8th Technical Working Group (WG) of the 5+5 Water Strategy in the Western Mediterranean

18-19 September 2019, Valencia. The 8th Technical Working Group (WG) of the 5+5 Water Strategy in the Western Mediterranean will take place in Valencia, Spain, on 18 and 19 of September 2019. The main objectives of this meeting are to set out the state of play of the Initiative and take stock of the accomplished actions; Propose and discuss new actions towards the end of 2019; Address the change of the Presidency of the 5+5 and discuss the organisation of the annual meetings of the WG.

The Water Strategy in the Western Mediterranean (WSWM) is an Initiative launched in 2014 by Spain and Algeria whose objective is the approval and implementation of a collaboration line between the countries from the two shores of the Mediterranean basin. The aim of this Initiative is to promote a sustainable use of water in this region, based on the integrated management of water resources at all territorial levels, starting by that of the river basin, as a basic unit for such management. The WSWM is part of a previous process, namely the Water Strategy for the Mediterranean, which is a project led by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and whose content although approved, could not be formally adopted at the Barcelona Conference in 2010.

The WSWM is particularly significant in a region such as the Mediterranean, subject to the adverse effects of climate change and to its impacts on the population and on the economic activities such as tourism, in particular in the coastal areas. The Strategy ensures that Mediterranean countries can unite forces to defend a common objective regarding water management, with the objective to prevent conflicts, foster development and contribute to ensure the right to water and sanitation.