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PROGRESS REPORT 22 November 2005

 

Background

The Mediterranean Component of the EU Water Initiative (MED EUWI) aims:

  • to assist design of better, demand driven and result oriented programmes,
  • to facilitate better coordination of water programmes and projects, aiming at a more effective use of existing funds, and the mobilization of new financial resources, where this is required, based on an analysis of gaps, and,
  • to enhance cooperation for the proper implementation of these programmes and projects, based on peer review and strategic assessment.

MED EUWI, is giving particular emphasis to Mediterranean and Southeastern Europe priorities and focuses on the following themes:

  • Water supply and sanitation, with emphasis on the poorest part of the societies
  • Integrated water resources management, with emphasis on management of transboundary water bodies
  • Water, food and environment interaction, with emphasis on fragile ecosystems
  • Non-conventional water resources and
  • Cross cutting issues such as transfer of technology, transfer of know how, capacity building and training and education.

The following partner countries are involved:

  • In the South East Europe - Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Former Yugoslavic Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Romania, Serbia and Montenegro.
  • In the Mediterranean - Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestinian Authority, Syria, Turkey, Tunisia.
    Therefore, the Component encompasses overall 18 countries.

MED EUWI aims to serve as a platform for promoting strategic partnerships between the EU and the Mediterranean and Southeastern European countries as well as between government, civil society and the private sector. Non-EU donors and international organizations (including the UN family and the IFIs) are also contributing to the component through the promotion of synergies and development of activities at sub-regional level. MED EUWI is led by Greece that chairs a multi-stakeholder Working Group. MED EUWI Secretariat is facilitated by GWP-Med.

Work Programme 2005

The Component's Work Programme 2005 has been compiled and agreed by the MED EUWI Working Group, taking into account input and suggestions by partners including partner countries, Mediterranean networks and cooperating organizations, aiming at matching funds and improving coherence and coordination.

The 2005 Work Programme focuses on nine (9) specific Activities at the country and regional levels. Implementation of the 2005 WP relies greatly on support and funding provided by individual donors (organisations and countries) with a particular interest in the implementation of specific actions.

Some of the activities that considerable progress has been achieved so far are mostly on the sub-regional level, for example IWRM status assessment in North African countries, capacity building on transboundary water management in Southeastern. National Dialogues are planned to kick-off by the end of the year. In this context, the funding of specific activities on the national and local levels is currently under discussion with DG AIDCO.

Progress achieved in implementing the Activities planned to commence in 2005 include:

ACT-1. Baseline assessment of Regional and national Frameworks to implement IWRM in SE Mediterranean and SE European countries:

  • The draft ToR for the study have been elaborated

ACT-2. Baseline assessment of regional and national frameworks to implement IWRM in the context of the WFD/EUWI Joint Process:

  • The overall and thematic concepts have been developed.
  • Three thematic Working Groups have been set up on water scarcity, rural development and groundwater, actively involving partners in related meetings. Position Papers/Progress Reports are currently under preparation by the WGs in order to be ready for submission to the EU Water Directors in November.
  • The Joint Process was presented in detail and discussed with partners during the 2nd half of the 5th MED EUWI WG meeting in Athens, 22 June 05, that was devoted to the process and concluded in very useful recommendations for the future of the process.

ACT-3. Regional Workshop on the status of national IWRM planning in South Mediterranean (North African countries)

  • It is an activity promoted and funded by the African Development Bank and implemented under the auspices of the Minister of Territory Management, Environment and Water of Morocco.
  • The background documents (sub-regional and national case studies) are under development.
  • A North African Seminar on National IWRM Plans will take place on 19-20 December 2005, in Morocco.

ACT-4. Capacity building for decision makers and experts on integrated shared water resources management in Southeast Europe

  • It is a follow up of the Petersberg / Athens Processes. The activity is progressing with an initial funding from GEF and the support of the German and Greek governments and the World Bank. UNESCO and UNECE have joined the process.
  • An assessment of the current status of shared water resources in Southeastern Europe has been prepared.
  • A technical / coordination meeting was organized, 15-16 September, Athens.
  • The first Capacity Building Workshop will take place on 5-7 December, in Berlin with the support of Germany.

ACT-5. Assessment and methodological framework for the financial requirements to meet MDGs/WSSD targets related to WSS in the South & East Mediterranean and Southeast Europe

  • It is probably the most important activity for 2005-2006.
  • The ToR have been prepared together with the EAP task Force of OECD that have carried out similar work for the EECCA region.
  • A project proposal has been prepared linking this Activity with ACT-8 at the national level and has already been submitted to AIDCO for funding. Negotiations are on-going for supporting MED EUWI activities through the MEDA/RMSU contract.

ACT-6. Strengthening long term sustainable financing for the environment and water resources in the Mediterranean

  • This activity is promoted and implemented mainly by UNEP GPA with initial financial support by GEF and the Italian government.
  • An Action Plan for strengthening long term financing and some case studies have been completed.
  • The next step will be the organization of a regional workshop on senior on high level (in 2006)

ACT-7. Transfer of results from EC RTD activities towards South & East Mediterranean countries

  • This Activity has not been commenced yet.

ACT-8. Country dialogues for prioritization of national needs related to water ODA and identification of existing gaps (for each country dialogue)

  • It is linked with Activity 5.
  • The ToR have been prepared together with the EAP task Force of OECD that have carried out similar work for the EECCA region.
  • A project proposal has been prepared linking this Activity with Activity 8 at the national level and has already been submitted to AIDCO for funding.
  • The first countries interested to participate in this Country Dialogues Process include Lebanon and Morocco. The Lebanese Inaugural Workshop took place on 16 November 2005, in Beirut, invited by the Lebanese Ministry for Energy and Water. Lebanon is in a stage of institutional reforms related to water and the Dialogue that is envisaged to have a duration of approximately 12 months, aims to assist in a more strategic approach regarding prioritization of interventions and related support. Particular emphasis will be given within the process to links with the European Neighbourhood Policy.

The Lebanese Inaugural Workshop of MED EUWI Dialogue was organised within the Beirut Water Week (14-17 November) that included regional and national events on water governance, water education, groundwater resources as well as the annual meeting of COMPSUD (Parliamentarians) and the Opening of the Water, Energy and Environment Research Centre (WEERC) at the Notre Dame University (NDU). The Beirut Water Week is organised in collaboration with Lebanese Ministry for Energy and Water, UN ESCWA, GWP-Med, MIO-ECSDE, BGR, GTZ, UNESCO, COMPSUD and the European Union.

The Morocco Inaugural workshop is planned for the first quarter of 2006, following the North African Conference on IWRM Planning (see ACT-3) that will take place on 19-20 December 2005.

ACT-9. National awareness workshops on access to water knowledge

  • This Activity has not been commenced yet.

10 . Progress on other levels includes:

  • The Organizational Framework and Modalities document was discussed and agreed at the 5th WG Meeting, 22 June, Athens.
  • A document called "Types of Interventions" has been prepared and discussed at the 5th Working Group Meeting, 22 June, Athens. Its scope is to identify broad types of interventions needed to be carried out in order to meet the internationally agreed targets on water, sanitation and IWRM, in the Mediterranean. It is also expected to support the ENPI Process. The document has been posted on the CIS and is open for comments.
  • The progress of the Component was presented during the 8th Meeting of the Steering Committee of EMWIS (Athens, 23.6.05) as well as during the MultiStakeholder Forum of the EUWI that took place in August in Stockholm during the Stockholm World Water Week.
  • The Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development (adopted by the 10th Session of the MCSD, 20-22 June, Athens), makes specific reference to the promotion of the MED EUWI as a means of achieving the MDGs and the JPoI as well as strengthening synergies with donors and with other regional cooperation frameworks in support of investment in the region.

Future steps include:

  • Proceed with the Country Dialogues' Process fast.
  • Further exploring fundraising possibilities with the EC, MS and IFIs.
  • Consolidation of the Working Group according to its Terms of Reference.
  • Further explore and reinforce the linkages between the MED EUWI and other on-going political regional processes. In this respect, the upcoming Euro-Mediterranean Water Directors' Forum Meeting organised by EMWIS and the Italian Government in Rome, 24-25 November, offers a unique opportunity to explore the synergies and the means for establishing and promoting a concrete operational connection between the Forum, acting as a political platform, and the MED EUWI.

For more information you can also visit the Initiative's Web Site at www.euwi.net and www.minenv.gr .