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In this issue
N°17
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HEADLINE
1. Training seminar for data managers of the EMWIS NFPs
IN BRIEF
2. EMWIS information seminar in Cyprus
3.
Capacity Building Symposium on Integrated Water Management and Irrigation
4. Innovation as a tool for a sustainable development within
the Mediterranean
5. Austria: Avoidance
Instead of Disposal Also Applies to Wastewater
6. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Srebrenica: Netherlands supports
water utility
7. Hungary and Croatia share the Dráva
River
8. Germany: Environmental and resource costs in the WFD
9. UK: Ribble river basin project endorsed as best practice in Europe
10. ADIRA project: Water Planning & Desalination Applications
11. Drop-Wise project: Sustainable water management the Drop-Wise way
12. AQUAREC project: Water Management
Questionnaire
13. The first National Seminar on Environmental Policy Integration and
SMAP III
14. Instruments for implementing the Thematic Priorities of
the FP6 (2002-2006)
15. EC clears the joint acquisition of regional German water
supplier
16. EU Launches € 500 M Water Facility
17. Second Public Seminar on the ACP-EU Water Facility
18. The launching of the Arabic version of MEdIES
19. Trans-European Networks and reinforcement of Public Private
Partnerships in water
20. Eco-Volunteering around the Mediterranean to reinforce
Euro-Mediterranean citizenship
21. TIGER Workshop puts focus on space for African water management
22. Satellite view highlights Europe’s changing landscape
NOMINATIONS & VACANCIES
PUBLICATIONS
CALL FOR TENDERS and PROPOSALS
CALL FOR PAPERS
EVENTS
BRIEF EMWIS SITE MAP
CONTACT US / COMMENTS
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HEADLINE
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1. Information and training seminar for EMWIS data managers will be held in Madrid between 22nd and 25th of November 2004. The main objective is to define common metadata to allow exchanges or aggregation of “water information” among the National Focal Points (NFP) and to evaluate the use of a common multilingual water thesaurus. It will also be the opportunity to review the progress of the EMWIS thematic studies and more specially the one related to the interest of the EU Water Frame Work Directive for the Mediterranean Partner Countries. Click here for related last information.
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IN BRIEF
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2. The EMWIS Information Seminar organised with the Water Development Department (WDD) in Nicosia (Cyprus) last 29th October, attracted some 80 participants representing the various water stakeholders of this new EU member state. The Minister of Agriculture opened the seminar by confirming the importance of the Euro-Med cooperation in the water sector and the necessary exchange of know-how in Cyprus and in the Mediterranean basin. Such exchanges were highlighted by the speakers: Water Information System in Jordan, the implementation of the WFD in Greece, Water information in Italy, progress on MEDA-Water projects involving Cyprus and a first discussion on the concept of a Mediterranean Desalination Observatory . Click here to view it.
3. The Mediterranean Network of Basin Organisations (MENBO) and the Euro-Mediterranean Irrigators Community (EIC) organised and International Symposium within the Strategy Plan of the Global Water Partnership Mediterranean. This event was held at the Kadir Has University of Istanbul (Turkey), parallel to a series of events of great interest that covered environmental topics. Among other events, and in addition to the Symposium, GWP-Med, MIO-ECSDE and the Marmara Group Foundation organised: an inaugural thematic panel on Turkey, the 3rd Meeting of The Circle of Mediterranean Parliamentarians for Sustainable Development (COMPSUD), and the 3rd Mediterranean Dialogue for the sustainable development of the region. For more information about all these events, click here.
4. The 14th of October, in Foggia (Italy), the Community of Mediterranean Universities (CMU) together with RMEI (Réseau Méditerranéen des Ecoles d’Ingénieurs) organised a meeting on “Innovation as a tool for a sustainable development within the Mediterranean”. The morning session was devoted to “Capacity building in Higher Education Institutions for quality approach and pedagogical innovation: associated tools” and the afternoon session has discussed “Water management and desertification in the Mediterranean”. On the other hand, the 10th assembly of CMU took place also in the following days (15-16 October), two round tables took place also on i) “Innovation as a tool for the sustainable development of the Mediterranean” and ii) “Sport as a cohesive and peaceful factor in the Mediterranean”. For more information, click here.
5. The Municipal Department of Wastewater Management in Vienna (Austria) takes decisive action to promote the quality of life and ecology in the Austrian capital by integrating hydro-ecological strategies. For more information, click here.
6. The Government of the Netherlands has contributed € 600.000 to the infrastructure component of UNDP’s Srebrenica Regional Recovery Programme (SRRP) for the implementation of the “Water for Srebrenica Project”. This project involves technical assistance to the water and waste disposal utility company “Polet” in terms of new management techniques especially for billing and fee collection; support for repairing the network; and support for installing water meters. For more information, click here.
7. The Dráva is at many sites the natural border between Hungary and Croatia. But there are sections of it flowing trough only in one country. In the last time there were tensions between the two countries because of the Croatian plan to build a water power plant at Novo Virje, on Croatian territory, but on the common river. Now both ministers responsible for water management of the neighbouring countries met on the 10th festive meeting of the Hungarian-Croatian Water Management Comity. For more information, click here.
8. The valuation of environmental and resource costs plays a central role for the implementation of the EC Water Framework Directive (WFD). Many of the economic aspects of this implementation process are directly or indirectly related to the assessment - such as the cost recovery for water services, incentive pricing for water, or the selection of cost-effective measures. Environmental and resource costs are currently dealt with in Germany. For more information, click here.
9. The River Ribble (UK) Pilot project has been endorsed as a best practice of public participation in the development of river basin plans in Europe. The river is being used as a pilot in river basin planning in order to prepare for the Water Framework Directive. For more information, click here. (Edie newsroom)
10. The Agricultural University of Athens is organising a workshop on water planning & desalination applications in the context of ADIRA Project one of the MEDA WATER projects. This workshop will take place in Limassol (Cyprus) on December 6th 2004. The goal of the Workshop is to provide a forum for the discussion of the short and long term market penetration of water desalination applications in Cyprus and elsewhere. This will promote wider publicity of the efforts made by various public and private bodies towards the satisfaction of fresh water demand at prices not higher than marginal costs of conventional water supplies. For more information, click here.
11. The "Drop-Wise" project in the town of Stadskanaal, in the northeast of the Netherlands (population 34.000), aimed to demonstrate that sustainable water management through disconnecting clean rain water from roofs and paved areas was feasible in inner city areas and could be implemented successfully by small and medium-sized towns. For more information, click here.
12. As part of an EU research project (AQUAREC), the School of Water Sciences at Cranfield University is conducting a web based survey. The objective of the survey is to identify the different information needs and participation requirements of stakeholders within water management projects. For more information, click here.
13. The first National Seminar on Environmental Policy Integration and SMAP III, agreed upon at the SMAP meeting held in Brussels last June, will be held in Cairo (Egypt) on 18-19 December 2004. The draft programme recently agreed with EuropeAid and DG-ENV and in the process of being finalised in strict collaboration with the Egyptian SMAP Correspondent is available on the SMAP RMS web site. Click here for more information.
14. The Sixth Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2002-2006) includes two new instruments which will be used, where deemed appropriate, as priority means of carrying out activities in the priority thematic areas with the objective of integrating European research. These instruments are: integrated projects and networks of excellence, and detailed information on them can be found in the following website.
15. The EC has approved the acquisition of joint control in the German regional long-distance water supplier Fernwasser Sachsen-Anhalt by Stadtwerke Halle and Midewa, a regional utility co-controlled by Veolia Environnement from France. For more information, click here.
16. The EU has launched its € 500 million Water Facility for African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries - the single biggest EU allocation ever for water and sanitation projects. The facility was approved by the EU Council in March 2004 and was endorsed by the ACP-EU Council of Ministers at their meeting in Gabarone in May. The facility will drive progress towards achievement of the water and sanitation related Millennium Development Goals as well as the targets set at the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD), held in Johannesburg in 2002. For more information, click here.
17. The EC organises on 1 December 2004 a second public information seminar on the ACP-EU Water Facility. This seminar will take place in Brussels. There will be invited representatives from ACP and EU States, from international organisations and IFIs, as well as from NGOs and the private sector. The aim of the seminar is to inform the participants on the ACP-EU Water Facility, in particular on how to present submissions for the Call for Proposals. For more information, click here.
18. The launching of the Arabic version of the MEdIES educational package Water in the Mediterranean, on 8th of December 2004. This event will take place at the League of Arab States in parallel to the meeting of the Ministers for the Environment of the Arab States. The training seminar on the implementation of the MEdIES Educational Package “Water in the Mediterranean”, 9th of December 2004, which is addressed to Egyptian Educators. The workshop on “Cultural Diversity and Biodiversity”, 9th of December 2004 , which is addressed to the MIO-ECSDE Membership. For more information, click here.
19. FEMIP (the Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership) calls for the extension of the Trans-European Networks and the reinforcement of Public Private Partnerships in water and transport in the Mediterranean. Under the Dutch Presidency of the European Union, the 2nd Experts' Committee of FEMIP met in Amsterdam, on 25 and 26 October 2004. This Committee serves as a think tank with the task of putting forward practical and operational recommendations to FEMIP's Ministerial Committee, made up of the Economics and Finance Ministers of the EU and the Mediterranean Partner Countries (MPCs). For more information, click here.
20. The "Eco-Volunteering around the Mediterranean" programme is coordinated by the GEC (Grouping of European Campuses) with the support and financial assistance of the EC — as part of an initiative called the European Voluntary Service for Young People (EVS). This programme is open to young people from 18 to 25 years old, residing legally in some countries of the European Union or the Mediterranean. Its objective is to provide participants with an enriching experience by including them in a voluntary project abroad for a period of 6 to 12 months. During this time, they will assist organisations or local communities whilst being immerged in another country and another culture, reinforcing their Euro-Mediterranean citizenship. For more information, click here.
21. A TIGER Initiative offer to make ESA satellite data available for monitoring African water resources sparked an enthusiastic take-up by researchers across the continent and beyond it (see EMWIS Flash n°15). Some 95 proposals have been received, 65 of which are accepted for discussion during the annual TIGER Workshop in Pretoria, South Africa. For more information, click here.
22. A new tool based on satellite data shows trends in the way Europeans use their landscape. Seen from the ground these changes appear gradual, but viewed from above they are often dramatic. Based on satellite observations of actual floodings in recent years it will be possible to see some trends, point out which areas are at higher risk of future flooding, and analyse how roads and other forms of sealing of the soil will impact flooding. This information is obviously of interest to policy makers. At the same time information on flooding will attract attention from people living in these areas. For more information, click here.
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NOMINATIONS & VACANCIES
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23. The IWA "Grand Award" was given to Jamie Bartram on behalf of WHO at IWA's Biennial Congress (Marrakech, 20-24 September 2004). Click here for more information.
24. Vacancy at the European Environmental Agency (EEA): Project Manager specialised in Inland water integrated assessments is required. The purpose of this post is to develop policy relevant integrated environmental assessments on water resources (quality and quantity) and to communicate the information to policy makers. Interested candidates should apply by sending a letter of interest and a CV (standard form), (both mandatory) preferably in English, to the following e-mail. For further information click here.
25. Funded PhD studentship position available at the School of Water Sciences in Cranfield University, UK. The position offers an exciting opportunity to engage in leading European research at the science-policy interface. The work forms part of a large international research project concerned with producing computer-based tools to assist policy-makers in monitoring and identifying desertification in a systemic and dynamic manner. For further information or to request an application form please contact Dr. Brian S. McIntosh by email or phone (+44 (0)1234 750111 xt3346).
26. Post-Doctoral fellow on “Design, implementation and evaluation of participative methods for integrated water management”. A post-doctoral fellow is sought by CEMAGREF (Montpellier, France) to work in a team dedicated to “Tools for Water Management and Governance”, within at least 2 major European IPs: AquaStress and NeWater, plus other related projects. This position should start as soon as both EU projects starts (beginning 2005). For further information click here.
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PUBLICATIONS
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27. EMWIS has published a page about the EU Water Framework Directive, and the different related aspects (main steps, objectives, documents, legislation, etc). This page has been carried out in collaboration with Mr. Yannick Pochon (OIEAU) and Ms. Elisa Vargas (REMOC). For more information, click here.
28. European Portal for Soil and Water has been put on line. the European Groundwater and Contaminated Land Information System. EUGRIS provides research project information, technical information and information from the EC and its Member States. It also provides a news service directory of contacts in the field, and an opportunity for you to post your own information. You can see links to all of the major features on the page. You can read EUGRIS like an on-line book or you can use its advanced search functions to access specific information. Click here to visit this website.
29. A new book under the title: "Water treatment and pathogen control: Process efficiency in achieving safe drinking water" has been published. Water Treatment and Pathogen Control is intended to provide a critical analysis of the literature on removal and inactivation of pathogenic microbes in water to aid the water quality specialist and design engineer in making important decisions regarding microbial water quality. For more information, click here.
30. The Living Planet Report is WWF's periodic update on the state of the world's ecosystems. The Living Planet Index is derived from trends over the past 30 years in populations of hundreds of species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish. Click here to download the 2004 Living Planet Report.
31. The U.S. Geological Survey announced the launch of a new
Web, which will be one of the most comprehensive Web sites about "The Water
Cycle" anywhere. It features a wonderful diagram of the water cycle and an
in-depth discussion of each of the 15 topics on the diagram. And, the diagram is
available in more than 37 languages.
Click
here to visit this web site. The site is part of the existing
Water Science
for Schools Web site.
32. A new publication of the Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and
Partnership (FEMIP)
under the title: "Europe and the Mediterranean Region: An enhanced financial
partnership". This brochure gives more information about the EIB's Facility
for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP) after satisfactory
results during its first year of operations led the December 2003 European
Council in Brussels to further reinforce it through closer cooperation of the 27
Euromed Partner countries (15 EU, 2 Acceeding and 10 MPCs), opening of offices
in the Maghreb, setting up a trust fund open to Member States interested in
Mediterranean issues and promoting innovative financing instruments. To download
it,
click here.
33. A new book has been published by Peter Lang Editions under the title: "Towards a spatial management of water" for his author: Jean-Baptiste Narcy. This book deals with the spatial management of water, wetlands, floods, pollution, and agricultural policy, etc. To get it, click here.
34. "Food, Water and Family Health" is a Manual for Community Educators (New CEHA Document in Arabic). This new Arabic CEHA (Centre for Environmental Health Activities) document is a translation of the WHO Document "Food, Water and Family Health: A Manual for Community Educators". For copies or more details please write to CEHA or click here.
35. A new WHO Publication: "Safe piped water: Managing microbial water quality in piped distribution systems". Safe Piped Water addresses the factors affecting the presence and growth of micro-organisms in piped networks as well as the practices of water supply organisations that can directly or indirectly influence their presence and growth. For more information, click here.
36. A new WHO publication: "Water treatment and pathogen control: Process efficiency in achieving safe drinking water". Water Treatment and Pathogen Control is intended to provide a critical analysis of the literature on removal and inactivation of pathogenic microbes in water to aid the water quality specialist and design engineer in making important decisions regarding microbial water quality. For more information, click here.
37. The 4th issue of the newsletter: "about the Mediterranean" has been published. Click here to download it. (in French only)
38. The 11st issue of "Échanges Med Info" newsletter has been published. Click here to download it. (in French only)
39. The new Open Access (or free-to web) version of the EGU journal "Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (HESS)" has been launched. Please study the new web-site for all details concerning the renewed journal. Click here.
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CALL FOR TENDERS and PROPOSALS
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40. The EMWIS Technical Unit will launch soon a competitive negotiated tender procedure to carry-out feasibility studies to build or enhance existing National Water Information Systems in the Mediterranean Partner Countries (estimated budget: €192.000, see presentation to Coordination Committee in Rabat, July 2004). Any interested organization should send a declaration of interest presenting its relevant expertise to the EMWIS Technical Unit in order to be invited to tender soon.
41. The ACP-EU Water facility has
announced on 11 November 2004 the first call for proposals of the ACP-EU
Water facility. This call covers three components: Co-financing of the
improvement of the Water Management and Governance; Co-financing Water and
Sanitation Infrastructure; and Co-financing of Civil Society Initiatives.
Download the Call for proposal in EN -
FR
(It can be downloaded from
Circa)
42. Call for entries into the RSPB/CIWEM living wetlands award 2005: RSPB and CIWEM are calling for entries for the 2005 Living Wetlands Award. The prize includes GBP 1.500 to enhance the winning scheme's impact and the closing date for entries for the 2005 Award is 30 November 2004. All entries for the Award must contribute to the delivery of the priority targets on species and habitats for wetlands set out in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. They should also demonstrate sustainability and deliver multiple environmental benefits – for example flood alleviation, wastewater treatment, recreation, eco-tourism, or water resource security. Click here for more information.
43. New Call for proposals (LIFE 2004-2005):a formal call for proposals for LIFE 2004-2005 was published on 12 October 2004 in the Official Journal (OJ C 252 of 12.10.2004); whereby the Commission invited "legal entities" established in the EU and in the candidate countries associated to LIFE to present their project proposals for the LIFE selection round 2004-2005. For more information, visit the website.
44. The Official Journal of the European Union has announced on 5 October 2004. (OJ L 308 of 5.10.2004, p. 1.) the extension of LIFE III. This sees the extension of the LIFE III programme through to the close of 2006. It means the Commission has now approved the allocation of € 317 million to cover the period from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2006. For more information, click here.
45. A new SMAP III financing proposal has been presented for a € 15 million environmental programme that will concentrate on technical assistance for the furthering of sustainable development policy as well as the preparation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management plans. This concentration on more limited goals than previous SMAP funding programmes was proposed in an effort of improving the effectiveness of SMAP funding. The first component is foreseen to be launched by the end of 2004, while the second during 2005. Click here to view the current programme summary.
46. The International Foundation for Science (IFS) and the Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF) announced a call for research proposals open to young scientists. The purpose of the grants is to provide opportunities for young researchers to contribute to the generation of scientific knowledge relevant for achieving food security and poverty alleviation as expressed in the formulation of the Challenge Program on Water and Food. Applications for this first round of research grants must be received by IFS no later than 31 December 2004. For more information, click here.
47. EU FP6 call for proposal on Scientific Support to Policies has been published with a budget of € 77.8 million. The work programme covers more than thirty environmental topics. Project Proposals by MEDA Countries entities and international organisations are welcome to participate. More information on the call available through the following website.
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CALL FOR PAPERS
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48. The Alexandria University Desalination Studies and Technology Center (ADST) announces the organization of the ADST2005 International Conference on Desalination Technologies: Outlook, Challenges and Opportunities, that will be held during the period of May 18-21, 2005, in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. Authors are invited to submit abstracts of papers of not more than 250 words for consideration before November 30, 2004. For more information click here.
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EVENTS
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2004-11-19/23 - SIER2004: Water and risks into the Saharian
context, Laghouat, Algeria.
For more information,
click here.
2004-11-22/26 - EMWIS seminar for data managers, Madrid,
Spain.
For more information,
click here.
2004-11-24/27 - Food Security under Water Scarcity in the
Middle East: Problems and Solutions, Como, Italy.
For more information,
click here.
2004-11-24/27 - 13th International Seminar on Hydropower
Plants, Vienna, Austria.
For more information,
click here.
2004-11-25/26 - 4th International seminar and
inter-disciplinary seminar of PCSI, Montpellier, France.
For more information, click here.
2004-11-25/26 - UNESCO meeting to create The Water
Cooperation Facility, Delft, The Netherlands.
For more information,
click here.
2004-12-04/06 - International conference on Earth & Water,
Annaba, Algeria.
For more information,
click here.
2004-12-06 - 1st African Regional Conference on Drainage,
Cairo, Egypt.
For more information,
click here.
2004-12-06 - Water Planning & Desalination Applications in
the context of ADIRA Project, Limassol, Cyprus.
For more information,
click here.
2004-12-06/08 - International Conference on Desalination
Costing, Limassol, Cyprus.
For more information,
click here.
2004-12-06/09 - 1st. African Regional Conference on Drainage
- ARCOD, Cairo, Egypt.
For more information,
click here.
2004-12-08/12: IV Iberian Congress of Water Management and Planification,
Tortosa, Spain.
For more information,
click here.
2004-12-13/14 - UNECE Seminar on the role of ecosystems as
water suppliers, Geneva, Switzerland.
For more information,
click here.
2004-12-15 - UNECE Meeting of the Working Group on IWRM,
Geneva, Switzerland.
For more information,
click here.
2004-12-18/19 - The first National Seminar on Environmental
Policy Integration and SMAP III, Cairo, Egypt.
Click here for more information.
2005-01-15 - European Water Resources Association 6th
International Conference: Sharing a common vision for our water resources,
Menton, France.
For more information,
click here.
2005-01-24/28 - International Conference: Biodiversity :
Science & governance, Paris, France.
For more information,
click here.
2005-01-30/02-02 - Environment, Water and Energy 2005 - the
3rd exhibition and conference for the GCC region, Abu Dhabi, United Arab
Emirates (UAE).
For more information,
click here.
2005-02-01/02 - Management and Economics of Water
Desalination Units, Alexandria, Egypt.
For more information,
click here.
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BRIEF EMWIS SITE MAP
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ABOUT EMWIS
WATER in the EURO-MED PARTNERSHIP: milestones, main players, MEDA programme
EMWIS NATIONAL WEBSITES
INTERNATIONAL FOCAL POINT
LEGISLATION: national, European and international
THEMATIC DIRECTORY
COMMENTS
SEARCH EMWIS WEBSITE
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CONTACT US
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This is a monthly Flash provided by the EMWIS Technical
Unit, to which you can get a free subscription,
click here for an open subscription.
The EMWIS Flash gives you
regular and quality information on the water sector in the Euro-Mediterranean
area. The main headlines are: Institutions, Documentation, Training, Research
and Development, Data Administration. You will also find updates on:
international events, relevant web sites, the Euro-Med Water programme of the
European Commission, and much more ....
This Flash exists also in French and Arabic, you can view it and also the previous issues in
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This Flash is also yours, please give us your comments and information to improve it
Contact the EMWIS Technical Unit
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assistance of the European Commission. The content can in no way be taken to
reflect the views of the European Union. This disclaimer is not intended to
contravene any requirements laid down in applicable national law nor to exclude
liability for matters which may not be excluded under that law.