SPI-Water Final conference – Brussels 30&31 october 2008: Conclusions of the Workshop 5

Main conclusions

• It is important that the different recommendations proposed for strengthening the science-policy interface keep a clear operational focus.

• Platforms would need to be developed at different scales, from local to national to regional levels.

• There is more work required on pre-conditions for the different recommendations to be implemented.

• Twinning projects should not be "unilateral streams" of information from EU to non-EU countries, but platforms for sharing principles, knoweldge, approaches and tools between river basin organisations from different countries. It is important to stress that the WFD offers a methodology that needs to be adapted for supporting IWRM. It is not an end in itself.

• To enhance its relevance, the WISE-RTD portal should not be limited to information and references. Indeed, it should facilitate access to databanks, models, lessons from the application of models under different conditions, etc. The issue of the right on knoweldge, information and data was raised. This is to be considered to assess what can be provided in the WISE-RTD portal.

• A platform between scientist and policy makers could be accompanied by an internet forum. However, this needs to be well managed and targeted to concrete issues, output, actions....

• A document on "lessons learnt" from SPI-Water non EU activities could be developed for wider dissemination. Synergies between Unesco and EC could be made in this process.