Focus: "Water Policy in the Mediterranean: An Overview"

Regardless of the achievements made by the various countries, it is important to encourage a really effective and efficient Euro-Mediterranean cooperation.

 

A step forward has been made in order to achieve this objective. 
During the 3rd Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Water (Jordan, December 2008), the Environment Ministers for the Euro-Mediterranean countries agreed that it was necessary to define a long-term Water Strategy for the Mediterranean (WSM).

 

The WSM aims to provide a common policy framework for achieving integrated water resources management in the Mediterranean region, fostering effective cooperation between Euro-Mediterranean partners within the overall context of sustainable development. It aims to contribute to poverty eradication, peacekeeping, progress in human development and gender equality, safeguarding public health, and avoiding social exclusion within the region. The main objective of the water strategy in the Mediterranean region is to create a common basis for the development of Plans and Programmes, whereby it is possible to reach the established objectives. The 4th Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Water, which will take place in Barcelona from 12th to 14th April 2010, is the framework chosen for approval of a water strategy for the Mediterranean region.   

 

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Eugenia Ferragina is Senior Researcher at the Institute of Studies on Mediterranean Society (ISSM - Istituto di Studi sulle Società del Mediterraneo), from the National Research Council of Italy (CNR). She is also professor of Economy and Institutions of Mediterranean Countries at the University of Naples "L'Orientale". At present, she is a member of the Scientific Committee of the European Association for "A New Water Culture" (http://euwater.unizar.es) and a member of the Executive Board of the European Society for the Study of Africa and the Middle East (SESAMO - Società Europea di Studi sull'Africa e il Medio Oriente).

Water Policy in the Mediterranean: An Overview

FOCUS on the 4th Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Water, to be held in Barcelona from 12th to 14th April 2010.