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5+5 Water Strategy for the Western Mediterranean

Key documents

• Algiers Ministerial Declaration
• Water Strategy for the Western Mediterranean
• Declaration of Marrakech
• Endorsed Action Plan
• Endorsed Rules of Procedures
• Declaration of Valencia

Introduction

Algeria and Spain have decided to jointly promote a process, in association with the countries of the 5+5 Dialogue, to develop a water strategy for the western Mediterranean basin (WSWM). The aim of this strategy is to promote sustainable water use at local, regional and national levels, through the adoption of cross-cutting goals, management criteria and operational objectives, in order to harmonise water policies in the Mediterranean. Spain and Algeria are actively involved in the peaceful resolution of international conflicts and hope this strategy may constitute a tool of preventive diplomacy, contributing to maintaining international peace and security by facilitating international cooperation on water issues.

Workshops (1^st to 3^rd)

In this context, a first high-level Workshop was held in Valencia (Spain) under the auspices of the General Secretariat of the Mediterranean Network of Basin Organisations (MENBO) on 25^th-26^th February 2014.

The second Workshop of the Water Experts Group within the 5+5 Dialogue towards a Water Strategy for the Western Mediterranean, jointly promoted by Algeria and Spain, was held in Oran, Algeria, on 26^th June 2014.

The third Workshop of the 5+5 Initiative to elaborate a Water Strategy for the Western Mediterranean, lead by Algeria and Spain, was held back to back with the 15^th Steering Committee Meeting of the Euro-Mediterranean Water Information System (EMWIS) and the Steering Committee Meeting of the Mediterranean Knowledge Platform. On the occasion of these events, the Steering Committee Meeting of the Mediterranean Water Forum and the Mediterranean Preparatory Process for the 7^th World Water Forum were celebrated. The events took place in the premises of the Júcar River Basin Authority, Valencia on the 9^th and 10^th of September 2014.

Ministerial conference (Algiers 2014)

Earlier this year, on March 31^st, a Ministerial Conference was held in Algiers (Algeria) for the official adoption of the Water Strategy in the Western Mediterranean Please click on the documents names to download the WATER STRATEGY FOR THE WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN and the ALGIERS MINISTERIAL DECLARATION.

Workshops (4^th to 6^th)

Following the approval of the Strategy we organised a working meeting (Workshop 4) that took place in Madrid (Spain) on the 10^th of September 2015. The purpose of this meeting was to present the information compiled so far in regards to the Action Plan and to move forward towards finalising it. The meeting was a great success and general agreement was achieved in regards to the contents and methodology for the Action Plan.

On 24^th and 25^th February 2016, the 5^th Workshop took place in Valencia, Spain, in the headquarters of the Júcar River Basin Authority. The meeting was devoted to discussing the state of play of the Action Plan, to the presentation of the projects proposed so far by the different members and to the dissemination strategy of the Action Plan. A thematic technical session related to the sustainability of dams in the Western Mediterranean was also organized on this occasion. The Action Plan was well received by the members and a calendar was agreed towards its endorsement at Ministerial level.

The 6^th Workshop took place in Marseille on 23-24 June. The main objective of the meeting was the approval of the final version of the Action Plan, so that it can be adopted by the Ministers in Marrakech, on the occasion of the COP 22 meeting to be held on 7-18 November 2016. Moreover, a new updated Roadmap was presented together with an updated dissemination plan for the Strategy’s visibility and implementation. Finally, the Workshop included a technical thematic session regarding climate change in the Western Mediterranean in which several members made presentations about specific issues and proposals linked to their respective countries.

Ministerial conference (Marrakech 2016)

Following the celebration of the 6^th Technical Workshop of the Water Strategy in the Western Mediterranean (Marseille 23-24 June 2016), a Ministerial Event was organised in Marrakech (Morocco) on the 16^th of November 2016, on the occasion of the COP22. During this important event, the 5+5 Ministers officially endorsed the Action Plan and Rules of Procedure of the Strategy. Please click on the document names to download the ENDORSED ACTION PLAN, ENDORSED RULES OF PROCEDURE and DECLARATION OF MARRAKECH.

It was also at this event that, as per the approved “Rules of Procedure”, the Spanish Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and Environment announced that Spain will hold the Presidency of the Ministerial Group on Water of the 5+5 Dialogue from the 1^st of January 2017. The Presidency shall run for a period of two years on a rotating basis.

Technical Working Group (Valencia 2017)

In accordance with the Rules of Procedure adopted in Marrakech, the Technical Working Group (WG), created by the Ministerial Group on Water (MGW) of the 5+5 Dialogue, gathered in Valencia (Spain) on the 30-31 March 2017 on the occasion of the Technical Working Group meeting (WG7) with the aim of promoting and supervising the implementation of the Action Plan, and discussing a work plan for 2017 and 2018 to be submitted to the MGW. Please find the AGENDA and MINUTES.

Workshops (7^th)

On 18^th and 19^th December of 2017, the 7^th workshop was organised in Murcia (Spain). The main objective of the workshop has been to compare the different resource allocation systems in hydrographic basins. This subject matter is included in the twinning agreements concluded by the Segura River Basin Authority with the basins of Loukkos (Morocco), and Chelif (Algeria). Participation in the workshop was also open to the other Mediterranean countries not members of the 5+5, under a cooperation agreement signed with the Union for the Mediterranean.

Working Group (8^th, Valencia 2019)

On 18^th and 19^th September 2019, the 8^th Working Group meeting took place in Valencia, in the headquarters of the Júcar river Basin Authority. The meeting was jointly organised by MENBO and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM). The main objectives of the meeting have been to set out the state of play of the Initiative, take stock of the accomplished actions and propose and discuss new actions towards the end of 2019 and 2020. A technical meeting was also organised devoted to the issue of Sustainable Development Goals, including the synergies and links with the WSWM. Please find the Concept Note, the Agenda and the Minutes of the meeting.

Ministerial conference (Valencia 2022), Technical Working Group (9^th) and Medthink Seminar

On 10^th March 2022, on the initiative of the Spanish Presidency of the 5+5 Dialogue on Water, a Ministerial Conference was held in the city of Valencia, Spain. On this occasion, the Ministers of the 5+5 countries adopted a Declaration whereby, inter alia, they entrust the Technical Working Group to elaborate and develop a Training Program for capacity building in the Western Mediterranean. Please find here the adopted “Declaration of Valencia”.

Subsequent to the Ministerial meeting, the Technical Working Group gathered to discuss the Draft Training Programme previously prepared by the MENBO Secretariat, following the mandate of the Ministers in the Ministerial Declaration. Please find here the draft minutes of the 9^th meeting as well as the draft Training Programme for capacity building that was the subject of discussions.

Moreover, back to back with the Ministerial Conference, a MedThink Seminar was organised on the previous day (agenda of the seminar). The Seminar was devoted to Climate change adaptation measures in the 5+5 countries. It was co-organised by the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed) and the Mediterranean Network of Basin Organisations (MENBO). This event aimed to provide a space for dialogue among decision-makers, experts, and water professionals from both shores of the Mediterranean to discuss ways to ensure water security by adapting to the impacts of climate change (more info of this event). The Medthink 5+5 Network of think tanks of the Western Mediterranean provides a multidisciplinary platform for debate linked to the 5+5 Dialogue, which contributes both to strengthening the network and to regional integration based on a bottom-up approach. Since its inception, in 2016, the Medthink network has organised different annual fora and seminars back to back with ministerial conferences of the 5+5 Dialogue.

Technical Working Group (10^th Valencia, 2022)

On 22^nd September 2022, the 10^th Technical Working Group Meeting of the Water Strategy in the Western Mediterranean (WSWM) 5+5, took place in Valencia, at the headquarters of the Jucar River Basin Authority. The meeting focused on the presentation and discussion of the Draft Proposal on Capacity Development and knowledge Transfer Programme which had been prepared by the Spanish Presidency in cooperation with the MENBO Secretariat, following the mandate of the Ministers set out in the “Declaration of Valencia” adopted on 10^th March 2022. The meeting was chaired by the Spanish Presidency of the 5+5 and the MENBO Secretariat. Throughout the meeting, the participants long debated the Draft Programme and exchanged on capacity development needs and proposals of each member country. The meeting concluded with a common consensus of support to the proposed Programme. Moreover, a Work Plan for 2023-2024 was adopted. Please find the Minutes of the meeting and the Capacity Development and Knowledge Transfer Programme.

WSWM Events