Euro-Med Conference of Water Directors, Rome Nov. 2005

Released	28/02/2006

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The Euro-Mediterranean Information System on the know-how in the Water sector – EMWIS – organises a conference addressing the General Water Directors of the 35 Euro-Med Partnership countries, the 24 and 25 November 2005 in Rome. The European Commission, Balkan Countries and Libya will also take part in this event. Four years after a similar event held in Madrid, the objective will be:

To inform the Water General Directors on the System progress.

To reaffirm the validity of the system, the commitment of the countries to implement it, to adapt it and to take the ownership.

To define the strategy for the next 10 years, in particular:

Integrating of an observatory mechanism for monitoring of trends towards the Millennium Goals relating to water and sanitation in the Mediterranean, as well as the implementation of the water section of the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development

Reinforcing the role of EMWIS as the main tool for the dissemination and sharing of knowledge related to the implementation of the EU regional policy of co-operation (e.g. Neighbourhood policy, Water Framework Directive, Water Initiative)

Evaluating the conditions of potential opening of EMWIS to the civil society

Improving the synergy with the existing international initiatives (e.g. Middle-East Peace Process, Sahara and Sahel Observatory).

To analyse the involvement of the Mediterranean countries not signatory of the Barcelona declaration: Libya and Balkan countries.

To renew the presidency and the composition of the Steering Committee.