The 5th Meeting of the UfM Water Experts Group (WEG) signaled the revitalization of a regular regional dialogue on water issues of common interest, building on the Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Water at the Dead Sea, Jordan (December 2008), as well as on the conclusions of the 4th WEG Meeting (Barcelona, 2011). The meeting enjoyed a wide representation from Mediterranean countries along with regional water institutions and organizations. It was organised by the UfM Co-Presidencies together with the UfM Secretariat (Division of Environment and Water) and was technically assisted by GWP-Med. The meeting was co-sponsored by the EU funded Sustainable Water Integrated Management-Support Mechanism (SWIM-SM) Programme and the GWP Water, Climate and Development Programme (WACDEP).
The 5th UfM WEG Meeting elaborated upon: i) international and regional initiatives, legal frameworks, cooperation platforms and projects working on water resources’ management in the Mediterranean such as the 5+5 Water Strategy for the Western Mediterranean, the Arab League initiatives, the RCC SEE 2020 Strategy, EU Water Framework Directive, UNEP/MAP including MedPartnership, the UNECE Water Convention, Sida-supported projects, and ongoing work towards addressing Water Sustainable Development Goals, ii) the interlinks between IWRM/ICZM, iii) IWRM and the management of transboundary aquifers, including the example of the North Western Sahara Aquifer System, iv) non conventional water resources (NCWR) management including the example of work on Artificial Recharge of Aquifers within the framework of the SWIM-SM Programme, v) the Water, Energy, Food and Ecosystems Nexus approach towards Climate Change Adaptation & Mitigation and the related Co-Benefits, a topic for which GWP-Med presented a featured agenda for the region , vi) water financing and investment promotion vis-à -vis innovative practices, such as the private sector participation and the work done within the SIWI-led Water Integrity Programme, vii) innovative scientific and technological tools and methodologies, viii) Stakeholder involvement in the management of water resources, etc.
The various presentations fueled relevant round table discussions on i) enhancing regional cooperation on water, ii) promoting and integrating the SDGs in the regional agenda, iii) effectively integrating stakeholders at national and regional level, iv) transferring experience, expertise, best practices on IWRM/land/coastal areas/sea into the WEG activities, v) promoting NCWR management in IWRM policies and action plans, vi) integrating Nexus and Climate Change considerations into the regional and national agendas and activities, vii) improving water financing and boosting water related investments in the region, identifying priority and mature/bankable projects, and reflecting on the utilization of market based, economic instruments, viii) disseminating new technologies and water related information in the Med region.
The prioritization of areas for the WEG agenda and how they could be best served within its capacity, was a key discussion topic, along with the next steps to take towards the operationalization of further cooperation. UfM parties reaffirmed the importance of joined efforts to address the challenges and the need for cooperation, by analyzing synergies among existing initiatives, as between existing and potential funding mechanisms, and by identifying commonalities and gaps, as well as guiding principles. They committed to the elaboration of a roadmap with objectives, actions and an associated work plan to be revised on a 2-3 - year basis. The mandate to technically work on the roadmap and the associated work plan was allocated by the WEG to a smaller Drafting Group made up of the UfM Co-Presidencies (Jordan and European Commission) and a limited number of country representatives, which will be coordinated/supported by the UfM Secretariat with technical assistance provided by GWP-Med. The Drafting Group will work throughout 2016, and the outcome will be presented for discussion and approval by the WEG, potentially towards the organization of a UfM Ministerial Conference on Water by mid-2017 during the Maltese Presidency of the EU.