EMWIS Flash n°73, September 2009
Released | 30/09/2009 |
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EMWIS Flash -
September 2009 |
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In this issue N°73 (http://www.emwis.net/thematicdirs/eflash/flash73)
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HEADLINE
1- Conclusions of the 1st Water Expert Group Meeting, 7-8 Sept'09, Athens
IN BRIEF
2-
Contribution of local and regional authorities to Med Strategy for Water, 23-24
November, Lyon
3-
Mediterranean Joint Process working group on water monitoring, 6 Oct'09, Beirut
4- European water strategy urgently needed
5- Water: a strategic issue for the Mediterranean
6- The Stockholm Statement: Message from World Water Week to the COP-15
7- France: Saur Group provides technical assistance to the Holy
City of Mecca
8- Jordan to go solo with Red Sea to Dead Sea pipeline
9- Jordan: Devices to reduce west Amman water consumption
10- Palestine: Looming water crisis in Gaza
11- Israel: The “Water Peace” overlooked
12- Israel, Lebanon & Syria: Shebaa Farms key to Levant hydro-diplomacy
13- Syria: Drought driving farmers to the cities
14- Syria, Iraq and Turkey discuss water shortage
15- Turkey floods highlight
need for climate change adaptation
16- Egypt removes crops grown with sewage water
17- Egypt: Lands using drainage water
18- Egypt & UAE: Aqua Engineering wins seawater desalination orders
NOMINATIONS and 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 Meeting of the
Water Experts Group (WEG) of the Union for the Mediterranean was held on 7-8
September 2009, in Athens, Greece. The
Water Experts Group is intended to implement the provisions included in the
Declaration of the Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Water held at
the Dead Sea, Jordan, December 2008, and particularly regarding the "Strategy
for Water in the Mediterranean" (SWM). The water
experts group agreed to elaborate the draft SWM, which should be developed as a
strategy for action, with an implementation mechanism at regional and national
level. A technical drafting group (TDG), composed of Egypt, France, Germany,
Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Spain, Syria, Croatia, the
European Commission and the League of Arab States, was set up under the
leadership of Spain, that will host the next Ministerial conference on 12-14
April 2010. Participants agreed that the strategy/action plan will build on existing activities and
will propose a timetable to be reviewed regularly with objectives and
indicators (taking into account local priorities). The WEG also welcomed the proposal
to include in the SWM an activity focusing on
strengthening the coordination of existing Euro-Mediterranean and regional
initiatives and networks on information and expertise. Finally, it will hold its
next meeting in Cairo on the 4th November 2009. Further information on
EMWIS website.
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IN BRIEF (Full
news)
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2- The Mediterranean Committee of United Cities and Local Governments is organising an international conference on 23 and 24 November 2009, in Lyon (France). This conference will focus on: the contribution of local and regional authorities to the water strategy of the Union for the Mediterranean. This meeting aims to articulate the recommendations coming from local and regional authorities and to identify the actions and projects of decentralized cooperation likely to be presented at the Union for the Mediterranean while reinforcing the support from important donors for the projects led by Mediterranean authorities. Further information on EMWIS website.
3- The next meeting of the water monitoring working group of the Joint Process between the EU WFD and Med-EUWI will take place in Beirut on 6 October 2009 afternoon, in the framework of an international seminar on river basin management in the Euro-Mediterranean area and the General Assembly of the Mediterranean Network of Basin Organisations. Experts from 12 countries will take part in this meeting that will focus on the analysing of the first results of the survey carried out among Mediterranean Partner Countries on the status of water monitoring networks and programmes as well as the preparation of a preliminary report for the working group. Output of the working group will be provided to water expert group as a contribution to the preparation of the water strategy of the Union for the Mediterranean as well as for the Horizon 2020 initiative related to the Mediterranean sea depollution. Further information on EMWIS website.
4- The Swedish Minister for the Environment, Andreas Carlgren, presented the Swedish Presidency's programme and priorities to the European Parliament's Environment Committee. At the centre of the debate were the preparations for the upcoming UN climate summit in Copenhagen in December this year, where a global agreement on a follow-up to the Kyoto Protocol must be reached. "We welcome the change in US climate policy as brought about by the Obama administration. Nevertheless, the European Union must remain at the forefront when it comes to an efficient worldwide fight against climate change", said the Coordinator in the Environment Committee, Austrian MEP Richard Seeber. He also called on the Swedish Presidency to support his demand for developing a European Water Strategy: "Climate change is mostly affecting the water situation around the world. Droughts and floods are increasing. The next EU Commission has to tackle this challenge and elaborate a comprehensive strategy. But it is imperative that such a strategy reflects the different needs and situations of regions both in Europe and the world. Indeed, the water situation in Austria is vastly different to those in Spain or Finland. In looking further to Africa or Asia, the need for a strategy with a high level of regional differentiation becomes clearly visible", concluded Seeber. Further information on EMWIS website.
5- The Parliamentary Assembly of the European Council met September 14 to discuss strategic aspects of water issues in the Mediterranean. A draft resolution was issued. The Parliamentary Assembly has particularly noted that climate change, overexploitation of water resources, deforestation, urbanization are causing not only a decrease of water resources but also pollution of rivers and groundwater. The Assembly also believes that water scarcity will create tensions and conflict and recalls that civilizations and societies have developed and installed according to the presence of water and fertile land. Accordingly, the Assembly recommended, inter alia, drafting legislation on the right to water and sanitation, developing the potential of water as a source of thermal energy, promote the trans-regional and transboundary cooperation on water, to establish a culture and education of water. The Assembly wanted to finally pursue its reflection on the role played by water in the conflict. Further information on EMWIS website.
6- At the close of the last World Water Week in Stockholm, the assembled participants unanimously voted to support a message from the Week stating that water must be included in the upcoming COP-15 climate deliberations in Copenhagen. Now commonly known as the “Stockholm Statement,” the document and its principles have been the subjects of media coverage and commentary worldwide. A number of influential organizations have publicly gone on record with comments about the statement. These include: The Stockholm International Water Institute, the Cooperative Programme on Water and Climate, WWF, IUCN - the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Conservation International, and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. Further comments are expected in the months leading up to COP-15 in December. Further information on EMWIS website.
7- The Saur Group has signed a technical assistance contract for an amount of 2.3 million Euros with the Holy City of Mecca. It covers the overall management of water of Mecca, a city with a population of 1.4 million inhabitants and up to 4.5 million during the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Concluded for one year, the service includes: Distribution, Sanitation, Customer management, & Diagnosis and the establishment of the heritage inventory and equipment. SAUR strengthens its presence in Saudi Arabia by becoming a partner in Mecca. Further information on EMWIS website.
8- Jordan has decided to build alone a two-billion-dollar pipeline from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea without help from proposed partners Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The plan is for the pipeline to draw off 310 million cubic metres (10.5 billion cubic feet) of water each year, of which 240 million will be fed into the desalination plant at the Jordanian Red Sea port of Aqaba, enabling an annual production of 120 million cubic metres of drinking water. The remaining 190 million cubic metres will be channelled towards the Dead Sea, the saltiest natural lake on the planet and the lowest point on the earth's surface. Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan agreed in 2005 on the outlines of a project to channel two billion cubic metres of water a year via a 200-kilometre (120-mile) canal in order to restore the level of the Dead Sea, produce fresh water and generate electricity. The total cost of the scheme has been estimated at 11 billion dollars. Further information on EMWIS website.
9- A total of 1,200 houses in west Amman, which consumes over 20 per cent of the capital's water allocation, are now equipped with water-saving devices. Under an ongoing campaign launched in July, over 2,000 devices were distributed and installed free of charge to reduce consumption at households in western Amman neighbourhoods. The target of the campaign, which was launched by HSBC Bank, USAID and Jordan Water Company (Miyahuna), was to install the devices in 2,500 households, but organisers said the number of recipients has been reduced as "standard houses" in target areas needed more devices than expected. The campaign, titled "Yalla Nwaffer Mai", or "Let's Save Water", seeks to install the water-saving devices as well as build awareness on the need to conserve water in Jordan, which is categorised as the fourth water-poorest country in the world. According to the USAID-funded IDARA Project, studies indicate that 50 per cent of water consumption comes from taps, half from kitchen taps. Campaign organisers expect the devices to cut water use by 30 per cent and reduce water bills. At the end of the year, water gauges in participating households will be measured in order to determine how much water was saved. Further information on EMWIS website.
10- Unless urgent action is taken, the supply of water fit for human use in the Gaza Strip will be depleted in 5-10 years, according to the Gaza Coastal Municipal Water Utility (CMWU) and UN agencies working there. Only 5-10 percent of groundwater - the most important supply source for human use (domestic, agricultural and industrial) in Gaza - yields potable water, according to CMWU. The poor quality of groundwater is due to over-extraction from the aquifer and this has allowed seawater intrusion - hence the high salinity of Gaza's groundwater. Much of it is unfit for human use. Tap water in Gaza is known to be very salty and undrinkable. Poor groundwater quality can also be attributed to pollution from wastewater and the infiltration of agricultural fertilizers, according to a World Bank report. Since 2005, Gaza's water supply has also been affected by restricted access to power, fuel and spare parts, according to the World Bank. Further information on EMWIS website.
11- One of the effects of the summer season in most Arab countries is that it serves to further highlight the increasing severity of water shortages and the importance of water as a regional issue. Conflicts over water are typically a result of both the transboundary nature of most water systems, and the political nature of water resources in a region already fraught with tension. The water issue is a regional one and one need only look at a map of water resources in the Arab and Mediterranean region to realize that there is no solution outside of a regional solution. According to Gilad Sher, the head of the Israeli negotiating team in Camp David and the Taba 1999-2000 talks, the Israelis say, "We believe that the water issue can be a catalyst for regional peace". Sher continues to expound on his ideas by saying that Israelis and Palestinians were not far from reaching a comprehensive agreement over water. With water scarcity affecting their ability to keep up with agricultural projects, there is no doubt that Israel is searching for a solution to alleviate the water problems in the region. Further information on EMWIS website.
12- The politics of the Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms, a rugged sliver of mountainside wedged between Lebanon, Israel and Syria, have long overshadowed what some Lebanese environmentalists call "the real issue" of the disputed area: its water resources. Now activists are calling for hydro-diplomacy to take precedence over political manoeuvring as the most effective solution to one of the key stumbling blocks to Middle East peace. Lebanon and Syria say the Shebaa Farms, measuring just 22sqkm, is Lebanese territory, though the UN has ruled it part of the Syrian Golan Heights, which lie just to the east, across water-rich Mount Hermon. Both the Golan and Shebaa were occupied by Israel during the Six-Day War of 1967 and the Israelis say disengagement from Shebaa can only come under a peace deal with Syria and withdrawal from the Golan. However, Fadi Comair, director-general of Hydraulic and Electric Resources at the Lebanese Ministry of Energy and Water, argues there is more to Israel's occupation of Shebaa than military-strategic concerns: "Israel's occupation of the Shebaa Farms has to do with control of its water." Israel, Jordan and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) all fall well below the internationally accepted threshold of 1,000 cubic metres of water per person per year (cmwpy). According to the IISD, Israel has natural renewable water resources of 265 cmwpy, Jordan 169, and OPT just 90. Only Lebanon and Syria have water surpluses, with Lebanon having a potential of 1,220 cmwpy and Syria 1,541. Further information on EMWIS website.
13- Thousands of Syrian farming families have been forced to move to cities in search of alternative work after two years of drought and failed crops followed a number of unproductive years. Wheat production is just 55 percent of its usual output and barley is seriously affected, according to the UN's drought response plan, drawn up following two recent multi-agency missions. Blamed on a combination of climate change, man-made desertification and lack of irrigation, up to 60 percent of Syria's land and 1.3 million people are affected, according to the UN. Just over 800,000 people have lost their entire livelihood, according to the UN. No-one knows exactly how many people have migrated across the country because of the drought. The Syrian Ministry for Agriculture and Agrarian Reform's estimate in July 2009 was 40,000 to 60,000 families, with 35,000 from Hassakeh alone. But with people moving all the time, the figure is likely to be an underestimate. The UN's drought response plan found there had been a "dramatic increase in the already substantial migration out of the affected areas". Migrants head for the cities of Damascus, Aleppo and Homs, according to the report. Further information on EMWIS website.
14- The Turkish Minister of Environment and Forestry Veysel Eroglu, Iraqi Minister of Water Resources Latif Rashid, and Syrian Minister of Irrigation Nadir al-Buni met in Ankara on 3rd September to discuss water shortages in the legendary Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which run through all three countries. The Tigris River has plunged to record low levels according to Iraqi farmers. Iraq’s drought is a “catastrophe,” according to some iraqi officials. Baghdad and Damascus want Turkey, where the source of the Tigris and Euphrates is located, to increase the flow of water passing through its network of dams. Further information on EMWIS website.
15- Recent flooding in parts of Turkey has underscored the need to focus on ecologically-sound flood management practices to shield urban areas from extreme weather events, particularly those caused by climate change. Turkey’s Thracian region and the capital Istanbul received a month’s worth of rainfall during two days -- or four times the total amount of average precipitation for this entire month -- causing massive flooding that led to the death of 30 people and widespread damage estimated at US $90 million dollars. Turkey's Meteorology Institute recorded 13.2 centimetres of rain fell in the area. This week’s floods follow flash floods in July that killed at least six people in the north-eastern province of Artvin, and inundated more than 100 homes and businesses in the Black Sea province of Giresun. Flooding occurred mostly because natural irrigation channels had been damaged and unplanned developments blocked the rain water from dissipating into the sea, according to WWF. WWF warns that weather-related problems such as floods could worsen because of climate change unless ecological flood prevention techniques are adopted. These consist of river delta conservation and forest conservation. In addition, urban settlements along river beds must be closely monitored. Further information on EMWIS website.
16- Crops grown with untreated sewage water will be removed, according to a decision by Egyptian Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources. Farmers have also been found to use drainage from Abu Rawash wastewater plant to grow fruits and vegetables such as bananas, corn, spinach and molokhia, which has been distributed in the main wholesale markets of Cairo and Shubra el-Kheima. The ministry has ordered that farmers themselves will pay for the removal of their crops to discourage them from continuing to use wastewater. The farmers contend, however that they have no other option. One source working in the irrigation sector said that the Egyptian Public Authority for Drainage Projects (EPADP) under the ministry is responsible for overseeing drainage related to crops. Further information on EMWIS website.
17- More than 13 villages in Nile Delta Gharbeya governorate have been found to be using untreated drainage water for irrigating fields as well as for fish farming. The Kalnabeya vent is believed to contain sewage water used on farms that was polluted by industrial waste originating from greater Mahalla factories years ago. "Lands irrigated with untreated drainage water exceed 4200 (ha.) in some villages of the governorate," according to sources, who added that people have been using irrigation machines to lift water from the vent carrying chemicals and causing diseases. Farmers explain they have become dependent on the vent because they only have access to clean water a few days a week. Further information on EMWIS website.
18- Two major seawater desalination orders for the United Arab Emirates and Egypt have been won by Austria's Aqua Engineering GmbH, part of the Christ Water Technology Group. The first contract with a total value of US$ 38 million was received from the Federal Electricity & Water Authority, UAE, which Aqua Engineering will share with a local partner. With a two-year construction period, the plant, with a capacity of 32,000 m³/d will supply 150,000 inhabitants of the Emirate of Ajman on the Persian Gulf with high quality drinking water. The second order, worth € 9 million, is for design and delivery of the electrical and mechanical engineering for two reverse-osmosis desalination plants with a combined capacity of 10,000 m³/d for a project from the National Organisation for Potable Water & Sanitary Drainage, Cairo, Egypt. After completion, the plants will supply the cities of Rafah and El Zowayed on the Mediterranean coast with top-grade drinking water. Further information on EMWIS website.
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NOMINATIONS and
VACANCIES
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19- The Global Water Partnership (GWP) has appointed Dr. Mohamed AIT KADI as the new GWP Technical Committee Chair, effective October 1, 2009. On the other hand, the GWP Steering committee has also renewed its members. The membership of Jean-François DONZIER, General Director of the International Office for Water (OIEAU) & Permanent Secretary of INBO (International Network of Basin Organisations), was extended till the 2012. Further information on EMWIS website.
20- Professor András Szöllösi-Nagy, newly appointed Rector at the Institute for Water Education (UNESCO-IHE, The Netherlands), addressed staff in the Institute’s auditorium on 15 September 2009. Further information on EMWIS website.
21- The European Parliament has approved the appointment of José Manuel Barroso as President of the European Commission for a second term. Further information on EMWIS website.
22- The UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education offers post-graduate courses and PhD research programmes in Delft, The Netherlands, and carries out research and capacity building projects all over the world. The Department of Water Engineering wishes to appoint a: Professor in Hydraulic Engineering and River Basin Development. The deadline for applications is 15 November 2009 (closing date). Further information on EMWIS website.
23- The department of Water and Sanitation in Developing Countries (Sandec) at Eawag, Switzerland, is engaged in applied research & development in water supply and environmental sanitation for low and middle income countries. Sandec is seeking to fill a vacant position as group leader (tenure track) for sanitation. The objectives are to develop new concepts and technologies for excreta, faecal sludge and wastewater management through applied research projects with partner organizations in developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Dissemination of research results, advocacy, developing research capacity and professional expertise, and facilitating implementation are further important activities for getting research results into policy and practice. Deadline for applications: 15 October 2009. Further information on EMWIS website.
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PUBLICATIONS
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24- European Commission Staff Working Paper "A progress report on the first three years of Horizon 2020" (SEC(2009)1118 final)": A progress report on the first three years of Horizon 2020: The purpose of this report on the implementation of the Horizon 2020 initiative is to highlight the progress that has taken place since the Cairo meeting. This will serve as input for the preparation of the forthcoming meeting of Environment Ministers of the Union for the Mediterranean which will take place during the Swedish Presidency of the European Union (EU). Further information on EMWIS website.
25- Water at a Crossroads, the official World Water Council synthesis of the 5th World Water Forum, presents the main themes and the different perspectives of participants in addressing key questions. A companion publication, the Global Water Framework-Istanbul 2009 provides a compilation of all official documents and outcomes from the 5th World Water Forum. It includes the Declaration of Heads of States, the results of the Ministerial component, as well as statements from Parliamentarians and Local and Regional Authorities. It also covers the thematic and regional outcomes of the Forum, as well as the children's & youth declarations. Further information on EMWIS website.
26- The European Environment Agency (EEA) has recently published a report entitled "Regional climate change and adaptation - The Alps facing the challenge of changing water resources" that raises the alarm about the impact that climate change may have on the Alps and its role as 'water towers of Europe'. Further information on EMWIS website.
27- Worldwide Water Footprints: This map displays the water footprint per inhabitant of the world's nations, created with the geomarketing software RegioGraph. The data was obtained from the Water Footprint Organization. In collaboration with Delft University (Netherlands), the WWF and the United Nations' Institute for Water Education, the Water Footprint Organization studies the worldwide usage of water resources. Further information on EMWIS website.
28- What role for private sector in the access to water in developing countries? Private Sector and Development is a bimonthly magazine designed to compare the opinions of experts in diverse and complementary approaches on issues related to private sector's role in the development of low-income countries, particularly sub-Saharan Africa. Further information on EMWIS website.
29- At 100 days of the beginning of the Copenhagen conference, Jean-Louis Borloo, French Minister of State, Minister for Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and the Sea, has launched a website to educate the public to the challenges of this major international meeting on climate taking place from December 5 to 18. Further information on EMWIS website.
30- The World Bank Update for Water Practitioners (September 2009): The 3rd issue of NewSplash. Further information on EMWIS website.
31- New finance for climate change and the environment: This paper describes recent developments and trends in global environmental finance. It aims at mapping out the new environmental funds in terms of their objectives, funding and institutional arrangements. The authors also identify factors that seem to be shaping the development of these funds and provide an initial analysis of the potential for duplication, complementarity or synergy between and among new funds. Further information on EMWIS website.
32- Water resources, climate change and human vulnerability: This paper focuses on the impact of climate change on water resources and the affect it has on human society. The Climate Vulnerability Index (CVI) uses water as a focus as it is a key factor of human and ecological well-being. Though it is not a new concept, it has been developed to encompass variations within countries and it is not limited to specific communities. Further information on EMWIS website.
33- The INSPIRE Thematic Working Groups, the Data Specification Drafting Team, and the JRC INSPIRE Team have finalised the third version of Data Specifications published as Guidelines for the spatial data themes referred to in Annex I of the INSPIRE Directive. They will supplement the Implementing Rule for interoperability of spatial data sets and services and allow for preparation for implementation. The Draft Legislation for interoperability of spatial data sets and services is currently being prepared by the European Commission for submission to the INSPIRE Committee. A call for expressions of interest has been launched to draw up a list of candidates (individual persons, public or private organisations, consortia or groupings of service providers) to assist the Commission in the context of the INSPIRE Directive 2007/2/EC and related implementing rules and technical guidelines. Further information on EMWIS website.
34- The website "USAID Water Finance" is structured as three interlinked work areas: * Financing Interventions; * Assessment Toolkit for service providers; * Developing a Programmatic Approach. Further information on EMWIS website.
35- New World Bank Report on Hydropower: This report sets out key future strategies to scale up financing of hydro power. Further information on EMWIS website.
37- [Letter from pS-Eau] n. 59 - Editorial: Two good news for the Mediterranean water and sanitation in Africa. Further information on EMWIS website.
38- New book published on the watershed: "River Basin Trajectories: Societies, Environments and Development", Edited by François Molle and Philippus Wester. Further information on EMWIS website
39- "International Directory of Environmental Organizations 2009: A reference source to the organizations involved in environmental and conservation worldwide and to their activities". Further information on EMWIS website.
40- Birzeit Water Drops – Official Bulletin of Institute of Environmental and Water Studies (IEWS), Birzeit University, Palestine, September 2009. Further information on EMWIS website.
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CALL FOR
TENDERS and PROPOSALS
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41- Preannouncement of the ERA-Net IWRM-Net (towards a European wide exchange Network for integrating research efforts on Integrated Water Resources Management) 2d joint Call for research proposals. The focus for this 2nd Call is on developing strategies and solutions to meet the various challenges connected to climate change, droughts and water scarcity as such. Moreover, proposals addressing economical and social issues for IWRM are welcomed. Closing date: 15th October 2009. Further information on EMWIS website
42- FP7-ENV-2010 Environment (including climate change) Call:
The call (Deadline:
05 January 2010) allocates €170 000 000 million for
research topics (49 topics) in all the four activities of the Theme:
Activity 6.1: Climate change, pollution and risks
Activity 6.2: Sustainable management of resources
Activity 6.3: Environmental technologies
Activity 6.4: Earth observation and assessment tools for sustainable development
Further information on
EMWIS website
43- "ENPI CBC-MED: First call for proposals for Standard Projects": The "ENPI CBC Mediterranean Sea Basin Programme 2007/2013" is a multilateral cross-border cooperation programme co-financed by the European Union under the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI). The general objective of the Programme is to contribute to promoting the sustainable and harmonious cooperation process at the Mediterranean Basin level by dealing with the common challenges and enhancing its endogenous potential. Priority: 1. Promotion of socio-economic development and enhancement of territories; 2. Promotion of environmental sustainability at the basin level; 3. Promotion of better conditions and modalities for ensuring the mobility of persons, goods and capitals; 4. Promotion of cultural dialogue and local governance. The present call for proposals is open to all the 4 Programme Priorities and to the 10 related Measures. The allocated budget for this first call for proposals is 32.811.784 EUR. Deadline for submission of project proposals was postponed to October 20th 2009 by decision of the Joint Monitoring Committee. Further information on EMWIS website
44- Decision on third call for INTERREG IVC: Call for Capitalisation projects to launch end 2009, Regional Initiative projects after second call analysis: The INTERREG IVC Monitoring Committee has decided on the perspective for a third call for projects, at the fourth programme Monitoring Committee meeting in Prague, 14-15 May. A two-step package has been agreed upon, with differing dates for Capitalisation projects and Regional Initiative projects (RIP). A call for Capitalisation projects only will be opened at the end of 2009 while a call for Regional Initiative projects will be launched following an analysis at programme level of the approved projects from the first and second calls. A series of seminars and information events will be organised by the Joint Technical Secretariat, and the Information Points, in 2009-2010 to prepare applicants in understanding the characteristics of the call, once decided by the Monitoring Committee. A dedicated Capitalisation event will be organised under the chairmanship of the Swedish presidency of the EU in December 2009. Further information on EMWIS website
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CALL FOR PAPERS
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45- Call for papers for the 4th International Conference on Water Resources and Arid Environments (ICWRAE): Duration of Conference: 4 days (5-8 December 2010). The deadline for applying and uploading abstracts is 30 October 2009. Further information on EMWIS website.
46- "Journal of Hydrology and Meteorology: Call for papers": It intends to include relevant areas like climate change, atmospheric and water pollution, floods, droughts, desertification, glaciology and many others. Next issue of the Journal (Vol. 7, No. 1) will be published in August 2010. Last date of submission of abstract: October 31, 2009. Further information on EMWIS website.
47- ' ISARM 2010' - International Conference on Challenges and new directions in Transboundary Aquifers Management : The Scientific Advisory Committee will select from the extended abstracts a number of authors who will be requested to prepare full-length papers. Proceedings will be published by UNESCO-IHP. The participants are kindly requested to submit their abstracts by 30 March 2010. The Conference will be held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris (France) from 6-8 December 2010. Further information on EMWIS website.
48- Call for papers for the 3rd International Symposium of the history of wetlands: Wetlands and cities yesterday and today, that will be held on 25, 26, 27 March 2010 at the University of Valenciennes - Faculté des Lettres, Langues, Arts et Sciences Humaines (France). Deadline for proposals submission: 15 October 2009. Further information on EMWIS website
49- The forthcoming 3rd International Symposium on 'Recent Advances in Quantitative Remote Sensing', will be held in Valencia (Spain), from 27 September to 1 October 2010. A call for papers is launched till the 15th February 2010. Further information on EMWIS website
50- "SimHydro 2010: Hydraulic modeling and uncertainty": Modeling in fluid mechanics, hydraulics, and hydrology, whether using digital tools or using scale models, has reached sufficient maturity to be in daily use by engineers for analysis and for communication. Abstract submission: 15 October 2009. Further information on EMWIS website.
51-
First Announcement and call for papers for the Second International
Conference on Drought Management, to be held in Istanbul, Turkey, on 4-6
March 2010, on the topic “Economics of Drought and Drought Preparedness in
the Mediterranean”. Deadline for paper submission in English: 15 October
2009 to Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Zaragoza - CIHEAM. Further
information on
EMWIS website.
53- Call for Ideas to be released for climate change studies from ISS: ESA’s Directorates of Human Spaceflight and Earth Observation plan to issue a joint Call for Ideas in October to obtain an indication of interest in deploying remote-sensing instruments on the International Space Station for global change studies. Further information on EMWIS website.
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TRAINING
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54- MSc Water Management - Water and Society (Full and part-time; CIWEM accredited). Course Location Cranfield, Bedfordshire. Course provider Cranfield University. This course provides the essential skills and knowledge to work in a number of areas across the water sector such as managing multi-disciplinary teams and assessing social, economic and legal factors which drive change. This course will begin in October 2009. Further information on EMWIS website.
55- "GeoAquifer Project: Training Workshop, Tunis, Tunisia, 3-12 August 2009": The Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) has organized as part of GeoAquifer project activities a workshop for officials in charge of water resources of the three countries sharing the aquifer system of the northern Sahara. This training was attended by Algerian, Libyan and Tunisian seniors, and was intended to familiarize them with the tools allowing to calculate the flow, visualize data in 3D and perform more sophisticated models. Further information on EMWIS website
56- [2009/10/05 - 2009/10/09] Sustainable Use of Water in Agriculture: Indicators and Trends for Water Resources Conservation, Venice, Italy
Further information on EMWIS website
57-
[2009/10/15 - 2009/10/15] IOEau Days
"Responsibilities of water & sanitation services", Limoges, France.
Further
information on
EMWIS website.
58- [2009/10/17 - 2009/10/24] The major waterways as matrices of European cultural identity, Treviso, Italy
Further information on EMWIS website
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EVENTS (Full
Agenda)
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[2009/11/02
- 2009/11/03]
A Joint Egyptian-Dutch Water Conference: “Towards the new
Long Term Strategy for Water in the Mediterranean,
Cairo, Egypt.
Further
information on
EMWIS website.
[2009/10/29 - 2009/10/30] IWEH09 - The First International Workshop on Environmental Hydraulics: Theoretical, Experimental & Computational Solutions, Valencia, Spain
Further information on EMWIS website
[2009/10/29 - 2009/10/30] 10èmes rencontres d'Affaires Euro-méditerranéennes dans le secteur de l'Eau, Barcelone, Spain
Further information on EMWIS website
[2009/10/27 - 2009/10/30] 9e forum EURAFRIC-PARTNERS: "l'Eau et l'Energie en Afrique" - Conférence Ministérielles sur les ouvrages hydro-électriques en Afrique, Lyon, France
Further information on EMWIS website
[2009/10/26 - 2009/10/28] The International Journal on Hydropower & Dams: HYDRO 2009, Lyon, France
Further information on EMWIS website
[2009/10/22 - 2009/10/24] Pollutec Maroc 2009, Casablanca, Morocco
Further information on EMWIS website
[2009/10/22 - 2009/10/22] Conference "Flood Risk: Safeguarding the Company’s Vital Interests ", Orleans, France
Further information on EMWIS website
[2009/10/20 - 2009/10/21] Deuxièmes rencontres nationales de la recherche sur les sites et sols pollués : pollutions locales et diffuses, Paris, France
Further information on EMWIS website
[2009/10/19 - 2009/10/21] International Conference: Water resources in Europe - The past, present and future, Cracow, Poland
Further information on EMWIS website
[2009/10/19 - 2009/10/21] The 5° International Conference on the "Water Resources in the Mediterranean Basin" (WATMED5), Lille, France
Further information on EMWIS website
[2009/10/19 - 2009/10/20] Climate Change in South-Eastern European Countries IV: Adaptation Strategies for Economy and Society, Zagreb, Croatia
Further information on EMWIS website
[2009/10/16 - 2009/10/17] Seizièmes Journées Techniques du Comité Français de l’Association Internationale des Hydrogéologues - Evian 2009 : "Protection des ressources en eau et développement local : transposer l'expérience acquise dans le domaine des eaux minérales", Evian, France
Further information on EMWIS website
[2009/10/14 - 2009/10/16] World Water Council (WWC) General Assembly, Marseille, France
Further information on EMWIS website
[2009/10/13 - 2009/10/13] Horizon 2020 Steering Group meeting, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Further information on EMWIS website.
[2009/10/11 - 2009/10/13] Water Solutions
Middle East, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Further
information on
EMWIS website.
[2009/10/10 - 2009/10/12] Colloque international sur les Objectifs du Millénaire pour le Développement (OMD) : « Regards croisés sur les Objectifs du Millénaire pour le Développement (OMD) - pauvreté, éducation, santé, gestion des ressources naturelles », Tlemcen, Algeria
Further information on EMWIS website
[2009/10/09 - 2009/10/09] EWP Water Stewardship: Technical Workshop, Brussels, Belgium.
Further information on EMWIS website
[2009/10/08 - 2009/10/09] INTERREG IVB NWE Annual Event 8 & 9 October 2009, Lille, France
Further information on EMWIS website
[2009/10/08 - 2009/10/08] 67ème Forum d'Iéna : "L'eau: Un défi pour l'avenir", Paris, France.
Further information on EMWIS website
[2009/10/07 - 2009/10/08] International Conference on Sustainable Hydropower in the Western Balkans, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Further information on EMWIS website
[2009/10/07 - 2009/10/08] Colloque SHF Canicules-Etiages-Sécheresses et Usages de l'Eau, Lyon, France
Further information on EMWIS website
[2009/10/06 - 2009/10/09] International Seminar on River Basin Management and Cooperation in the Euro-Mediterranean Region - General Assembly of the Mediterranean Network of Basin Organizations (MENBO), Beirut, Lebanon.
Further information on EMWIS website
[2009/10/06 - 2009/10/06] Mediterranean Joint Process working group on water monitoring, Beirut, Lebanon.
Further information on EMWIS website.
[2009/10/01 - 2009/10/02] Seminar on Current Challenges Facing Hydropower Development in Europe: Reserved flow, River Basin Management Plans & Certification for Hydro, Brussels, Belgium.
Further information on EMWIS website
[2009/09/30 - 2009/10/02] 1st Mediterranean Exhibition for Water Technologies, Rome, Italy
Further information on EMWIS website
[2009/09/30 - 2009/10/02] Research on Sustainable Development Indicators: Taking Stock of Results and Identification of Research Needs + Working group meeting on Sustainable Development Indicators, Luxembourg
Further information on EMWIS website
[2009/09/30 - 2009/10/01] Pollution of coastal waters in wet weather: prevention by active management and targeted investment, Granville, France.
Further information on EMWIS website
[2009/09/30 - 2009/10/01] Les Assises de l’Assainissement Non Collectif, 6ème édition, Evreux, France
Further information on EMWIS website
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