007-RTD, Indicative budget: 28.9 M€.
This call from the ERA-NET scheme (European Research Area) covers a.o. conferences and other support actions.
Deadline for application: 31 July 2007 at 17:00 (Brussels local time). Further information on EMWIS website.

70- EU-FP7 Call for proposals - European Reintegration Grants (ERG): Call identifier: FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-2-ERG, Indicative budget: 9.5 M€. The action offers the opportunity to experienced researchers from Member States or Associated countries, to capitalise on their trans-national mobility period after having participated in a Marie Curie action either under the Seventh or the previous Framework Programme. The mechanism will assist the professional (re)integration of the eligible researchers in a research organisation in a Member State or Associated country, including in their country nationality. Deadline for application: April 25, 2007 and October 17, 2007. Further information on EMWIS website.

71- LIFE+ calls set for autumn 2007: The conciliation procedure between the Council and the European Parliament to finalise the LIFE+ Regulation will begin at the start of 2007. The Regulation, which will cover the period 2007-2013, is expected to be adopted by September 2007. The first calls for proposals should be launched before the end of 2007, probably in the autumn. As long as the conciliation procedure is not concluded, the details of these calls are uncertain. However, the subjects covered will include nature, biodiversity and other environmental issues. More details will be made available as soon as possible. In the meantime, potential applicants are advised to begin preparing their proposals. Further information on EMWIS website.

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CALL FOR PAPERS
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72- Call for papers for the International Workshop on Numerical Modelling of Hydrodynamics for Water Resources, Zaragoza during 4 days (18-21 June 2007. The scope of the presentations will include (among other topics) canal and river flow, riparian areas and aquifers. These topics are relevant to hydrology, civil engineering, the environment and agriculture. Deadline for paper (4 pages) submission : April 1, 2007. Further information on EMWIS website.

73- Call For papers for the Special Issue on: “Integrated Water Resources Management in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas”: The purpose of this special issue is to better understand the key aspects of the sustainable management of water resources in arid and semi-arid area, to construct new mathematical and physical models using modern instruments of system engineering, management science, and information technologies, and to attempt to determine what is needed to improve effective water resources management in arid and semi-arid areas. Articles for consideration are invited for submissions; manuscripts may be technical, conceptual, case-studies, policy or practice oriented and can range from original research to overviews, assessments, and reviews. Deadline for Submission: 15 May 2007. Further information at EMWIS website.

74- Call for papers for the First International Conference on Water Resources Modeling and Simulation in the 21st Century:
The Egyptian Water Resources Association, EWRA invite you to participate in the First International Conference on Water Resources Monitoring, Modeling and Simulation from 25-27 December 2007, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Alexandria, Egypt.  Papers are invited on the topics outlined above and others falling within the scope of the meeting. Abstracts of no more than 300 words should be submitted by mail, fax, and email or via our website as soon as possible. Further information at EMWIS website.

75- Call for abstracts for the 1st Thematic Workshop of the EU Coordination Action RISKBASE: Monitoring and assessment of river pollutants: This 1st thematic workshop within the frame of the RISKBASE Coordination Action (CA) will be held in Lisbon (Portugal) in 17-18 May 2007, and it is aimed to achieve an overview of the river basin characteristics, main monitoring activities, information transferred from researchers to river basin managers, and the opinion of the different stakeholders of the river basins (scientifics, managers, adminitration (agriculture, environment), unions, greens,...) focusing mainly on Portuguese river basins, but it will also include other European river basin cases. Deadline for Abstracts: April 10th, 2007. Further information at EMWIS website.

76- Invitation to submit papers to the Arab Journal of Water: The Arab Journal of Water is a scientific refereed Journal published twice a year by the Arab Water Council. The mission of the Journal is to contribute in solving Arab and Regional water issues by publishing scientific papers in the areas of integrated water resources management, water policies, trans-boundary water issues, water conflict and diplomacy. In addition, the Journal addresses traditional water issues in different sectors, namely; urban, industrial, agricultural and transportation. Further information on EMWIS website.
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TRAINING
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77- EMWater 4th Regional Training Course: The training to be held in Bologna (Italy) in the period: 10-22 June 2007, offers an advanced course for professionals in wastewater management and treatment from Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Turkey. It aims: To improve know-how transfer, To approach low-cost and easy-to-manage technologies from a theoretical and practical point of view, and To train WWTPs operation and management, with focus on strategy planning and trouble shooting. Further information on EMWIS website.

78- Call for application for EMWater 5th Web based training: This Web Based Training offers an advanced course for professionals in wastewater management, treatment and reuse from the Mediterranean Countries. It aims to inform about new appropriate technologies focussed on sustainability and water reuse in rural areas of the Mediterranean countries, e.g. Ecological Sanitation, to improve know-how transfer between the Mediterranean countries. The choice of the E-learning is due to the fact that it offers big advantages for professionals: Flexible timing, Independent from locations, Contact to international experts from the fields via chats and forums. This Web Based Training offers an advanced course for professionals in wastewater management, treatment and reuse preferably from Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Turkey.
Deadline for application is 31 March 2007. Further information at EMWIS website.

79- The Bern University of Applied Sciences in Switzerland is offering a Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) on "Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) in the context of Developing and Transition Countries". The class instructions take place during the last week of August and the first week of September 2007, respectively 2008. Registration deadline: 31 May 2007. Further information on EMWIS website.

80- IOWater (OIEau) Days: “Sludges treatment processes adapted to the small communities” is a one-day training organised by the International Office of Water (OIEau, France) through its National Training Centre for Water (CNFME). This one-day training will take place in Lyon (France) next 31st May 2007. Further information on EMWIS website.

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EVENTS (Full Agenda)
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[2007/04/27 - 2007/04/29] WSDWTF 2007: The 8th China Int’l Water Supply& Drainage and Water Treatment Exhibition, Shanghai, China.
Further information on EMWIS website

[2007/04/26 - 2007/04/27] 2nd EMCO workshop on Emerging Contaminants in Wastewaters: Monitoring tools and treatment technologies, Belgrade, Serbia.
Further information on EMWIS website

[2007/04/26 - 2007/04/26] EU Water Initiative multi-stakeholder meeting, Brussels, Belgium.
Further information on EMWIS website

[2007/04/25 - 2007/04/27] 2nd International EWA Conference ‘Waters in Protected Areas’, Dubrovnik, Croatia.
Further information on EMWIS website

[2007/04/25 - 2007/04/27] United Nations/Morocco/European Space Agency International Workshop on the Use of Space Technology for Sustainable Development, Rabat, Morocco.
Further information on EMWIS website

[2007/04/25 - 2007/04/25] E-Conference: Democratic Water Management. Online. (Deadline for inscription: 2007/04/15)
Further information on EMWIS website

[2007/04/24 - 2007/04/27] 6th World Wide Workshop for Young Environmental Scientists: ‘Urban waters: resource or risk’, Vitry sur Seine, France.
Further information on EMWIS website

[2007/04/23 - 2007/04/27] Envisat Symposium 2007, Montreux, Switzerland.
Further information on EMWIS website

[2007/04/22 - 2007/04/25] EDS Conference on Desalination and the Environment, Halkidiki, Greece.
Further information on EMWIS website

[2007/04/21 - 2007/04/25] International Conference on Climate Changes and their impacts on the coastal zone and river deltas: Vulnerability, Mitigation and Adaptation (CCIE 2007), Alexandria, Egypt.
Further information on EMWIS website

[2007/04/20 - 2007/04/21] Workshop on Legal Aspects of Water Sector Reforms, Geneva, Switzerland.
Further information on EMWIS website

[2007/04/19 - 2007/04/20] SWAP2007 - European Symposium on Waterborne Pathogens in Surface and Drinking Waters, Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
Further information on EMWIS website

[2007/04/19 - 2007/04/19] Formation CNFME: La réutilisation des eaux pluviales, Paris, France.
Further information on EMWIS website

[2007/04/18 - 2007/04/21] International exhibition of water technologies (Hydrica) and Waste technologies (SEP), Padova (Venice), Italy.
Further information on EMWIS website

[2007/04/18 - 2007/04/20] 8th United Kingdom Young Water Professionals Conference, Guildford, United Kingdom.
Further information on EMWIS website

[2007/04/18 - 2007/04/19] Symposium: Ecology of invasive Cyanobacteria and occurrence of Cylindrospermopsin producers in Germany and around the world - Results of the CYLIN Project, and Workshop: Taxonomy of Freshwater Cyanobacteria, Berlin, Germany.
Further information on EMWIS website

[2007/04/18 - 2007/04/19] "Beyond compliance: how regions can help build a successful sustainable Europe", Logroño, Spain.
Further information on EMWIS website

[2007/04/15 - 2007/04/16] The First MEDA WATER Partners Conference, Amman, Jordan.
Further information on EMWIS website

[2007/04/15 - 2007/04/20] European Geoscience Union GA, Vienna, Austria.
Further information on EMWIS website

[2007/04/11 - 2007/04/13] 1st Expert Meeting of the UNESCO Working Group on Water Education and Capacity Building for Sustainable Development, Paris, France.
Further information on EMWIS website

[2007/04/11 - 2007/04/13] WAPO2 International Conference on WAter POllution in natural POrous media at different scales: Assessment of fate, impact and indicators, Barcelona, Spain.
Further information on EMWIS website

[2007/04/11 - 2007/06/06] EMWater 5th Web based training, Online.
Further information on EMWIS website

[2007/04/11 - 2007/04/13] Urban Remote Sensing Joint Event 2007, Paris, France.
Further information on EMWIS website

[2007/04/11 - 2007/04/12] Workshop on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Planning in Libya - Current Status and the Way Forward Demonstrated by National, Regional and International Experiences, Tripoli, Libya.
Further information on EMWIS website

[2007/04/11 - 2007/04/11] Seminar on Global Water Challenges: “Water, Power, Development - New Thinking and Innovative Technologies to Solve Global Water Challenges”, Washington, D.C., USA.
 Further information on EMWIS website

[2007/04/09 - 2007/04/13] Remote Sensing & GIS for watersheds integrated management, Rabat, Morocco.
Further information on EMWIS website

[2007/04/04 - 2007/04/04] «Petit-déjeuner – débat» on Jobs evolution in the water sector and the identification of action strategies, Paris, France.
Further information on EMWIS website

[2007/03/29 - 2007/03/30] Exploring Business Opportunities – Bringing Innovative Environmental Solutions to Northern Africa Rencontre de Partenariat, Tunis, Tunisia.
Further information on EMWIS website

[2007/03/27 - 2007/03/29] The 6th edition of Intersol, Paris, France.
Further information on EMWIS website

[2007/03/27 - 2007/03/29] Inland and Nearshore Coastal Water Quality Remote Sensing Workshop, Geneva, Switzerland.
Further information on EMWIS website

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BRIEF EMWIS SITE MAP
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ABOUT EMWIS (Priorities, Activities, Objectives, Structure, Funding, Team)
WATER in the EURO-MED PARTNERSHIP (MEDA programme, Key dates)
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)
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) 
FORUM ; FAQ ; TOPICS (MedWIP, Water scarcity, groundwater, wastewater reuse, desalination, satellite data, etc)
SEARCH EMWIS WEBSITE
EMWIS SITEMAP
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CONTACT US
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- This is a monthly Flash provided by the EMWIS Technical Unit (sent to: 13281 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 ...
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