U@MARENOSTRUM - eParticipation Results

The online discussion between citizens and public authorities of the participating regions was initiated with the launch of the platforms. The Greek platform hosted by IonR was launched on January 2010, while the Spanish platform hosted by the Valencia Region on April 2010.

With the end of the project in March 2011 the U@MARENOSTRUM final eParticipation results are encouraging and indicate that:

On both platforms 1883 registered users have participated in the Forum with 1313 posted arguments, on 120 environmental topics connected to 21 Public Consultations regarding water protection and management in the Mediterranean.

For both regions most popular tool is the Forum. The most popular Forum topic in the Greek platform was “The most important predator in danger ...” (“Ο σπουδαιότερος θηρευτής κινδυνεύει...”) with 4785 visits. The most popular Forum topic in the Spanish platform was “Overfishing, an issue of concern in the Mediterranean” (“Sobrepesca, un tema de preocupación en el Mediterráneo”) with 1336 visits.

Moreover, registered users participated in the platform with 228 markers overall on the interactive maps, 1005 electronic signatures overall on the 3 ePetitions hosted on the platforms, 619 answers overall in 6 online surveys, while 22 Electronic Letters have been sent to Officials of IonR by citizen-users (no electronic letters were sent to Officials of the Valencia Region by citizen-users).

The online petition tool and the survey tool are the second and third favourite tools, while the interactive map tool is the fourth most well-liked. Less popular tool is the Letters to Officials. To view the U@MARENOSTRUM platforms click on the links bellow:

1. For Greece: http://uatmarenostrumionianislands.gr/

2. For Spain: http://marenostrum.gva.es/

For further information regarding the project and its activities please visit the informational website of the project at: www.uatmarenostrum.eu.

U@MARENOSTRUM - Project’s Final Results

The Consortium of the U@MARENOSTRUM project is announcing the end of the project.

The project was specifically designed in the guidelines of the eParticipation Call for Proposals 2008 and was co-funded by the European Commission. The project was developed between 1st of January 2009- 31st of March 2011 by cooperation of the following entities: : GFI Benelux, Gov2u (Greece), The Region of Ionian Islands (Greece), Hellenic Centre for Marine Research– Greece, Foundation Comunidad Valenciana-Región Europea (Spain), and Directorate General for Modernization of Valencia (Spain).

U@MARENOSTRUM aimed to facilitate the development of an online dialogue between citizens and official representatives of the participating regions on issues regarding water protection and management in the Mediterranean. Participating regions in the project were the Ionian Islands Region (Greece), and the Valencia Region (Spain).

The main objective of U@MARENOSTRUM was to contribute in the enhancement of citizens’ engagement with the political process via their active participation in the decision-making in local, regional, national and European level. Simultaneously it intended to foster environmental democracy via public participation utilizing state-of-the-art ICT tools. The project involved two collaborative platforms one for each participating region, through which citizen-users were able to express their views and concerns regarding environmental issues that deal with the maritime environment in the Mediterranean and to discuss with other citizen-users and their official representatives on these issues.

U@MARENOSTRUM combined unique ICT tools such as forum, GIS map, electronic letters, ePetitions and eSurveys, for citizens to be able to voice their opinion regarding water issues in their region. These tools offer the possibility for users to discuss with other citizens as well as their representatives from the participating regions on issues that affect citizens’ everyday life and are related to water.

For further information regarding the project and its activities please visit the informational website of the project at: http://www.uatmarenostrum.eu/

CLIMATE - KIC "Making a step-change in Europe's innovation capacity to meet the climate change challenge"

What is the CLIMATE - KIC?

The Climate - KIC (www.climate-kic.org) is one of the three knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) designated by the European institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), with a budget of 765 million Euros for the next four years. This initiative focuses on achieving excellence in four areas related to climate change mitigation and adaptation, highlighting the area on ADAPTATIVE WATER MANAGEMENT.

The CLIMATE - KIC consortium consists of 16 core partners, five from the academic side, one Regional Innovation and Implementation Community (RIC) which consists of Valencian Region (Spain), Central Hungary (Hungary), Lower Silesia (Poland), West Midlands (UK), Hessen (Germany) and Emilia Romagna (Italy), and ten enterprises from the corporate world.

First Wave Research and Innovation Projects of the Climate-KIC

An open call for full proposals was scheduled on May 21-2010, for funding of research and innovation projects, with a deadline on August 6-2010 although it has not been published on the Climate-KIC portal yet. A full proposal can be submitted in this period although an Expression of Interest was not previously submitted.

Four focus programmes have been identified including ADAPTATIVE WATER MANAGEMENT.

In the web portal details are given on how to submit an expression on interest which could help you to prepare a full proposal for this next call. The funding requested may be maximal 25% of the funding supplied by the Consortium.

NEW - Pioneers into Practice Programme - Expressions of Interest Call 2010/2011 - NEW

Climate - KIC is launching an exciting knowledge development programme called Pioneers into Practice, with the aim of producing a new generation of specialists, entrepreneurs and policy-makers with high-level skills for the loe carbon transition.

Participants will be required to undertake three-one month placements over a twelve-month period. The first and final placements will be in the participants regions of origin whereas the second one will take place in one of the other European regions involved in the RIC.

Participants will be required to complete a project-assignment, focused on a low carbon living and low carbon mobility initiatives, during each placement.

The last two days of each placement will allow participants to take part in intensive workshops known as "Crucibles" and every participant froma cross the six regions will also attend the Innovation festival in June in Budapest.

Overview on the activities and timetable:

Entry to the programme is open to people living, working or studying in each region, with a deadline on June 18th 2010.

Participants will receive 9.000 euros for participating in the programmme, which in most instances will be made to their employer or place of study, as well as the attendance to the annual Innovation Festival.

Further information on participation is available from the Pioneers into Practice Manager in your region or at: mirun@delcomval.be

LIFE + CALL FOR PROPOSALS

The fourth LIFE + call for proposals has been published on 4th May 2010, with up to 243 million euros available for cofinancing of projects under three headings: nature and biodiversity; environment policy and governance; and information and communication.

Water is a main issue to be addressed in every component!

LIFE + Nature and Biodiversity

Aims to protect, conserve, restore, monitor and facilitate the functioning of natural systems, natural habitats, wild flora and fauna, with the aim of halting the loss of biodiversity, including diversity of genetic resources, within the EU 2010.

This heading would include the protection of wetlands, groundwater and water as a limited resource.

LIFE + Environment Policy and Governance

This component will cofinance projects that contribute to the implementation of Community environmental policy, the development of innovative policy approaches, technologies, methods and instruments and the monitoring of environmental preassures such as water scarcity.

Water is addressed as a main priority in order to contribute to enhanced water quality by developing cost-effective measures to achieve good ecological status in view of developing river basin management plans under the Water Framework Directive.

LIFE + Information and Communication

Aims to disseminate information and raise awareness on environmental issues, including forest fire prevention; and to provide support for accompanying measures, such as information, communication actions and campaigns, conferences and training, including training on forest fire prevention.

This heading considers the design of awareness raising campaigns on water scarcity in the affected Member States.

For more information: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/funding/lifeplus.htm

Project proposals should be sent no later than 1st September 2010.

Do you have any project proposal? then let's work together!!

Contact water@delcomval.be

AER Summer School on TV

AER Summer School on EU Observer

Spanish region pushes for intelligent water use

Valencia's sewage water is filtered and re-used to irrigate rice fields (Photo: EUobserver)

VALENTINA POP
31.08.2009 @ 17:34 CET

EUOBSERVER/VALENCIA – The Spanish region of Valencia is lobbying for the EU to develop a policy to promote the "intelligent" use of water using the renewable energy model, as world consumption of water will triple in the next ten years.

In the marshes of Albufera, just a few kilometres south of the city of Valencia, it is hard to believe that the region is frequently hit by drought and has a long tradition of dealing with water scarcity. Separated from the Mediterranean Sea by a natural sand barrier, the 27 square kilometre fresh water lake is surrounded by swamps and rice fields. "Paella has to come from somewhere," a guide tells visitors to the national park of Albufera.

One steady source of irrigation for the rice crops is waste water from Valencia, a city of 800,000 inhabitants. A sewage water treatment plant worth €15 million was 80 percent financed by the EU's regional development fund and is expected to last until 2025.

Intelligent irrigation systems and the re-use of rain and waste water are just some examples of what the local university and research centres are developing and implementing in the region.

As global water consumption is expected to grow threefold in the next ten years and energy consumption to double in the same period, the EU needs to be more active in this field, says Juan Manuel Revuelta, Valencia's point-man in Brussels.

"We would like to see that in some years from now, the EU commission creates an initiative called 'intelligent water for Europe' - that means a better management of water and better communication, similar to what it is doing with renewable energy," he told this website on the margins of a summer school called „Water – engagement for our future" organised by the Assembly of European Regions in Valencia on 24-28 August.

Mr Revuelta said he was pleased to see 15 concrete projects sealed between various European regions and aimed at tapping EU funds coming from the event.

"One project is on drafting legislation at regional and national level facilitating ecodesign constructions which enable people to collect rain water for a second use in irrigation or for the toilets," he said.

Malta and Valencia are participating in the project, but some other non-EU members, such as Jordan, also expressed their interest.

Valencia's 700 year old experience with the so-called Water Courts is used in another project for legislative and governance tools aimed at preventing and settling water-related conflicts in Israel and Palestine. The Valencian water tribunal consists of seven elected judges gathering every Thursday in a a public square and settling disputes between farmers. Its verdicts are binding, recognised by the Spanish constitution and cannot be challenged in another court.

Water on the EU agenda

Polish MEP Danuta Hubner, chairwoman of the regional development committee, says water will be a "major priority" of EU regional policy.

"There are regions that will require specific responses, which will be more affected than others by droughts, floods or water scarcity," she said. "That is why, more than ever, the European regional policy 2007-2013 will be ambitious in its environmental initiatives at local and regional level."

Ms Hubner mentioned the Baltic Sea strategy drawn up while she was commissioner for regional affairs, which is aimed at saving the sea from dying if the regions around it coordinate their environmental actions.

Klaus Klipp, secretary general of the Assembly of European Regions, emphasized the need to create regional lobbies to stand up for common European issues, such as water scarcity and droughts. Choosing Spain as the location for this summer school was no accident as the southern country is EU's most threatened member by desertification and drought.

--- --- --- --- --- --- ---

© 2009 EUobserver.com. All rights reserved. Printed on 01.09.2009.

Millán Millán: “Research showed that torrential rains in the Mediterranean were increasing at the same time that Atlantic rains were decreasing”

Dr Millán in the Spanish press this week

Dr. Millán Millán, director of the Center for Environmental Studies in the Mediterranean (CEAM), participated today in the 14th Summer School of the Assembly of European Regions, hold in Valencia this week.

During his speech, Mr. Millán lectured on the historical trend of changes in rainfall cycles in the Mediterranean basin, affecting the rains all over Europe. Specifically, the scientific pointed out that as early as the year 1974 the European Commission started its research on atmospheric pollution, which led to findings on the lack of summer storms in the Mediterranean.

"European Commission DG Environment discovered that torrential rains in the Mediterranean were increasing at the same time that Atlantic rains were decreasing", stated Dr. Millán.

According to this expert, "the Mediterranean has a unique atmospheric circulation system in which water vapor goes up to the mountain and comes back to the sea without rainfalls". The importance of this model justifies that "the European Commission has earmarked 200 million euro to study this phenomenon".

Dr. Millán is, besides the director of CEAM since its creation in 1990, author of 96 scientific publications and other works. He is member of several international and European scientific committees and has received an honorary doctorate from Universidad Miguel Hernández from Elche (Alicante-Spain).

The CEAM has worked with Wateregio in drafting the project proposal 'Waterstar' for the last Interreg MED call.

CEAM: http://www.ceam.es/

Hübner in “Deep Water” at AER Summer School in Valencia

L. to R.: Mr Klipp, SG of the AER, Ms Hübner, MEP Chairwoman of the Committee REGI, and Mr Ripoll, Valencian Regional Deputy Minister in charge of EU affairs

Valencia (E), 28th August 2009.

In her first speech as chairwoman of the European Parliament’s Committee for Regional Development, Danuta Hübner has said that water will be a “major priority” of the EU’s Regional Policy. “There are regions that will require specific responses, which will be more affected than others by droughts, floods or water scarcity,” Ms Hübner said today. “That is why, more than ever, the European regional policy 2007-2013 will be ambitious in its environmental initiatives at local and regional level.” Ms Hübner was speaking on the final day of the Assembly of European Regions’ (AER) 14th annual Summer School, hosted by the Spanish region of Valencia.

Focusing this year on water issues, the week-long event in the city of Valencia brought together around 150 regional politicians, officers and young people, along with international experts and EU officials, to address the many challenges related to water.

AER president Michèle Sabban, speaking earlier this week, said: “We are not in Valencia by accident. Spain is the European country most threatened by desertification and drought.” “By bringing young people together with experts and politicians to discuss this increasingly global problem, we hope to promote a new “water culture” in the regions. The young people here can take back to the regions what they have learnt this week, thereby raising awareness among peers who will face the consequences tomorrow of what we do today.”

The summer school featured expert speakers, roundtables and workshops, along with study visits where participants could see firsthand the Valencia region’s expertise in water management.

Valencia’s deputy minister for European affairs, Rafael Ripoll, noted that the region of Valencia, whose strong commitment to addressing water scarcity has made it a European leader in the field, is the “perfect framework to talk about promoting the better use of water across all the European regions.” Background The proper management of water plays a key role in maintaining biodiversity, human health as well as in economic and social development. The “blue” challenge is of huge importance as the world enters a water crisis. Safe access to water for all is one of the Millennium Goals, while water savings can be improved by around 40% in Europe.

By bringing together decision makers, officials and young people, the AER Summer School in Valencia aimed to provide the tools to regions to tackle the challenges of water management. Participants were able to share experiences, develop new instruments to raise awareness and define strategies to contribute to creating a water-saving culture across the regions of Europe.

Find more information about initiatives in the field of water at:
http://www.uegva.info/fundacioncv/dinweb/index.php?pagId=328

http://www.uegva.info/fundacioncv/bbdd/index.php

Find more information about AER’s 14th Summer School at:

http://www.aer.eu/en/events/summer-school/2000-2009/aerss2009.html

Opening ot the AER Summer School on water

AER secretary-general Klaus Klipp underlined in his speech at the 14th AER Summer School opening in Valencia the paramount importance that cooperation between regions in EU programmes and projects plays in tackling climate change.

Mr. Klipp emphasised the need to create regional lobbies to stand up for common European issues, such as water scarcity and droughts. He also noted that AER is currently developing several projects in the field, related to tourism, renewable energies and climate change.

Together with the director-general of the Valencian Regional Office in Brussels, Juan Manuel Revuelta, Mr. Klipp explained the goals of the 14th AER Summer School, which this year has gathered over 150 participants from across wider Europe to discuss policies related to water and climate change.

Since 1996, AER’s summer schools have been bringing together politicians and other representatives from youth civil society and regional authorities, along with European and regional experts, to explore a different topic every year.

At this year’s event, Mr. Revuelta highlighted the commitment of the Valencian Region to “face the problem of water scarcity, droughts and desertification which affects our region, as well as other places in the south of Europe”.

Mr. Revuelta also supported the major role of interregional cooperation in addressing this situation. The director-general further explained that “Fundación Comunidad Valenciana – Región Europea has attracted 66 million euro to the Valencian Region in European funding, mainly in projects related to environment and energy efficiency”.

For this reason, Mr. Revuelta stated that “the Valencian Region leads the way in obtaining European environmental projects”.

He also stressed the role of the Fundación in establishing European partnerships in water issues, such as Wateregio, the European Water Network, which brings together 10 regions committed to finding solutions against water scarcity and droughts.

Specifically, the programme ENPI Mediterranean Basin has launched a new call, to be closed on October 20th, which welcomes the submission of projects in the field of cross-border cooperation. Likewise, the programme Life + has launched another call, to be closed on September 15th; Ecoinnovation, to be closed early September, and EuropAid, which allocates 70 million euro for initiative regarding environment, renewable energies and energy efficiency.

AER contacts:
Jascha Scheele j.scheele@aer.eu

Wateregio contact:
Alfonso Alcolea aalcolea@delcomval.be

Meeting next Thursday 25th June

Date: 25th June 2009. 17h30.

Venue: Room JDE53 - Committee of the Regions. Rue Belliard 99-101 Brussels.

Provisional Agenda: (version 1, as proposed the 18th May)

The meeting will be hold simultaneously to the Zero Plus conference.
Please check the agenda of the Zero Plus seminar, as the speakers may be of your interest.

17:30 - 18:00 Welcome and project forum corner.

Round Table about new answers for water treatment in the industrial sector; future collaboration and new sustainable project ideas.

Moderator: Mr Alfonso Alcolea
Proposals. ENPI project on water management “Water communities”.
LIFE+ project - Wateregio. FP7 on conductions of water

18:00 Closed-door meeting.

§ Approval of the record of activities.
§ Report about legal personality of Wateregio.
§ New steering committee.
§ Other business

Annual bathing water report 2009

Bathing water quality improving

The annual bathing water report was presented the 11th June by the European Commission and the European Environment Agency reveals that the large majority of bathing sites across the European Union met EU hygiene standards in 2008. During that bathing season some 96% of coastal bathing areas and 92% of bathing sites in rivers and lakes complied with minimum standards. The report provides useful water quality information for the millions of people who visit Europe's beaches every summer.

Bathing water quality shows a long-term upward trend

Every summer millions of Europeans head for the beach to enjoy the sun and to cool down in refreshing clean water. To allow Europeans to make an informed choice on which beach to choose, the Commission publishes a yearly report on the quality of coastal and freshwater bathing areas as reported by Member States for the beaches located within their territory. This year the report was prepared by the European Environment Agency (EEA), which is also making available on its website maps and tables with detailed information on specific bathing areas.

In 2008 the number of bathing waters monitored increased by some 75 sites. Of the 21,400 bathing areas monitored throughout the European Union in 2008 two thirds were on the coast and the rest were along rivers and lakes. The largest number of coastal bathing waters can be found in Italy, Greece, France, Spain and Denmark while Germany and France have the highest number of inland bathing waters .

The overall quality of bathing waters in the EU has markedly improved since 1990. Compliance with mandatory values ( minimum quality requirements) increased over the 1990 to 2008 period from 80% to 96% and from 52% to 92% in coastal and inland waters respectively. From 2007 to 2008 compliance increased both for inland and coastal waters (1.1 and 3.3 percentage points respectively).

Twelve Member States monitoring under the new bathing directive

Bathing areas are zones where bathing is explicitly authorised or where bathing is traditionally practised by a large number of bathers and is not prohibited.
To determine their quality bathing waters are tested against a number of physical, chemical and microbiological parameters for which the Bathing Water Directive

1 sets out mandatory values. Member States must comply with the mandatory values but may adopt the stricter standards and non-binding guide values .

In 2006 a new bathing water directive

2 took effect which updated the parameters and monitoring provisions in line with the latest scientific knowledge. The new Directive places greater emphasis on providing information to the public on the quality of bathing areas. Member States have until 2015 to fully implement the new Directive but twelve Member States (Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden) already monitored their bathing areas during the 2008 bathing season according to the parameters of the new Directive.

The report

A summary of the report and detailed country reports are available in English on the Commission’s bathing water website at:

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-bathing/report_2009.html

Zoomable maps of all European bathing areas can be viewed on the EEA website :

www.eea.europa.eu/themes/water/status-and-monitoring/state-of-bathing-water

1 :Directive 76/160/EEC on the quality of bathing water
2 :Directive 2006/7/EC on the management of bathing water quality

Commission organises workshop on climate change 17-18 June

The European Commission, DG Environment, is organizing a two-days workshop on Regional Climate Change Adaptation Strategies and Climate Change Vulnerability Indicators, to be held on 17 - 18 June 2009 in Brussels, Belgium.

The European Commission recently presented a White Paper outlining the framework for adaptation measures and policies to reduce the European Union's vulnerability to the impacts of climate change:
(http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/adaptation/index_en.htm).

Two key elements of the action plan proposed for the first phase 2009-12 are the development of vulnerability and adaptation indicators, and the capacity building of regional and local authorities.

On the first day (Wednesday 17 June, 9:30-17:30), regional climate adaptation strategies will be discussed. The objectives are 1) to present and discuss the current EU situation with regard to the regional climate adaptation strategies; and 2) to present and discuss guidelines or toolbox to support regions to develop climate adaptation strategies.

On the second day (Thursday 18 June, 9:30-16:00), the discussion will be about assessing and developing vulnerability indicators for the EU. The objectives are 1) to present and discuss the findings of the literature review and data scoping exercise; and 2) to review and discuss a set of options for the further development and elaboration of vulnerability indicators at regional or sectoral level.

This workshop is organized in co-ordination with EEA’s 3rd EIONET workshop on Climate Change Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation (Copenhague, 30 June – 1 July 2009) and EEA’s Expert workshop on Vulnerability mapping adaptation indicators (Copenhagen, 2-3 July 2009). The focus of the present workshops will on the "end-user" perspective at EU, regional, local and sectoral level.

Participants to the workshop are representative from national, regional and local authorities as well as experts from European Commission services. Participation is free of charge, no reimbursement of travel expenses is foreseen.

The deadline to confirm participation is Wednesday 3 June 2009 to Stefanie Wurm by e-mail (climate_adaptation@ecologic-events.de). A detailed agenda and background documents will be available shortly on: http://www.ecologic-events.eu/climate_adaptation

For further information:

Mr Jacques Delsalle

European Commission

DG Environment Unit D.2. Protection of Water and Marine Environment

Email: Jacques.Delsalle@ec.europa.eu

Wateregio to celebrate general open meeting the 25th June in the Committee of the Regions, Brussels

NOTE (22/May): The date initially foreseen was the 24th June. The Committee of the Regions has confirmed the availability of the room the 25th June. Therefore the date is changed to the last day of the Green Week.

Wateregio work meeting last 18th May

During the meeting of Wateregio last 18th May, the main decisions were the following ones:

• Approve the record of activities 2008-2009. Acknowledgement to the Istrian Region for organising decentralised activities, and to the members of the Steering Committee.
  
• Information about cooperations with the AER and the CRPM, in particular the AER Summer Schoool open to registrations and to contributions.
  
• Wateregio will submit a proposal for LIFE+ governance and communication, to be funded as a network. Other project proposals were studied in the meeting.

The next meeting of Wateregio will take place the afternoon of the 25th June, during the Green Week, in the Committee of the Regions. This meeting will be open to all the regions and possible parties who could potentially be members of Wateregio. Also Ambassadors from Mediterranean countries will be invited to participate in a project forum corner.

Politically, the network will contribute to the works of the European Commission on water scarcity and droughts by submitting examples of best practices in the questionnaires sent by DG Environment, and will study the working document SEC (2009) 386 on Climate Change and Water, Coasts and Marine Issues, annex to the White Paper on Adaptation to Climate Change.

Finally, the deadline for the partners to agree with the text of the project of statutes of Wateregio as AISBL expires next 8th June. The intention is to sign the statutes officially in the meeting of 25th June in Brussels. 8th June is also the indicative deadline for the members to express their interest to be part of the Steering Committee.

For more information, the secretariat is available at aalcolea@delcomval.be

Wateregio meeting 18th May

Date: 18th May 2009. 14h30.
Venue: Valencian Regional Office in Brussels, Rue de la Loi 227, 4th Floor, B-1040 Brussels.

Provisional Agenda: (version 2, as proposed the 13th May)

1. Welcome.
2. Presentation and approval of the record of activities of Wateregio.
3. Information about open calls for proposals: LIFE+, Ecoinnovation, ENPI, and discussion about the projects.
4. Debate on statutes and constitution of Foundation.
5. Questionnaires of the European Commission on water scarcity and droughts.
6. Project CHANCE-Europeaid.
7. Composition of the new Steering Committee.
8. General open meeting during the Green Week
9. Other business.

This is an internal meeting of Wateregio. The network will organize an open event during the Green Week, the 24th June (date to be confirmed)

Registration: aalcolea@delcomval.be

AER Summer School 2009 on Water

The Summer School of the AER will take place next 24-28 august 2009 in Valencia, Spain, organised jointly by the AER and the Fundación Comunidad Valenciana - Región Europea.

By bringing together decision makers, officials and young people, the Summer School intends to provide the tools to be able to cope with the challenges of water management.

The members of Wateregio are invited to participate actively via:

• Proposition of speakers and activities.


• Participation of politicians and young people.


• Dissemination of projects in the School plaza (exhibition area).

The Summer School is oriented to regional decision-makers, elected politicians and experts from the different regional and local administrations who are interested in developing solutions for the water issues. Simultaneously, the Youth Summer School will bring young people from all Europe to work together in this issue, to promote sharing of experiences, expressing their opinion and better awareness to act as “water ambassadors” when back in their home regions.

The contents of the Summer School are grouped in four pools:

• Pool 1. Water management: Regions need to provide innovative strategies to ensure safe water and sanitation for all. The workshops in this pool will tackle the problems faced by policy makers when they define plans and implement infrastructures.

• Pool 2. Water and climate change. The availability of water will change and be affected by the climate. Draughts and floods will be more severe and recurrent. This will affect not only the economy and human life, but also the ecosystems and the biodiversity. The participants will work on research, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, preserving the natural environment.

• Pool 3. Governance and communication. The social involvement is essential to manage water in a sustainable way. The participants will work on legislative and political measures, public participation, education and training, aiming to develop a new water culture in Europe.

• Horizontal workshops: The horizontal workshops will invite the participants to propose their ideas in joint projects dealing with water, global issues and co-operation, and instruments to be developed by the AER in order to promote better water management all over Europe, such as a water award and a European Regional Charter for Water.

The Summer School will gather experts from all over Europe in each of the topics, organising roundtables and dynamic workshops. The program includes also daily activities, and study visits, discovering the Valencian experience in water management

If you are interested in receiving more information, please contact jpascual@delcomval.be with your name, region and country and e-mail adress.

http://www.aer.eu/en/events/summer-school/2000-2009.html

European Conference on Water

Commissioner Dimas during his intervention.
Radio café says that he will be Commissioner again, but not for environment.

Organised by the European Commission, the conference can be followed online via the link:
http://www.ewc2009.eu

The documentation will be published in the website:
http://water.europa.eu/participate

Members of WR currently attending: Region of Murcia, Emilia Romagna and Valencian Region.

Water infoday in Istria

The Istrian Region organised last 23rd April an information day on water in the framework of Wateregio. The information will be available soon in www.istra-istria.hr

The event was chaired by President of the Region, Mr Ivan Jakovčić, and counted on the presence of Mr Oriano Otočan, Regional Minister in charge of international collaboration and European integration, and Mr Juan Manuel Revuelta, General Director of the Fundación Comunidad Valenciana - Región Europea, who intervened as guest speaker.

A project forum corner in the end of the Infoday raised several project ideas in the following fields:

• Possibility of TAIEX cooperation with Istrian region http://www.ec.taiex.eu/


• Agriculture: Prevention of burning of agricultural waste, and valorisation as energy (IEE call).


• Urban water supply: European network of cities for sustainable water consumption, including water saving and safety of drinking water in buildings.


• Improving of quality of waste water that is spilled into water bodies.


• Toursim: Standardization and greening processes in golf pitches.


• Irrigation and other water uses: Capacity building and organizations of water users in the Mediterranean (Interreg and ENPI call).


• Nature protection: Prevention of uncontrolled waste disposal and remediation of ecosystems such as wetlands and karstic caves


• Nature protection: Project Eko Teens on awareness among youg people about the karstik ecosystems.

During the infoday, various topics on water in Istria were treated, together with EU programmes. The following themes were presented and discussed during the event: EU Funding strategies; European funding opportunities in the field of water (FP7, INTERREG); the INTERREG program; the FP7 program; best practices in water projects; tips for good participation in the EU water projects; support services in the field of EU programmes and cooperation activities; water Management.

From the political point of view, the network Wateregio was presented as a way to improve the participation of Mediterranean regions in EU water policy.

Contact person:

Dino Babić
Professional collaborator for the development of international projects
Department for International cooperation and EU integration
Istarska županija – Regione istriana
Region of Istria
Flanatička 29
HR-52100 Pula

Tel: +385 (0)52 372 177
Fax:+385 (0)52 372 178
www.istra-istria.hr