5+5 Water Strategy for the Western Mediterranean: 2nd Workshop, Oran (Algeria), 25-26/06/2014

Algeria will continue to "actively contribute" to the water strategy in the Western Mediterranean, said Thursday (26/06/2014) in Oran Algerian Minister of Water Resources Hocine Necib.

"Algeria will continue to actively contribute to achieve the water strategy process in the Mediterranean," said Necib in his opening address at the 2^nd preparatory meeting for the conference of 5+5 Dialogue water ministers, to be held in Algeria by the end of this year.

Co-chairing the meeting with his Spanish counterpart, Isabel Garcia Tejerina, Necib underlined the importance attached by Algeria to 5+5 Water Strategy, which "will constitute a consensual regional cooperation framework likely to speed up the implementation of the universal right of people to have access to drinking water."

"5+5 Water Strategy will also help ensure sustainable development and share experiences of Mediterranean countries," said the minister.

Necib underlined "Algeria's ambition to step up its investment efforts as part of the National Water Plan by 2030."

In Algeria, water issue is considered as a "major challenge and a priority for national development, at the instigation of President of the Republic Abdelaziz Bouteflika," he said, adding that this "strong political willingness has been clearly showed in the huge water transfer projects and the mobilization of conventional and unconventional water resources."

"This new policy has allowed Algeria to widen access to drinking water and sanitation services, and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals," said Necib.

The seminar was inaugurated by both Algerian and Spanish Ministers in charge of water resources, which reflects the importance given to the development of a water strategy in the Western Mediterranean. 5+5 Dialogue Experts supported by those regional organizations (AMU: Arab Maghreb Union - UfM: Union for the Mediterranean), international (FAO), the European Commission and specialized agencies (EMWIS - MENBO) have examined the Algerian-Spanish document and had a further exchange of views on the content of the water strategy in the Mediterranean.

At the end of their work, a consensus roadmap and the preliminary draft content of 5 +5 Water Strategy were provided. They agreed to intensify their contacts and use all future water meetings (eg: EMWIS Steering Committee meeting in Valencia, 09-10/09/2014 and the Mediterranean Water Forum in Murcia, 26-27/11/2014) to work on preparing a draft strategy and roadmap for the first 5+5 Conference of Ministers in charge of water that Algeria intends to host towards the end of this year.

To maintain contacts and prepare the forthcoming, the experts agreed to the creation of a network of focal points in charge of water issues.

After the meeting, the participants visited the new building of the High School for Water Resources Management (ESMRE). ESMRE is member of the Mediterranean Network of Water Training Centers (AquaForMed). The participants had also visited the premises of the Water and Sanitation Company of Oran (SEOR).