EMWIS Flash N°96, January 2012

EMWIS Flash - January 2012 Euro-Mediterranean Information System on the know-how in the Water Sector EMWIS is a program of the Union for the Mediterranean. For further information: www.emwis.net Monthly Flash produced by the EMWIS Technical Unit- OIEAU, CEDEX, SOGESID- It is available in English, French & Arabic. (French & Arabic versions are available few days later) Mediterranean Water Information Mechanism / Geo-Catalogue / UfM-Water

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In this issue N°96 (www.emwis.net/thematicdirs/eflash/flash96)
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HEADLINE
1- EMWIS prepares its participation to the 6th World Water Forum, Marseille (France), 12-17/03/2012

IN BRIEF
2- The 1st Mediterranean Water Forum (Marrakech), 19-20/12/2011

3- Partnership agreement signed between EMWIS and MEDRC
4- Floods and torrential floods in the Mediterranean: Solutions to the risks; Montpellier, 19-20/01/2012
5- SWIM Launching Workshop, Brussels 7-8/11/2011
6- Information day and "Strateau" Initiation: Cap on the 6th World Water Forum
7- EU projects join forces to enhance public private partnerships in water infrastructure in Mediterranean countries
8- EU announces substantial new funds under the European Neighbourhood Instrument
9- Horizon 2020: EC Suggests 80 Billion Euro Investment in Research & Innovation
10- African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW): Water, Climate and Development Day
11- EBRD starts activities in southern Mediterranean with 59 million euros raised for Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia
12- EU neighbours could save up to 150,000 lives by adopting EU environment legislation
13- Morocco: Programme of water savings for irrigated areas in the region of Marrakech Tensift Al Haouz
14- Morocco: 40 billion dirhams to transfer water from north to south
15- Tunisia: National Strategy for Sustainable Development (2012 - 2016)
16- The Turkish Water Institute (SUEN) has been established in Istanbul
17- Jordan: Stakeholders call for increased collaboration in water reuse

18- Jordan: Red-Dead ‘technically possible’, but risks abound
19- Palestine: EU launches €10M desalination project in Gaza
20- Israel-Palestine Agreement on the Need to Reexamine the Operation and Structure of the Joint Water Committee
21- Israel: Desalination plants could make Israel water exporter
22- Israel: Cabinet again rejects Dead Sea bill
23- Thirst for water a sinking point at Israel-Palestine talks
24- Iraq: Water Resources Management and Studies for Forthcoming Period
25- Lessons from LIFE for the Blueprint to safeguard Europe's waters
26- EPSU calls for the implementation of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation
27- Environmental tax reform: increasing individual incomes and boosting innovation
28- Winds of Change for Reverse Osmosis Seawater Desalination?
29- Earth observation empowers African scientists to improve water management
30- SMOS maps Europe’s dry autumn soils
31- New Eye on Earth global mapping and information service now live
32- Satellites detect abundance of fresh water in the Arctic
NOMINATIONS and VACANCIES
PUBLICATIONS  
CALL FOR TENDERS and PROPOSALS
CALL FOR PAPERS
TRAINING
EVENTS
PROJECTS
BRIEF EMWIS SITE MAP
CONTACT US / COMMENTS

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HEADLINE
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1- During the next World Water Forum to be held in Marseille from 12 to 17 March 2012, EMWIS is leading 3 sessions, on the thematic process, one on the Mediterranean process and a side event. The session related to « Sharing and monitoring information at the transboundary level » under the priority for action 1.5 « Contribute to Cooperation and Peace through water » will take place on Thursday 15/03 from 14h30 to 16h30. EMWIS is coordinating with the Tunisian National Office for Sanitation (ONAS) the Mediterranean session Med 4.2, related sustainable cost recovery (SCR) for sanitation services through the use of tariffs and fees, public subsidies and international financial assistance. This session will take place on Wednesday 14/03 from 11h00 to 13h00 in coordination with the sessions of the thematic process on "Financing water for all". Finally, EMWIS will organize a side event on "Shared water information systems for a better governance" on Tuesday 13/03 from 13h15 to 14h15. This side event aims at gathering the commitment of Mediterranean countries to “strengthening the coordination and the development of National Water Information Systems harmonized at the Mediterranean level, towards a shared Mediterranean water information system”. A national water data collection and monitoring system is an essential element in order to provide reliable background for defining, implementing and evaluating each country’s water policies and investments linked to clear and shared objectives. The commitments to be discussed are directly linked to the governance targets of the Mediterranean Process, as well as the information monitoring and sharing of the thematic process “cooperation and peace”. Further information on EMWIS website.

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IN BRIEF (Full news)
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2- The First Mediterranean Water Forum took place in Marrakech (Morocco) on 19-20 December 2011. It attracted more than 350 participants. This events had two main components. First it allowed to disucss the solutions, action plans and possible commitements related to the 8 target objectives of the Mediterranean cross-continental process for the 6th World Water Forum, organised around 4 priorities: Improving water demand management; Use of non-conventional resources; Improving water governance; Urban and industrial wastewater collection and treatment. Secondly, the effective setting up of the Mediterranean Water Forum was discussed as a federative permanent platforme to carry the voice of the Mediterranean water community. for launching the Mediterranean Water Forum. Side events were also organised around thematic projects and initiatives such as the decision support system STRATEAU for water and territorial management. EMWIS also organized a side-event where the project on water information systems proposed to the Union for the Mediterranean was discussed. A joint proposal is under preparation regrouping EMWIS proposal on “strengthening the coordination and the development of National Water Information Systems harmonized at the Mediterranean level, towards a shared Mediterranean water information system”, the Arab League project on a database on shared water resources for Arab countries and the Leabanese Information and training center. Further information on  EMWIS website.

3- Last December 6th, 2011 and during the 2nd Regional Meeting of the USAID Middle East and North Africa Network of Water Centers of Excellence (MENA WCN) was held in Muscat (Oman). At this occasion, MEDRC & EMWIS signed a partnership agreement focusing on two main issues: cooperating & implementing water information systems; and capacity building in support of improved water resources management at regional and national level. Such cooperation may include: exchanging  information; networking of Water Centers of Excellence in the region; organizing regional and national events to mobilize regional & national water actors; promoting EMWIS approaches in Golf countries and promoting MEDRC approaches in the Mediterranean. Further information on EMWIS website.

4- In prepration of the 6th World Water Forum, the Corporation des Eaux de Marseille took the lead and organizes on 19 and 20 January in Marseille a workshop with nearly 70 experts from Mediterranean countries on the topic “floods and flash floods in the Mediterranean: What solutions to the risks.” Population growth, urbanization, climate change and environmental degradation are directly linked with the increased number and intensity of water-related disasters. According to the Blue Plan (United Nations Environment), 210 destructive floods hit the Mediterranean in the last 20 years. The floods affected more than 3 million people, caused over 4,000 deaths and led to economic losses exceeding 25 billion euros. This workshop explored different solutions. The conclusions of the workshop will be presented at the 6th World Water Forum, where a specific session will also be organised. The main recommandations of the session on "Production & Sharing of Information & Data" chaired by Mrs Milagros Couchoud & Mr Giacomo Teruggi,  include the production of a guide on collecting and sharing information related to the risk of flash floods produced by a working group bringing together, among others, WMO, EMWIS and the civil protection services; Regular workshops for the exchange of information (feedback, best practices, model comparison, ...), taking advantage of the Mediterranean Water Forum; Promote the adoption in the southern Mediterranean countries (according to their means) of the European Framework Directive on the assessment and management of flood risk. A report will be prepared soon in February and will be made available at the 6th World Water Forum (Marseille, 12 to 17 March, 2012),  Further information on EMWIS website.

5- The SWIM Launching Workshop was organized on 7-8 December 2011 in Brussels in order to ensure that the activities planned under the two components of the Programme - Mechanism of Support to SWIM and Demonstration Projects - help pressing challenges of the water in the Mediterranean filling urgent gaps in policy, especially in times of reform in the region. The Sustainable Integrated Water management (SWIM) project aims to actively promote the extensive dissemination of sustainable water management policies and practices in the region in the context of increasing water scarcity, combined pressure on water resources from a wide range of users, and desertification processes, in connection with climate change. The workshop included a series of consultations with water and environment national authorities of six countries of the southern Mediterranean partner countries, the EC services, regional organizations, institutions and relevant programs related to water that are in progress. Significant comments were collected and potential synergies were explored with regional initiatives. Activities planned for the first year of implementation of the SWIM Support Mechanism  (up to September 2012) are the four main thematic pillars, namely: 1 - non-conventional water resources (including wastewater treatment, reuse and desalination), particularly in rural areas; 2 - Evaluation of economic costs to remedy the deterioration of the water; 3 - 'No regrets' actions on climate change adaptation for the water sector and 4 - Local water management, focusing on the experiences of users' associations. Five demonstration projects approved by the EC in the framework of the second component of SWIM were presented: Adaptation to Climate Change of the
Mediterranean Agricultural Systems (ACLIMAS), Innovative Means to Protect Water Resources in the Mediterranean Coastal Areas through Re-injection of Treated Water (IMPROWARE), Network of demonstration
activities for sustainable integrated wastewater treatment and reuse in the Mediterranean (Sustain Water MED), All Across the Jordan: Trans-boundary Master Planning of the Lower Jordan River Basin, and Water ater harvesting and Agricultural techniques in Dry lands: an Integrated and Sustainable model in MAghreb Regions (WADIS-MAR). Further information on EMWIS website.

6- The Water Embassy, with the collaboration of the Mediterranean Network of the Basin Organizations, organize next February 7, 2012, an Information and Initiation Day on "STRATEAU" (Strategic analysis and foresight tool for the balance demand/availability of water resources). Since 2009, the Water Embassy insures mastering the work of Strategic analysis and foresight tool for the balance demand/availability of water resources detonated to be unfolded to the surrounding countries of the Mediterranean. The objective of this tool is to support local planners in water management. This decision support tool is designated to clarify choices for the decision makers in all political strategy linked to water demand management (WDM) or having an impact on water resources. This event will be held in the French Senate in Paris. Further information on EMWIS website.

7- Twenty five high-level professionals from Mediterranean countries took part in the training course on Mediterranean Public Private Partnership (PPP) schemes in Water Infrastructure organised by two EU-funded projects, the Horison 2020 initiative and the recently launched Sustainable Integrated Water management (SWIM) project. A press release said the three-day regional training course, organized in Amman, Jordan from 19 to 21 December 2011, sought to deepen the participants’ know how on the concept of PPP for different projects, their capacity to identify risks and risk sharing methods as well as their implications, always within the context of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM).  The Horizon 2020 initiative aims to improve the quality of life of more than 420 million citizens living in the 25 countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. It is an umbrella programme drawing together all the policies, strategies and action plans for enhancing environmental protection. Horizon 2020 has mechanisms in capacity-building, research, monitoring and review that place the initiative in an excellent position to address the challenges it faces and ensure the efficient and effective use of the available resources. The inclusion of the Horizon 2020 Initiative as one of the six components of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) adds to the political impetus to address major environmental challenges. Further information on EMWIS website.

8- The EU is proposing a substantial increase in funding for its neighbourhood partners, with a proposed budget of €18.2 billion under its new European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) for the period 2014-2020, 40 per cent up on the amount available under the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) from 2007-2013. EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle told a press conference that “the new European Neighbourhood Instrument is the complement of our more ambitious approach towards our neighbours that we outlined in the Joint Communication on the ENP released in May 2011. It is part of the overall response to the evolution of our relationships with our neighbours and also a direct answer to the revolutionary movements to the south of the EU.” Like the ENPI, the new ENI will continue to provide the bulk of funding to the European Neighbourhood countries, essentially through bilateral, regional and cross border co-operation programmes. Further information on EMWIS website

9- The European Commission has presented an €80 billion package of proposals for research and innovation funding, as part of the drive to create sustainable growth and new jobs in Europe. Horizon 2020 will run from 2014 to 2020. The proposals will be negotiated by the European Parliament and the European Council over the next two years with a view to adoption of legislative acts by end 2013. Alongside this, Parliament and Council negotiations will determine the EU budget for 2014-20, including the overall budget for Horizon 2020. The structure of research funding is changing in these proposals. Objective 1) supporting an 'Excellent science' in Europe ( €24.6 billion); Objective 2) 'Industrial leadership', (€17.9 billion); Objective 3), 'Societal challenges' (€31.7 billion). Further information on EMWIS website.

10- Last December 3rd, the African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW) in conjunction with the African Union Commission (AUC), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the Department of Water Affairs (DWA) South Africa, the Global Water Partnership (GWP) and Water and the Climate Coalition (WCC) arranged an all-day event on Water, Climate and Development. The day was filled with interesting and thought provoking presentations, followed by rich and dynamic discussions on how best to integrate water into the negotiations at COP, as well as address the nexus between water, climate and development. The key messages from the Water and Climate Day, to be taken into the high level segment of COP, emphasise the importance of water. African Union Commissioner, H.E. Tumusiime Rhoda Peace eloquently stated in her closing remarks: “In Africa, water is life. This is an absolute matter of fact. Climate change in Africa means longer and more droughts; sharper floods; and less food. In Africa, every single country shares water with its neighbor. Climate change is about managing the water cycle… but limited adaptative capacity keeps us vulnerable in Africa. "We present a call for action to the high level segment of the COP. We agree that water is not a sector, it is a resource. We have worked very closely with others to ensure that Africans can showcase their adaptive initiatives at the COP. If you walk around you see how much has been done.” Further information on EMWIS website

11- Donors to the EBRD have started to make significant contributions that will allow the Bank to begin its activities in the southern and eastern Mediterranean (SEMED) region. The first donor-funded project is under way in Egypt. So far over €59 million in donor funds has been made available as part of the first phase of the EBRD’s economic response to the important political developments in North Africa and the Middle East. The use of donor funds for technical cooperation will lay the groundwork for forthcoming investments, once shareholders ratify amendments to EBRD statutes to allow the Bank to invest in the region. The EBRD will join forces with other institutions already active in the region to maximise the impact of its operations. The European Union (EU) has signed agreements with the Bank to provide €20 million for technical cooperation activities in the Bank's prospective new countries of operations. This contribution was approved under the EU Neighbourhood Investment Facility (NIF) and comprises €15 million for a project preparation framework and €5 million for the EBRD TurnAround Management and Business Advisory Services (TAM/BAS). Further information on EMWIS website.

12- If the countries of the European neighbourhood made even a partial, voluntary adoption of EU environment legislation, positive effects of enhanced environment protection would be significant in the water sector. Improved drinking and waste water standards could lead to a decrease in morbidity and mortality in the region and to benefits ranging from € 9 to € 21 billion per year. The figures come in the results of an international study project released by the European Commission, on the socio-economic benefits of enhanced environment protection in the European Neighbourhood partner countries and Russia.  On waste, a partial take-over of the EU environment acquis would lead to additional 64 million people being connected to proper municipal waste collection. Around 25,000 jobs would be created in this sector. Major positive social and economic benefits would also result from reinforced nature protection, sustainable forest management, reduced land degradation, stronger use of renewable energy, and better adaptation to climate change. The study intends to alert decision-makers and society in the region that strengthened environmental protection also leads to significant social, health and economic benefits. It estimates the possible advantages resulting from voluntarily adopting parts of the EU environmental legislation, and proposes a methodology to quantify these benefits. Further information on EMWIS website.

13- The King of Morocco Mohammed VI inquired on 29 December in the rural Saada (province of Marrakech) program for water saving in irrigated areas in the region of Marrakech Tensift Al Haouz with a budget of 6.5 billion dirhams (billion dirhams). The program covers 97 300 ha to benefit 25,000 farmers. This program will contribute to the development of modern agriculture with high added value, while promoting rational and sustainable management of water resources. Its implementation will increase the irrigation efficiency from 50 to 90 pc, enhance irrigation water from 2.3 to 5.5 Dirhams/m3, increase the value of production per hectare of 19,000 DH 42,000 to DH / year, in addition to improving farmers' incomes. The regional program for water saving will lead to the collective conversion of gravity irrigation systems in water-saving irrigation "drop by drop" on a total area of about 57,000 ha. Further information on EMWIS website.

14- 845 million m3 will be transferred annually from the northern basins of Morocco to Tadla, Doukkala, and El Haouz Tensift. The cost of the transferred water will be high: between 2.5 to 4 m3 DH against a maximum of 0.70 DH for water used at present. After highways, Mega Tangiers Med port, the TGV, another equally gigantic and of the utmost importance project could be launched over the next two years in Morocco. This transfer of water from north to south is colossal because the cost of construction is estimated at 40 billion dirhams, the equivalent of four highways Tangier-Casablanca and would cost more than the TGV connecting the two cities (33 DH billion). The infrastructure will transfer the surplus water that is lost to the sea from the Oued Lau, and Loukkos Sebou to the basins of Bouregreg, Oum and Rbia Tensift. According to the Secretary of State for Water and Environment, the rainfall is nearly 2000 mm per year in the wettest areas in the north and descend below 100 mm in the arid south. Studies on the socio-economic impact are in progress.  Further information on EMWIS website.

15- Meet the challenges of a changing world, establishing the terms of a development that is both economically efficient, socially responsible and respectful of our environment is a challenge that is faced after the Revolution of January 2011 in Tunisia. These three aspects are the pillars of sustainable development, that is to say, "development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." In this period of democratic transition and anxious to prepare its future on a solid basis taking into account the issues and challenges of economic, social and ecological, Tunisia intends to commit a matter resolved in the way of sustainable development. In this context, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in close collaboration with stakeholders and with the active participation of civil society, proposes to implement a national strategy for sustainable development (NSSD) that includes 10 challenges / strategic areas for sustainable development in Tunisia. Further information on EMWIS website.

16- The Turkish Water Institute, abbreviated as SUEN, has been established in Istanbul. Building on the experience and knowledge of the 5th World Water Forum Secretariat, SUEN will work to contribute to finding solutions to global water challenges and developing sustainable water policies. The outcomes of the 2nd Istanbul International Water Forum, held last May in Istanbul, have been compiled in two distinct books: “An Istanbul Perspective on Regional Water Problems and Search for Solutions”, available online at: www.iusf.org.tr, provides an overview of all meetings and activities of the Forum. Soon to be available, “A Regional Perspective on Water-Food-Energy: Cooperation In-and-Around Turkey” analyses the Forum’s main subjects: water, food and energy, and synthesizes the linkages among them. Further information on EMWIS website.

17- The Jordanian government is currently developing the Kingdom’s first industrial knowledge centre, a platform for industrialists to share experiences in water conservation and environment protection, according to a senior official. Being developed in cooperation with the USAID-funded Water Reuse and Environmental Conservation Project, the centre seeks to raise industries’ awareness on how to conserve the country’s natural resources and prevent environment pollution, according to the Minister of Environment Yaseen Khayyat.  The first round of the awards will focus on water conservation and reuse, the minister said, highlighting that the agricultural and industrial sectors are under pressure to only use recycled water. Minister of Water and Irrigation Musa Jamaani said the ministry recycles 111 million cubic metres of wastewater annually, which is channelled to the Jordan Valley for irrigation purposes.  The Water Reuse and Environmental Conservation Project is a five-year initiative which addresses the full cycle of environmental conservation and water reuse issues by assisting capacity building for the Ministry of Environment, pollution prevention for industries, and water reuse for community livelihood enhancement. Further information on EMWIS website

18- Preliminary results of the Red Sea-Dead Sea Water Conveyance Study Programme showed that a large-scale conveyance of seawater from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea is technically possible, but might entail risks as well as environmental and social impacts, according to the World Bank. The report, posted on the World Bank’s website, concluded that mixing seawater and/or desalination brine with the Dead Sea water entails risks, and especially when the amounts exceed 300 million cubic metres (mcm) per year. Initial plans of the Red-Dead Project suggest pumping one billion cubic metres of water annually from the Red Sea into the rapidly depleting Dead Sea. The report indicated that a conveyance project would also pose environmental and social impacts, mostly during construction, but indicated that through the various studies, these impacts have been evaluated in terms of alternatives and measures to mitigate, manage and monitor them. The estimated cost of a full-scale conveyance project, including the pipes that would carry water to urban centres, would exceed $10 billion. The World Bank added in the report that in the event of the beneficiary parties, which include Jordan, Israel and Palestine, deciding to go ahead with the identified water conveyance, there would have to be further environmental and social assessments. The study examined the feasibility of establishing a desalination plant with the capacity of 850mcm per year at the southern end of the Dead Sea to produce desalinated water. The Red-Dead Project is part of international efforts to save the Dead Sea, which has been shrinking at the rate of one metre per year, largely due to the diversion of water from the Jordan River for agricultural and industrial use. The project aims to raise water levels in the shrinking lake from 408 metres to 315 metres below sea level. Over the past two decades alone, the Dead Sea level plunged more than 30 metres, with experts warning that it could dry up within the next 50 years. Further information on EMWIS website.

19- The European Union has launched a 10 million euro low-volume desalination project in Gaza Strip. Acting EU envoy to the West Bank and Gaza, John Gatt-Rutter, signed a memorandum of understanding to that effect with Palestinian Water Authority Chief Shaddad Attili, the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility and UNICEF. Construction of the plant is to be complete by 2015. "As the EU has reiterated in the past, the continued policy of closure in Gaza has damaged the natural environment, notably water and other natural resources," Gatt- Rutter said. "I hope that this intervention can bring real change for some Palestinians living under unsustainable conditions in the Strip." Further information on EMWIS website.

20- A heated discussion took place on Israeli Palestinian water issues last December at the Ashdod Sustainability Conference between the Israeli Minister of Environmental Protection, Gilad Erdan, and the Palestinian Minister of Water, Dr. Shaddad Attilli. This was the first time the Ministers met in Israel publicly to discuss issues in dispute between Israelis and Palestinians, such as water allocation, responsibility for pollution of shared streams, and more. The discussion took place as part of the panel “Cross-Border Waters and Regional Sustainability” moderated by Gidon Bromberg, Israeli Director of Friends of the Earth Middle East. Minister Erdan said that: “There is need for cooperation and joint work on environmental issues. When our water sources are contaminated, your water resources are contaminated, and vice versa. I believe that the issue of water needs to stay out of the conflict; water can, and should, be the basis for cooperation. Focusing on water rights is focusing on the conflict. Focusing on water should be around solutions.” Minister Dr. Shaddad Attilli: “It is clear to everyone that water is an issue that hovers above politics….  We just want an equitable amount of the shared waters, not all the waters of the Israelis.” Dr. Attilli focused his criticism of the poor functioning of the Joint Water Committee (JWC): “Israeli policy prevents us from dealing with sewage problems and water pollution. Even when the Joint Water Committee approves a project, then the bureaucracy of the Civil Administration detains us for many years. We must change the structure an operation of the committee so that we Palestinians get an equitable share of water.” In response, Minister Erdan called on the Palestinians to engage in a daily dialogue with him in order to reach specific solutions to problems that arise in the field: “If we want to overcome the problems, we have to meet. If Minister Attili tells me what the problems are, we can help solve them.” Gidon Bromberg concluded: “The Ministers have agreed for the first time that the Joint Water Committee is not working for the good of both peoples, and agreed – each in his own way – to promote a change of the committee’s structure / operation.” Further information on EMWIS website

21- National water company says new facility will not only meet Israel's own water needs, it could also make it a top regional water exporter by 2014.  Israel's ADL, a subsidiary of state-owned Mekorot, will build and operate the plant in the coastal city of Ashdod for 25 years, supplying 100 million cubic meters of desalinated water annually, the Finance Ministry said in a statement on 27 December 2011. Israel is two-thirds arid and to avoid further depleting its fresh water sources it has become a world leader in desalination and wastewater recycling. The new Ashdod plant will join four other desalination facilities that to provide, by the end of 2013, 85% of the country's household water consumption. "In the coming years we will be able to return water to nature and even sell water to our neighbors," said Energy and Water Minister Uzi Landau. ADL secured funding for the project from Israel's Bank Hapoalim and the European Investment Bank (EIB), the statement said. The Finance Ministry had previously put a $400 million price tag on the plant, which will use reverse-osmosis to desalinate seawater from the Mediterranean. Further information on EMWIS website.

22- Unpaid debts may force the closure within days of the Beit She'an waste treatment plant in Israel, which would cause sewage to flow into the Jordan River and threaten the livelihood of farmers in the area. The operator of the plant, Kal Binyan has announced it cannot continue operating due to the debts owed by the various communities it serves in the region. The Beit She'an Municipality owes the plant NIS 2 million, according to the environmental group Tzalul. The Emek Hama'ayanot Regional Council, comprising the small towns in the region, owes NIS 1 million for treating industrial sewage, according to Kal Binyan. However, the northern district of the Environmental Protection Ministry warned Kal Binyan that the ministry would not permit the plant to close because of the environmental damage that would result, and would take legal steps against it if it shut down. The Beit She'an sewage treatment plant was established under a concession by the Beit She'an Municipality, and the regional councils of Emek Hama'ayanot and Gilboa.  Further information on EMWIS website

23- Water industry trade association British Water and Israeli research and development (R&D) agency MATIMOP have signed a "landmark" water agreement. As part of the 'Memorandum of Understanding' (MoU), signed last December 21, a framework enabling companies and research organisations from the two countries to work closely for domestic and international tenders and research projects has been set up. It is hoped this will lead to projects which will boost each country's economies. It is also anticipated the agreement will facilitate greater joint projects to develop new product applications and processes to be commercialised in the global market, as many of the technologies designed in Israel begin to make headway in the international market. According to British Water, the partnership also comes as a direct result of Israel's innovative approach to developing water technologies to help it better cope with water scarcity, which is rapidly becoming a worldwide concern, with figures from the United Nations suggesting that by 2030 almost half of the world's population will be living in areas of "high water stress". Areas of common interest between the two countries, include water management technology, which increasingly uses ICT to aid water monitoring and fault identification; desalination, water reuse and the use of renewable energy sources in water purification, reclamation and desalination. Further information on EMWIS website.

24- Iraq holds Turkey and the dams, which were built on the Euphrates-Tigris basin by Turkey, responsible for the water problem it has been going through. The primary question that should be asked is: What is the water resources of Iraq? And what is the status of water resources management? The water storage structures and water transportation systems of Iraq, who had been in war for many years, were damaged to a great extent. In addition to this, the troubles in management, which stem from the lack of productive use of water resources, increase the current water problem. According to the data of World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF in 1995, before the war, safe water supply was provided to 96% of urban population and to 48% of rural population. areas at the rate of 48 per cent.  As a result of the war in March 2003, dams, pumping stations, canals, sea water desalination plants and wastewater treatment plants were damaged. According to the datum of the year 2004, 73 per cent of the city population, and 43 per cent of the rural population can have access to clean water. And 25 per cent of the population, who lives in Baghdad, is not included in water distribution network. According to the datum of the year 2007, only 17 per cent of the wastewater is treated and discharged into rivers.  Waterborne diseases increased among children, and quality problem started to be observed in surface waters and aquifers. According to the datum of the Water in Iraq Factsheet, which was prepared by the UN, 884.000 diarrhea cases, among whom 57 per cent is children under the age of 5 years, were detected in 2010. In its statement on World Water Day, the UN indicated that 50 per cent of water at the level of usage is lost in Iraq. The current water loss stems from mismanagement of water resources and damaged water structures (dams, canals, water networks, irrigation systems etc.). Further information on EMWIS website.

25- In 2012 the EU is due to launch major new initiatives in support of its Freshwater Policy.  The success of EU policies is regularly reviewed to ensure that European citizens benefit properly from EU activities. As part of this high-level review process, EU water policy is currently undergoing an in-depth assessment of its ability to achieve good status of all EU waters by 2015. The assessment will inform the content of a Blueprint to Safeguard Europe's Water. The Blueprint, to be presented by the Commission in November 2012, aims at ensuring sufficient availability of good quality water for sustainable and equitable water use. The knowledge base for this work is mainly provided by the ongoing assessment of the River Basin Management Plans under the Water Framework Directive, the review of the policy on water scarcity and drought; and the review of the vulnerability of water resources to climate change and other man made pressures, and a Fitness Check’ of Freshwater Policy. Work for the Blueprint includes two public consultations (on the Fitness Check between December 2011 and February 2012 and on policy options in March-May 2012), and numerous stakeholder workshops, bringing together Member State representatives with different EU partners who share an interest in water policy. As evidenced at a preliminary Fitness Check workshop in May 2011, many of the policy options to be discussed highlight calls for greater action in areas where LIFE has already been producing positive effects. Further information on EMWIS website.

26- On the occasion of Human Rights Day EPSU (European Federation of Public Service Unions) calls for attention to the implementation of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation. In 2010 this right was recognised in the United Nations General Assembly. Although many European countries abstained in the final vote, the right is being recognised in most of the EU. The Human Right to Water and Sanitation entitles everyone to accessible, affordable and sufficient water and sanitation that meets the international standards for quality. EPSU thinks this right is vital to the fulfilment of all other human rights and is essential for people to build up a decent life and to achieve economic and social progress. The recognition of water and sanitation as a human right does not automatically increase the number of people with access to safe, clean and affordable water and sanitation. The United Nations clearly stated that it is a State’s responsibility to guarantee the provision of accessible, affordable and safe (quality) water and sanitation to all of the population. The right to water and sanitation should therefore not remain a right on paper only! It needs to be implemented in full. This means that it should be translated into provision of water and sanitation to all. In the EU-27 still over one million people lack access to improved water or sanitation. On a global scale over 800 million people lack access to water and over 2 billion people lack access to sanitation.  EPSU thinks that the responsibility to implement the right to water and sanitation extends across national borders. Wealthy EU countries should not only support other EU and neighbouring countries but also support developing countries further away, to make sure that the right to water can be enjoyed universally. In 2012 EPSU will launch a European Citizens’ Initiative to promote the implementation of the right to water and get this issue on the agenda of the European Commission. By collecting one million signatures, we will propose legislation that promotes and enforces EU Member States to implement this right and to achieve universal access to water an sanitation. Further information on EMWIS website.

27- European governments could simultaneously reduce income tax, increase innovation and cut pollution by introducing well-targeted environmental taxes and recycling the revenues back into the economy. This was one of the findings from a pair of reports on environmental tax reform (ETR) published by the European Environment Agency (EEA). Environmental tax reform is defined as 'reform of the national tax system where there is a shift of the burden of taxes, for example from labour to environmentally damaging activities, such as unsustainable resource use or pollution'. There are at least four possible types of effects of ETR. The first effect is to make various goods or activities more expensive, while the second effect comes from the direct or indirect distribution of this extra revenue. Thirdly, job creation and eco-innovation may be another result of this process. And lastly, effective ETR will also result in environmental benefits, for example by reducing pollution. Environmental taxation also has an important role to play in spurring innovation, according to a broad range of studies. One of the challenges of ETR is ensuring the costs and benefits are appropriately distributed across society, and do not negatively impact the poorest people. Instruments also need to balance the right mix of environmental and economic incentives. Ultimately, ETR mechanisms can only be implemented if they are acceptable to the public and policy-makers. The EEA calculated the impact of a tax on energy and other resources, with the revenues used to cut social security payments and income taxes. The model indicated that this fiscal reform would result in financial benefits for almost all socio-economic groups. However, in a few countries the poorest people could see negative effects, as these people spend a higher proportion of their income on energy. Further information on EMWIS website.

28- Membrane desalination capacity is growing globally but so is its demand for power, usually supplied through fossil fuels. With renewable energy sources such as wind power being proven, are there opportunities to combine the two? Joachim Käufler, Robert Pohl and Hadi Sader discuss the practical and economical feasibility of wind powered seawater reverse osmosis. Energy consumption of industrial scale seawater desalination has decreased significantly over the past few decades. Advantages in membrane technology and energy recovery devices have led to a relatively low specific energy consumption (SEC) of reverse osmosis (RO) processes to around 2 – 4 kWh/m³. Lower energy consumption per unit, lower investment costs, a simple process control and a very flexible plant design have all helped RO to gain a significant market share within the field of small and large-scale desalination plants (< 100,000 m³ daily). However, due to the ever expanding desalination market, total electric energy consumption of desalination, especially RO, will increase. With nearly all electric energy for commercial seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) generated by fossil fuels, this presents challenges and concerns. This includes costs (energy can represent 30% to 60% of total water production (RO) costs), through to reliability. For example, if fossil fuel energy sources are supplied internationally, then reliability of supply could be affected negatively by political conflicts. These concerns can be avoided or minimised by using locally available renewable energies, such as wind or solar power. And feasibility studies carried out could see wind powered RO desalination proven in Bahrain, in the Middle East. Already today wind power offers low and long-term stable costs of energy and therefore is able to compete with large scale conventional power generation.  Further information on EMWIS website.

29- With many African countries suffering from a lack of water, ESA’s TIGER initiative has built capacity to map this precious resource. This new knowledge is making a practical difference and paving the way to sustainable water management practices.  Agriculture in Morocco’s Doukkala region is of great importance for national food production. However, increasing numbers of droughts are limiting the supply of water and affecting productivity – a typical issue for many parts of Africa. Addressing this issue, scientists at a local university developed a system that uses satellite data to estimate the amount of water actually needed by crops. The resulting maps are proving instrumental in optimising the use of scarce water resources for irrigation, protecting the farmers from losing their harvests to drought. Further information on EMWIS website.

30- Dry soil resulting from Europe’s exceptionally warm and dry autumn is being monitored by ESA’s SMOS water mission. The images here show the stark comparison between soil moisture in November 2010 and November 2011. Like the most of the year, this autumn has been particularly dry. In the Netherlands, for example, just 9 mm of rain fell in November, compared to the average of 82 mm.  Prolonged dry weather in Germany is not only disrupting shipping in the Rhine and Elbe rivers, but has also recently sparked a forest fire in Bavaria. The UK Environment Agency says that even if England experiences average rainfall over winter and spring, parts of the country are unlikely to see a full recovery from drought conditions in 2012.  The lack of rain across Europe is reflected in the readings from ESA’s Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission. Data from SMOS show the difference in soil moisture between this November and November 2010 right across Europe. The difference is especially pronounced in Germany, Austria and further east. Soil moisture is a variable in the weather and climate system and these data are used by hydrologists, soil scientists, meteorologists and ecologists. In addition, since the amount of water in soil dictates plant growth and crop yield, the information is useful for agricultural applications and managing water resources. Further information on EMWIS website

31- A new global web service allowing users to create maps and visualise data on environmental issues is now live. The new Eye on Earth global public information service brings together vast amounts of data about the environment in a powerful, visual format. The service was showcased  during the Eye on Earth Summit in Abu Dhabi from 12-15 December. The online service takes the form of online maps, which can be manipulated by users. Without the need for any technical training, people can choose to add a huge variety of layers to the map – for example showing pollution, social development, economic factors, land use, transport and so on – to create new insights. Maps and other data can also be saved and shared through social media. Official information providers such as national environmental institutions can upload information from their vast networks of monitoring stations. The European Environment Agency (EEA) has already uploaded large amounts of data onto Eye on Earth for free and accessible use. This includes data on water, air, climate change, biodiversity and land use. Other organisations which have also  uploaded data include the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (JRC), the U.S. Geological Survey and the Abu Dhabi government. Data from new European observation satellites may also be added in the future.  Further information on EMWIS website.

32- ESA satellites show that a large dome of fresh water has been building up in the Arctic Ocean over the last 15 years. A change in wind direction could cause the water to spill into the north Atlantic, cooling Europe. The results are remarkable: since 2002, the sea surface in the studied area has risen by about 15 cm, and the volume of fresh water has increased by some 8000 cubic km – around 10% of all the fresh water in the Arctic Ocean. Researchers from the Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling (CPOM) at University College London and the UK’s National Oceanography Centre used data from ESA’s ERS-2 and Envisat satellites to measure sea-surface height over the western Arctic from 1995 to 2010. The results were published recently in the online version of the scientific journal, Nature Geoscience. Further information on EMWIS website.

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NOMINATIONS and VACANCIES
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33- Morocco: New Minister of Energy, Mines, Water and Environment:  last January 3, 2012 Fouad Douiri was nominated Minister of Energy, Mines, Water and Environment, and Youssef Amrani (General Secretary of the Union for the Mediterranean) was nominated Minister Delegate to the Ministery of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. Further information on EMWIS website.

34- Mr Anders Berntell, Executive Director at Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), will be leaving SIWI after ten successful years for a position as Executive Director of 2030 Water Resources Group at the International Finance Corporation within the World Bank Group in March 2012. SIWI is at the present recruiting a new Executive Director. Further information on EMWIS website.

35- Dr. Gao Zhanyi, China has been elected President, of  ICID in succession to Prof. Chandra Madramootoo. Dr. Gao Zhanyi (born in 1962) obtained Ph.D in Hydrology and Water Resources Management from Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR), China in 2005.  At present, he holds the position of Director, National Centre for Efficient Irrigation Technology Research, China. Further information on EMWIS website.

36- Prof. Said JABBOUR appointed representative of IRD Egypt and the Middle East and regionalleader for the region of North Africa and Middle East: Mr. Jabbour took office on September 1st 2011, following the end of the mandate of Mr.Abdelghani Chehbouni, former representative of IRD in Egypt. Dr. JABBOUR will also serve as regional facilitator for the North Africa and Middle East. Further information on EMWIS website.

37- Gabriel de Broglie, Chancellor of the Institut de France, and Jean-Louis Chaussade, Chairman of the FONDS SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT INITIATIVES and CEO of SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT, announced the launch of the SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT Initiatives - Institut de France Award. In line with the previous Water for all competition. Two Awards of EUR 50,000 each will be presented at a ceremony to take place at the Institut de France: The "Access to Essential Services" Award for an institution or non-profit organization; and The "Social Entrepreneurship" Award for a social entrepreneur in one of the areas covered by the Award. Applications are opened until March 15th, 2012. Further information on EMWIS website.

38- Entries in English, French or Hindi for the WASH Media Awards accepted until April 1st 2012: The Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) and the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) welcome entries for the fourth edition of the WASH Media Awards. This competition is open to journalists who publish or broadcast original investigative stories and reports on water supply, sanitation or hygiene (WASH) related issues and their impact on individual and country development.  The six winners will receive a cash prize and will be invited to participate in the World Water Week in Stockholm in August 2012 as special guests of WSSCC and SIWI. Further information on EMWIS website.

39- Professors, Department of Civil Engineering, Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University, Al-Khobar Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: The Department of Civil Engineering in the College of Engineering at PMU invites applications for multiple faculty positions starting Spring 2012 and Fall semester 2012 at the ranks of assistant, associate, and full professor. The following civil engineering areas of expertise are identified: (1) Environmental (water/wastewater and solid waste) , (2) Water Resources/Hydrology , (3) Transportation , (4) Structural , (5) Geotechnical , (6) Construction Management and , (7) Surveying and GIS. Closing date: February 20, 2012. Further information on EMWIS website.

40- The Stockholm International Water Award recognises the business sector's contribution to sustainable water management, by minimising water consumption and environmental impact. Deadline for nominations is February 15, 2012.  Further information on EMWIS website.

41- Permanent research position in experimental hydraulics applied to river morphodynamics processes, Lyon, France: Cemagref/Irstea conducts research in support of public policy and in partnership with industry. Closing date: February 15, 2012. Further information on EMWIS website.

42- Programme Director – Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor: Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP) is looking for someone with demonstrable programme director skills and experience at a senior level, with a track record in delivering programme goals within deadlines and budgets. Closing date:  10 February 2012. Further information on EMWIS website.

43- The International Water Association is looking for a new Programmes Manager working out of the The Hague (Netherlands) office.  Deadline for applications: 10 February 2012. Further information on EMWIS website.

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PUBLICATIONS
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44- The Association of the Friends of Ibrahim Abd el Al has just announced the publication of the Hydropolitical Baseline of the Upper Jordan River, a study undertaken by the UEA Water Security Research Centre. The Hydropolitical Baseline of the Upper Jordan River study examines the history and current politics of water use in the basin – specifically the Liddan, Banias and Hasbani sub-basins. An interdisciplinary lens interprets the archives of French and British authorities, Lebanese and Israeli river flow data, news media, interviews and unpublished official reports. Further information on EMWIS website.

45- "The right to drinking water and sanitation in Europe": Henri Smets member of the Water Academy in France has just published the most comprehensive book on the right to water in Europe. Further information on EMWIS website.

46- A new issue of the collection Studies and Documents, "The financing of the management of water resources in France (updated January 2012)," was published including its English version: This study explores the benefits of sustainable management for the achievement of good ecological status of water in France. It updates a case study published in January 2011. Further information on EMWIS website.

47- Tunisia: The reports on sustainable management of water resources are published by the Tunisian Observatory of Environment and Sustainable Development (OTEDD): (Report sustainable management of water resources; Guide sustainable management of water resources; Indicators for Sustainable Management of Water Resources - 2009). . Further information on EMWIS website.

48- Revolve hast just published recent Interview Series and a Special Report on water. Further information on EMWIS website.

49- SCALGO has launched the SCALGO Flash Flood Mapping product, which estimates the risk of flooding during extreme rain events on a regional or even national scale. The mapping shows how much rain has to fall before any given cell of a detailed raster terrain is below water, and thus it also shows what part of the terrain is below water after a given amount of rain. The SCALGO Flash Flood Mapping product is being offered as a computation service. Further information on EMWIS website.

50- EEA: Interactive water maps updated: Interactive maps displaying data on surface and groundwater bodies across Europe have been updated by the European Environment Agency (EEA). They include summary statistics at country and river basin district level. The data comes from River Basin Management Plans reported by Member States to the Commission under the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Currently, 22 Member States have submitted this information. A new feature includes information on parameters such as the status of the fish population and other ecological factors used for classifying the individual water bodies, alongside information on types of pressures affecting the water body.  Further information on EMWIS website.

51- Floods Directive viewer: What is on this Floods Directive map? River Basin Districts (RBDs) are the main units for the management of river basins and have been delineated by Member States under Article 3 of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). For the Floods Directive, Member States were given the choice to use either the WFD River Basin Districts, or to designate other Units of Management (UoM) for specific river basins or stretches of coastal areas under article 3 of that Directive.  Further information on EMWIS website

52- "Right to Water: A Humanitarian Urgency": In this publication, Bernard Drobenko analyzes the fundamental human need to meet requirement. The Right to Water should be seen as the need to have access to sufficient drinking water fundamental to Meet requirements, along with the equipment required to collect waste water. Further information on EMWIS website.

53- The recently published book entitled “Transboundary Water Resources Management: A Multidisciplinary Approach” serves as a practical guide and describes state of the art methodologies and case studies on sharing data, mathematical modelling, resolving water conflicts, and legal and socio-economic issues. Further information on EMWIS website.

54- An updated factsheet about the preliminary results of the Red-Dead Conveyor feasibility and EIA studies: In a jointly signed letter to the World Bank dated May 9, 2005, the Beneficiary Parties (the State of Israel, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Palestinian Authority) requested the World Bank to undertake a Study Program to investigate the feasibility of reversing the environmental degradation of the Dead Sea by transferring water from the Red Sea. The Study Program also aims at fostering regional cooperation. Further information on EMWIS website.

55- As part of a series of UNESCO-related symposia on themes of Water, this publication presents the outcomes of the colloquium ‘The right to water and water rights in a changing world’, held on 22 September 2010 at the Unesco-ihe Institute in Delft, the Netherlands. Further information on EMWIS website.

56- A series of reports examining the impact of climate change in 23 countries has been launched on the sidelines of the UN climate talks in Durban. South Africa. Most studies on vulnerable and developing countries are based on single climate models or limited variables making the projections not that authoritative and comprehensive. Further information on EMWIS website.

57- The State of Land and Water Resources (SOLAW) is FAO's first flagship publication on the global status of land and water resources. It is an 'advocacy' report, to be published every three to five years, and targeted at senior level decision makers in agriculture as well as in other sectors. Further information on EMWIS website.

58- A new book: "Smart Water Solutions in Small Packages: Stories from Pilot and Demonstration Activities". Read about how Asia Development Bank's Pilot and Demonstration Activity Facility works as a financing mechanism for small water pilot projects and how its replication can provide small solutions to Asia's big water problems. Further information on EMWIS website.

59- New Paper in Science on Climate Change Financing:  Recommendations provided by a transitional committee for the management and operation of the proposed climate change financing will be considered by the parties to the UNFCCC at the upcoming conference in Durban, South Africa. Further information on EMWIS website.

60- The new book "Climate disruption and Water Resources" by Nguyen Tien Duc is the first complete analysis of the effects of climate change on water resources. This book is intended for all professionals who wish to fully understand the challenges of climate change on water management: technical, government, local government, industry, academia, associations, environmental protection and, more generally, all those interested in water management. Further information on EMWIS website.

61- "Water Reuse: Potential for Expanding the Nation's Water Supply Through Reuse of Municipal Wastewater" Further information on EMWIS website.

62- The Bioenergy and water nexus (UNEP, 2011): Energy and water are key to development: they were prerequisites for the first industrial revolution and they will be key to a new kind of 21st century development path that echoes to the risks but also opportunities of modern times. Further information on EMWIS website.

63- A collaborative platform on water issues and pedagogy has just appeared, coming from the network "management and water protection" of technical agricultural education. Further information on EMWIS website.

64- Conference Documentation: "Water and Climate Change in the MENA-Region: Adaptation, Mitigation, and Best Practices" International Conference, April 28–29, 2011 in Berlin, Germany. Further information on EMWIS website.

65- Guidelines and Recommendations for River Information Services (RIS): The PIANC Working Group 115 report ‘Guidelines and Recommendations for River Information Services (RIS – 3 parts)’ has been released. Further information on EMWIS website.

66- The Water Ethics Network facilitates sharing of experience, ideas, and information about events and activities relating to water ethics. The aim is to bring an awareness of water ethics into the everyday discourse of water policies and management decisions, so that choices about water use and water ecosystem management are consciously informed by values. Further information on EMWIS website.

67- Stream Newsletter 3 rd Issue - January 2012: The STREAM project aims in general at reducing the gap between research on water, policy making and industry, by bringing together actors from these three most relevant stakeholders in knowledge exchange dedicated events but also through target knowledge sharing experiences such as e-Learning addressed to the three groups and summer schools addressed especially to researchers and industry/SME. Further information on EMWIS website.

68- Water Resources Research - Alert 7 Jan 2012 is available. Further information on EMWIS website.

69- Water Resources Management, Vol. 26, Issue 1 is available. Further information on EMWIS website.

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CALL FOR TENDERS and PROPOSALS
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70- Forecast for €1 million programme for information and training seminars for Euro-Mediterranean diplomats: The European Commission has published a forecast for a €1 million contract for the 2011-2014 programme for information and training seminars for Euro-Mediterranean diplomats. The publication reference of the forecast is EuropeAid/132176/C/SER/DZ. The 2011–2014 programme for information and training seminars for Euro-Mediterranean diplomats aims at facilitating informal exchanges and open dialogue between junior and mid-ranking diplomats who are directlyinvolved in the implementation of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership and of the Union for the Mediterranean. It is estimated that around 10 workshops will have to be conceived and organised on various general andthematic subjects linked among others to EU & ENP policies, the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership and theUnion for the Mediterranean. The list of subjects to be addressed during the seminars will be identified at a laterstage. Indicatively, the programme should have a duration of 3 years. Further information on EMWIS website.

71- ENPI CBC MED Second call for standard projects launched: The "ENPI CBC Mediterranean Sea Basin Programme 2007/2013" is a multilateral cross-border cooperation programme co-financed by the European Union under the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI).  The Joint Managing Authority is pleased to announce that the second call for standard projects is now officially open. € 56,5 million are available for cross-border cooperation projects addressing the 4 Programme Priorities and 10 related Measures. The second call for standard projects is a two-stage procedure: 1. In a first instance, Applicants shall submit a Concept Note; 2. Only the projects preselected following the evaluation of the Concept Notes will be invited to submit a Full Application Form. The deadline for sending the Concept Notes is 29th February 2012. Further information on EMWIS website.

72- ENPI CBC-Med - Call for strategic projects:  Following the administrative and qualitative assessment of the 300 Concept Notes submitted, 50 proposals have been preselected by the Joint Monitoring Committee and invited to present a Full Application Form. The overall performance of projects related to Priority 2 (“Promotion of environmental sustainability at the basin level”) is higher than for projects concerning Priority 1 (“Promotion of socio-economic development and enhancement of territories”): 24% of the Concept Notes presented for Priority 2 have been preselected against 11% for Priority 1. As a result, 30 projects for Priority 2 and 20 for Priority 1 have been invited to the second stage of the call. The most successful topic is “solar energy”, with 17 projects selected out of 38 received (i.e. 45% success rate). It is followed by “waste treatment and recycling” (9 projects out of 32, i.e. 28%) and “sustainable tourism” (11 projects out of 94, i.e. 18%).  The total amount of ENPI contribution requested by the 50 Concept Notes is € 177.6 million while the budget of the call is € 75.6 million as increased following the allocation of additional funds to the Programme by the European Commission. As seen in the attached graphs, 494 organisations are involved in the 50 preselected projects: 43% are coming from Mediterranean Partner Countries. Further information on EMWIS website.

73- Opening of the third call for projects of the SUDOE 2007-2013 programme: The Monitoring Committee meeting in Toulouse has decided to launch the third call for projects of territorial cooperation program area of the South-West Europe 2007-2013. The closing date is March 2, 2012. The themes selected are:  Technology Transfer,  Promoting research and development and innovation and improving competitiveness,  Climate Change, Risk Management,  Energy,  Water,  Forest Management, and Biodiversity.  Further information on EMWIS website.

74- Tempus IV publishes fifth call for proposals: up to €66.6 million available for neighbourhood partners under the Tempus IV Higher Education Programme’s fifth call for proposals, which has just been published. Under the call, €22.8 million each have been allocated for the Southern and Eastern Neighbouring areas, plus an additional €6.25 million each under the reserve that the relevant financing decision is adopted by the European Commission. The call for proposals seeks joint projects with a ‘bottom-up’ approach aimed at institutional modernisation and reform, and structural measures seeking to contribute to the development and reform of higher education systems in partner countries.  The maximum grant will amount to €1,500,000. The deadline for submission of applications is 23 February 2012, 12.00 Brussels time. Further information on EMWIS website.

75- Proposals for the new 2014-2020 LIFE Programme regulation released: News about LIFE's successor has been released from the European Commission which confirms a proposed LIFE budget of €3.2 billion over the 2014-2020 financial period. The new draft regulation refers to a LIFE Programme for the Environment and Climate Action and has been designed to build on the success of the existing LIFE+ Programme. The proposals introduce innovations to strengthen LIFE's structure, enhance its strategic role and simplify operations through greater flexibility.  Further information on EMWIS website.

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CALL FOR PAPERS
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76- Call for abstracts for the 3rd International Interdisciplinary conference on Predictions for Hydrology, Ecology and Water Resources Management: Water Resources and Changing Global Environment (HydroPredict2012). This conference will take place in Vienna (Austria) next year: 24-27/09/2012. The deadline for abstract submission is 1 February 2012. Further information on EMWIS website.

77- Call for abstracts for the first international conference on "Water Resources of Al Jabal Al Akhdar: Reality & Prospective": This conference to be organised next 5-7 June 2012 in Al Bayda City (Libya) is the first one to be organised after the revolution of 2011. It is organized by the University of Omar Al-Mukhtar Faculty of Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences Al Bayda in collaboration with Arab World Academy of Young Scientists (Arab-WAYS). A call for abstracts is launched up to: 15 March 2012. Further information on EMWIS website.

78- Call for abstracts for the 6th International Conference WATMED6: Water Resources in the Mediterranean Basin: WATMED 6 (Sousse, Tunisia, [10.10.2012 - 12.10.2012]) is an opportunity for the development of science/research work concerned with the problem of water in the Mediterranean Basin and its impact on sustainable development of the countries in the region. Abstracts must be submitted on the website 6 WATMED before March 31, 2012. Further information on EMWIS website.

79- WASH Media Awards 2011-2012- Call for paper: The Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) and the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) welcome entries for the fourth edition of the WASH Media Awards. All entries must be received no later than 1st April 2012 together with a duly filled in entry form. Further information on EMWIS website.

80- Call for Papers are invited on the topic “Evidence for Sustainable Development” 2012 Berlin Conference on the Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change from 5^th to 6th October 2012 at Berlin. This event will be organized by the Environmental Policy Research Centre at Freie Universität Berlin in association with the EC-FP7-Network of Excellence LIAISE (‘Linking Impact Assessment Instruments to Sustainability Expertise’). Deadline for paper abstracts: 1 April, 2012. Further information on EMWIS website.

81- Call for abstracts for the 8th Annual LC/MS/MS Workshop on Environmental Applications and Food Safety: TDeadline for registration and abstract submission: May 1st, 2012. Further information on EMWIS website.

82- Call for abstracts for the 1st International Symposium on water resources in arid and semi-arid regions. The Faculty of Science and Technology within the University of Sultan Moulay Slimane - Beni Mellal together with the GeoAfrica sciences Society  organize this symposium in 14-16 November 2012. Deadline for submission of abstracts: June 30, 2012. Further information on EMWIS website.

83- Call for contributions: The INSPIRE Conference 2012 will take place from 23rd – 27th June 2012 in Istanbul, Turkey. The theme of this year's edition is "Sharing environmental information, sharing innovation". The aim of this year's INSPIRE Conference is therefore to look at how innovations in these three areas have further shaped the landscape of sharing environmental information. The call for contributions reflects the three pillars: Governance, Content and Technologies. In particular, as 2012 is the European Year for Water, we are interested in receiving submissions relating to Water. Further information on EMWIS website

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TRAINING
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84- ROTARY and UNESCO-IHE join forces to educate water professionals: The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, under its new Future Vision plan, seeks to forge strategic partnerships with established organizations with expertise in Rotary's six areas of focus, one of which is water and sanitation. The other focus areas are peace and conflict prevention/resolution; disease prevention and treatment; maternal and child health; basic education and literacy; and economic and community development. UNESCO-IHE scholarship grants are available only to clubs in the 100 Rotary districts piloting Future Vision until the plan is fully implemented July 1, 2013. UNESCO-IHE is owned by the member states of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Its mandate is to help meet the water-related capacity-building needs of developing countries and countries in transition. Further information on EMWIS website.

85- The training plan (2012) for the Water Utilties Management Capacity Building Program: Water Utility Management – Capacity BuildingProgram (WUM-CBP) is a specialized training programimplemented by the Arab Countries Water UtilitiesAssociation (ACWUA) and Engicon O&M in cooperation with the German Association for Water, Wastewater and Waste (DWA). Further information on EMWIS website.

86- Call for applications for the Ninth International Training Workshop on Integrated Coastal Management in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea (MEDCOAST Institute 2012): Deadline for applications: 01 June 2012.  Further information on EMWIS website.

87- IWRM MSc Call for applications: The objective of the MSc IWRM is to form such experts and to promote the concept of IWRM within the context of EuropeanArab cooperation. Deadline: March 31st each year. Further information on EMWIS website.

88- The Water Security Research Centre at the UEA announced the opening of applications for two Water Security courses with entry in 2012. MSc Water Security (September 2012 – September 2013) & Water Security Short Course (28 May - 4 June 2012). Further information on EMWIS website

89- World Bank and Water Footprint Network jointly organize an E-Learning Course on Water Footprint from 13 to 24 Feb 2012. Further information on EMWIS website.

[2012/02/27 - 2012/02/27] Water Diplomacy: A Foreign Policy Imperative, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Further information on EMWIS website.

[2012/02/20 - 2012/02/22] Course in Membrane Technology, Process and System Design, Genoa, Italy.

Further information on EMWIS website.

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EVENTS (Full Agenda)
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PROJECTS (Projects database)
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WATER PROJECTS DATABASE (MEDA-NIPs, MEDA-Water, LIFE, SMAP, INCO-MED, FP4-FP7, INTERREG, etc.)

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BRIEF EMWIS SITE MAP
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- This is a monthly Flash provided by the EMWIS Technical Unit (sent to: 20145 subscribers), to which you can get a free subscription, click here for an open subscription.
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