The UfM Secretariatis co‐funded by theEUROPEAN UNION

WATER ISSUES AT THE UFM

17th November 2016, Barcelona

28 EU member states + 15 Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries

Union for the MediterraneanTHE EURO-MEDITERRANEAN INTERGOVERNMENTAL INSTITUTION

MISSIONEnhance regional cooperation and integration in the Euro-Mediterranean

through regional dialogue and the implementation of concrete projects and initiatives with tangible impact on the region’s citizens

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43 MEMBERS

Inauguration

27 EU members and16 Mediterranean partners

Heads of State and Government

15 EU members and 12 Mediterranean partnersMinisters of Foreign Affairs

2015:20th anniversary of the Barcelona Process

8th anniversary of the Union for the Mediterranean

Barcelona ProcessAn innovative alliance for peace,

stability and prosperity

The Union for the MediterraneanAn inter-governmental organisation

with six priorities

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A response to the challenges of the region

The UfM General Secretariat A facilitator of the regional cooperation and socio-

economic development in the region. It fosters growth and prosperity in a region

of 800 million inhabitants

De-pollution of the Mediterranean, Maritime and land highways, Civil protection, Alternative energies, Higher education & research,

Mediterranean Business Initiative

Creation of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP)2004

2008 Paris Summit

2010 UfM General Secretariat

1995 Barcelona Declaration

The Euro‐Mediterranean partnership

Promoting the exchange of views, ideas and best practices on regional challenges between relevant partners and stakeholders

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Promouvoir des projets stratégiques régionaux en réponse aux priorités

régionales identifiés

Un catalyseur de projets régionaux à fort impact socio-économique

Promouvoir des projets stratégiques régionaux en réponse aux priorités

régionales identifiés

Un catalyseur de projets régionaux à fort impact socio-économique

Promoting strategic regional projects as a response to the regional

priorities identified

A platform for regional & policy dialogue

A catalyser for regional projects with strong socio-economic impact

The mandate of the UfM

Fostering operational regional cooperationFostering operational regional cooperation

UfM l   The Euro‐Mediterranean intergovernmental institution

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UfM l The actor for regional development in the Mediterranean

The Euro‐Mediterranean institution at the service of regional cooperation:

• Strong political commitment with 43 countries representing an overallpopulation of 800 million citizens.

• Co‐ownership between the European Union and the Mediterranean countries.

• Variable geometry allowing member countries to participate in projects ofinterest for them.

• Regional and sub‐regional integration through large projects to developtransport, energy and water infrastructures – variable geometry.

• Dynamic and flexible partnerships with promoters from administrations, civilsociety and private sector.

• Concrete projects to meet the needs of Mediterranean citizens.

• Adaptation to the current regional context with a focus on job creation foryoung people.

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Un catalyseur de projets régionaux à fort impact socio-économique

Un catalyseur de projets régionaux à fort impact socio-économique

A platform for regional & policy dialogue

A catalyser for regional projects with strong socio-economic impact

19 High-Level (Ministerial) conferencesEnvironment and Climate Change, Blue Economy, Development, Employment, Economic Cooperation, Food Security, Private Sector, Transport, Women’s Empowerment , Interreligious Dialogue, etc

20 Senior Official Meetings withrepresentatives from the 43 members

>130 Working Groups, Expert forums & roundtables

>10’000 stakeholders

Since 2012:

Variable GeometryVariable Geometry

The activities of the UfM

UfM labelled projects

UfM l   The Euro‐Mediterranean intergovernmental institution

Operational SecretariatOperational Secretariat

Co‐presidencyNorth + SouthCo‐presidencyNorth + South

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Senior OfficialsSenior Officials

20+ sectorial ministerial meetings since 2008

Political Process Ministerial meetingsPolitical Process

Ministerial meetings

A governance based on the principle of co-ownership North/South

UfM l   The Euro‐Mediterranean intergovernmental institution

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Co‐presidencyNorth + SouthCo‐presidencyNorth + South

Political ProcessMinisterial meetingsPolitical Process

Ministerial meetings

A North + South co-presidency

Ensured since 2012 by :

EU Jordan

Operational SecretariatOperational Secretariat

Senior OfficialsSenior Officials

A governance based on the principle of co-ownership North/South

UfM l   The Euro‐Mediterranean intergovernmental institution

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Senior OfficialsSenior Officials Meetings of the Ambassadors of the 43 countries every 2-3

months

Co‐presidencyNorth + SouthCo‐presidencyNorth + South

Operational SecretariatOperational Secretariat

Political ProcessMinisterial meetingsPolitical Process

Ministerial meetings

A governance based on the principle of co-ownership North/South

UfM l   The Euro‐Mediterranean intergovernmental institution

1 Secretary General from the South

6 Deputy Secretary Generals3 from North and 3 from South

>60 diplomats, financial experts and project managers seconded

from20 countries and institutions

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Operational SecretariatOperational Secretariat

Co‐presidencyNorth + SouthCo‐presidencyNorth + South

Political ProcessMinisterial meetingsPolitical Process

Ministerial meetings

A governance based on the principle of co-ownership North/South

Senior OfficialsSenior Officials

UfM l   The Euro‐Mediterranean intergovernmental institution

11The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Water requires effective policies and management practices at alllevels, including, national, basin‐wise, sub regional and regional, inorder to secure its availability and quality for all

The social, economic and environmental impacts of waterchallenges, and their associated costs in human lives and inmonetary terms, are considerable and are rising, making the needfor action and cooperation pressing

The region is facing many developmental challenges includingwater scarcity, demographic change, unemployment,environmental degradation which all has a direct impact on theavailability and quality of water resources for people and nature inthe Mediterranean

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CURRENT CHALLENGES

WHY A COMMON REGIONAL FRAMEWORK?  WHY ACTING TOGETHER? 

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Facilitating and supporting experience sharing

Replicating best practices and avoid the failure by lessons learnt approaches

Promoting common approaches after adaptation to local needs

Implementing joint pilot projects

Implementing national projects with a regional impacts

Applying innovative practices including through knowledge transfer

Increasing access to funding and donors 

Ministerial on Environment and Climate ChangeMinisterial on Environment and Climate Change

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Ministerial on Blue EconomyMinisterial on Blue Economy

WATER EXPERT GROUPMinisterial on WaterMinisterial on Water

Platforms of dialogueWater & Environment

Potential Ministerial in the 1st semester 2017, under the 

Maltese presidency of the EU

Water Expert Group (WEG)

It convenes that the UfM countries at level of Water Directors or high representatives and it includes international and regional institutions, IFIs, stakeholders as observers

The WEG provides a platform for information sharing and promotion of commonobjectives through synergies

The suggested common regional policy framework would aim to address the needs andopportunities across the Mediterranean and to create a more conductive environmentfor investment and development cooperation between countries as well as withfinancial actors

Created by the 2008 Water Ministerial Conference (Dead Sea, Jordan), calls for areinforced common regional policy framework with a clear financial strategy andfinancing mechanisms towards achieving an inclusive water agenda for the UfMcountries

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WATER EXPERT GROUP (WEG) – RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

• The 5th Meeting of the UfM WEG (23‐24 November 2015,Luxemburg) reaffirmed the need for countries to join efforts toaddress water challenges, associating it to a potential ministerialprocess that may wish to consider providing strategic guidance on prioritiesand defining a mechanism to follow up through a tangible work programme;

• It also mandated a smaller WEG Drafting Group to technically elaborateon the above, in case the political partners decide to convene the suggestedministerial process;

…(process in‐between ‐ next slide)….

• The 6th WEG Meeting planned for the 20th of December will takeinto account decisions by the current UfM SOM meeting and continue workon the common regional water agenda, on the basis of the results of the UfMWEG Drafting Group meeting

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ONGOING PROCESS ‐ UFM WATER EXPERT GROUP and DRAFTING GROUP 

WEG 2nd  DG Meeting

26‐27th July 2016

Malta 

WEG 3rd DG  Meeting

26th Sept 2016 Brussels 

Mandated a smaller WEG Drafting Group  to work out a common Water agenda based on a Roadmap and associated Work Plan

Called for a political impulsethrough a Ministerial Conference on Water to take place before mid 2017 in Malta

Elaborated on options for process and contents of the Ministerial Conference 

Prepared a preliminary calendar up to the potential Ministerial Meeting

Elaborated on definitions and contents of a common Mediterranean water agenda, possibly towards a suggested UfM Ministerial Conference on Water.

Elaboration  on related technical aspects.

Expressed a positive consideration on a possible UFM Ministerial on Water during the 1st semester of 2017

Requested a detailed background document, including suggestions on contents, to present at the next UFM SOM Meeting 

WEG 1st DG Meeting

5th April 2016

Athens

WEG 5th Meeting 

23‐24th Nov 2015

Luxemburg 

‐Draft elementstowards a common regional water agenda

‐Draft WEG Modeof Operations and Roadmap (as follow‐up of  thepossible UfM Ministerial Conf.)

‐Draft guidelinesfor a WorkProgramme

UfM countriesendorsed the process and the Ministerial meeting in April 2017

6th WEG (19th 20 

Ded 2016)

Ongoing

WORKING TOWARDS A MINISTERIAL AGREEMENT

• Stress the key relevance of water in the Mediterranean region;

• Renew the commitment of countries on the water agenda;

• Guide on contributions of the water agenda in responding to key objectives in the region.

• Create a positive environment for the private investment and map regional funding for water agenda through joint planning and mainstreaming

The objective and opportunity of such Ministerial could be 

for the UfM Ministers 

responsible for Water to:

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These objectives shall substantially facilitate also the implementation of a range of other key regional sectoral and cross‐cutting policies including  food security, energy security, environmental protection, climate resilience, employment, urban development, gender mainstreaming, etc

JOINT DECISIONS AT THE MALTA MEETING

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PROCESS (how)and

CONTENT (what)

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A chapeau providing background to the agenda Strategic Guidance on a UfM water agenda by Ministers

Aligned with the SDGs, in particular SDG 6, and other relevantinternational/regional frameworks

Integrating emerging Priority Fields and Regional approaches/tools

A Mechanism, provided by/associated to the WEG, overseeingthe operationalisation of the Strategic Guidance:

A Roadmap/Action Plan (final wording to be agreed)

Work Plan (Biannual; WEG/Stakeholders; tbd)

Financial Strategy 

EMERGING ELEMENTS OF A POTENTIAL JOINT UFM MINISTERIAL DECLARATION

EMERGING POINTS 

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Possible priority fields for upscaling intervention towards tackling countries water needs at regional level

water governance, including cross cutting issues (gender, equity/diplomacy/integrity, povertyand rights) and the promotion of transboundary cooperation;

water financing, including through private sector participation; 

water demand management, including through innovation and non‐conventional water resources management; 

water and climate change adaptation, including through mitigation/adaptation co‐benefits, and preparedness for natural disasters;

water‐energy‐food‐ecosystems nexus, including in rural, peri‐urban, urban, coastal and transboundary levels; 

water security and migration, including with a focus on youth, gender and employment;

water quality protection and depollution, through ‘source‐to‐sea’ approaches; etc.

EMERGING POINTS

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Regional approach/tools/instruments to service action:

Enhance financing opportunities (e.g. climate funds, migration funds), engaging newpartners and testing related approaches (e.g. central and private banks, private sector,etc), and enhancing coordination between regional and national level financing;

Promote employment opportunities/green jobs in the water sector, particularly for youthand women;

Enhance transfer of technological solutions towards increased efficiency within a widerSustainable Consumption and Production approach;

Promote information systems, including an aligned reporting system for the water‐relatedSDGs, particularly for Target 6.5 on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM),linked with the upcoming countries’ reporting to the UN

23The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

PROMOTION & MONITORING

LABELLING 

PROJECT IDENTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT 

Selection of regional projects of particular regional value according to UfM criteria

WHO CAN PRESENT A PROJECT? • A national, regional, public or private entity

that has a proven experience in the implementation of projects.

WHAT ARE THE PROJECTS’ CHARACTERISTICS? • Regional value• Socio-economic impact• Relevance to the priority areas

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Regional projects· An operational response

UfM l   The Euro‐Mediterranean intergovernmental institution

LABELLING 

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Political recognition and support from 43 UfM countries

WHAT IS THE ADDED VALUE OF THE UfM LABEL? • Political endorsement to projects that

address common regional challenges.• Regional recognition and visibility at the

highest level.• Solutions for complex regional projects

and builds on their added-value.• Access to finance through a network of

financing partners.

PROMOTION & MONITORING

PROJECT IDENTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT 

Regional projects· An operational response

UfM l   The Euro‐Mediterranean intergovernmental institution

www.h2020.net

Horizon 2020 for a Cleaner Mediterranean(previously named De‐pollution of the Mediterranean Sea)Flagship initiative of the Union for the Mediterranean

www.h2020.net

Top sources of Mediterranean pollution:

responsible for up to 80% of pollutionin the Mediterranean Sea

• municipal waste• urban waste water• industrial emissions

• marine litter• hazardous waste

LINKS TO THE EU FUNDED SWIM – H2020 SUPPORT MECHANISM

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Desalination Facility of the Gaza Strip

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The Desalination Facility for the Gaza strip

Promoter

Result

Beneficiaries

Duration

Partners 

Budget

Palestinian Water Authority

More than 55 Million m3/year (MCM) of drinking water: North‐South water conveyance system Non‐revenue water reduction programmeThe construction of a SWRO is in its first phase. The plant may beexpanded to provide additional capacity of 100 MCM later tomeet the urgent needs of Palestinians in Gaza.

1.7 million Gaza inhabitants, neighbouring countries and, more generally, the Eastern Mediterranean region.

2014 – 2018

‐ European Investment Bank‐ Islamic Development Bank‐ World Bank‐ European Commission

EUR 310 million + 180 (related energy works)

OBJECTIVES• To provide more than 1.7 million

Palestinians living in the GazaStrip with fresh water fordomestic consumption.

• Decrease over‐pumping andcontribute to the regeneration ofthe coastal aquifer, which is theonly natural source of water inGaza.

UfM project

Integrated Programme for the Depollution of Lake Bizerte (Tunisia)

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UfM projectIntegrated Programme for Protection of the Lake Bizerte against Pollution 

Promoter

Result

Beneficiaries

Duration

Partners

Budget

Ministry of Equipment and Environment of Tunisia

Eliminate the main sources of pollution contaminating the lake andaffecting the bordering communities

‐ Improvement of sanitary conditions for 400,000 inhabitants living close to the sources of pollution (531,000 in the entire Governorate)‐ Improvement of sustainable industrial production for more than 20 public and private companies‐ Access to sanitation for 10,000 people in the urbanareas and 26,000 in rural areas

2014‐2019

‐ European Investment Bank (EIB)‐ United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

EUR 90 million

The first UfM labelled H2020investment project

OBJECTIVE• Integrated approach targeting

the reduction of all kind ofpollution around the lake Bizerte,Tunisia in dialogue with allstakeholders (industries, publicauthorities, NGOs,etc.; Lakecommittee)

Governance & Financing in the Mediterranean Water Sector

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Governance & Financing for the Mediterranean Water sector

Promoters

Results

Beneficiaries

Duration

Partners 

Budget

• GWP‐Med – Global Water Partnership‐Mediterranean• OECD – Organisation for Economic Cooperation & Development

At national level: •Identification of mechanisms to overcome keybottlenecks •Endorsement/application of the mechanisms consideredmost suitable to the country context. At regional level: •Exchange ofgood practices and sharing of experiences. •Identification of commondenominators, as well as •replicable experiences and practices.•Development of a set of guidelines tailored to the region.

Different levels of government and public authorities ‐ Private partners and utilities ‐ Water users 

mid 2013 ‐ mid 2016

Different levels of government and public authorities ; Private partners and utilities ; Water users

EUR 2.5 million

OBJECTIVES• To diagnose key governance and

capacity building obstacles tomobilising financing throughpublic‐private partnerships (PPP)for the Mediterranean watersector, and

• To support the development ofconsensual action plans based oninternational good practices

UfM project

Capacity Building Programme on Water Integrity

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Capacity Building Programme on Water Integrity‐ in the Middle East and     North Africa 

Promoter

Result

Beneficiaries

Duration

Partners 

Budget

Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI)

Developed capacities for the different stakeholder groups andgovernance levels , improved transparency and accountabilitypractices in water management. Dialogue and advocacy at theregional level on how integrity, transparency, accountability andcorruption can be addressed in water resource management.

the persons to be trained and mentored (including youth and women) ;  consortium partners in particular the national partners, universities and research centers; governments and populations of the target countries

48 months starting in January 2014

GWP‐Med, IUCN, AWARENET, WGF, ACWUA and national partners.

EUR  2.3 million

OBJECTIVES :• to improve transparency,

accountability, and participationpractices in water management inthe MENA region

• to contribute to people in theMENA region to enjoy a betterquality of life through theimplementation of integrated,equitable and sustainable waterresources management.

IN THE UfM PIPELINE

Mediterranean Knowledge Platform on Water

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Towards a Mediterranean Water Knowledge Platform

Promoters

Actions

Beneficiaries

Duration

Partners 

Budget

IME – Mediterranean Institute for Water

Creating National Water Information Systems through a regionalcomponent: regional guidelines, tools and training on data management,definition of needs for international data reporting. Drafting aMediterranean White Paper on Water through technical assistance to 6pilot countries to compile data so as to draft a regional picture of waterresources and uses (maps & graphs).

Different levels of government and public authorities ‐ Private partners and utilities ‐ Water users 

2013 – 2016 (1st phase)

‐ Euro‐Mediterranean Information System on Know‐ How in the Water Sector (EMWIS)

‐ League  of Arab States Center of Water Studies and Arab Water Security (COFWS) 

‐ UNEP/MAP Blue Plan Regional Activity Centre Mediterranean Network of Basin Organisations (MENBO)

‐ Euro‐Mediterranean Water Institute (IEA)‐ AGBAR Foundation

EUR  9.5 million (1st phase)

OBJECTIVES• To provide a common basis for

National Water informationSystems (NWIS) towardsimplementation in 4 southernpilot countries

• To collect and exploit data inthe pilot countries (WhitePaper) to assess issues relatedto water resources and uses.

UfM project

Plastic Busters

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Plastic Busters ‐ For a Mediterranean Free From Liter

Promoter

Countries

Results

Partners 

Budget

University of Siena  (Sustainable Development Solutions Network – MED Solutions)

Algeria, Croatia, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Palestine, Slovenia, Spain & Tunisia

• Hotspot mapping of areas with marine litter accumulation in theMediterranean

• Set of comprehensive recommendations based on sound scientificevidence to facilitate effective policymaking at regional, national andlocal levels

• Demonstration Projects demonstration projects showcasing specificprevention and mitigation actions to prevent, reduce and removemarine litter at the Mediterranean Sea such as fishing for litter,collecting fishing ghost nets, se]ng up deposit schemes, etc.

• Comprehensive assessment of the status of implementation of theRegional Plan on Marine Litter

• Awareness campaigns in at least 15 countries

A 15‐members consortium  (UNEP/MAP, MIO‐ECSDE, IFREMER, SOCIB, ISPRA, University of Sousse, IWRS, CNR, Consorzio LaMMA, HCMR, ISOTECH, Consorzio Mediterraneo, ECNC Land & Sea Group, University of Bologna, FispMed Network)

EUR 8.8 M

UfM project

OBJECTIVES :• Prevent and reduce marine litter

in pilot areas by identifyinghotspots of marine litter

• Address data gaps on trends andimpacts of marine litter

• Carry out demonstration projects• Increase awareness

THANK  YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

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