The importance of WFD in the International Context Some considerations

Focus of the presentation  WFD within the global context;  WFD and the EU Water Initiative;  WFD and the Marine Strategy: linking the freshwater and marine agenda’s;  WFD and the Regional Seas.

WFD in the global context  WSSD and Millennium development goals:  IWRM  Water supply and sanitation;  CSD focus on water;  UNEP’s GMEF;  UN-SG Millennium taskforce;  Several partnerships launched at WSSD, e.g. US/Japan “Clean Water for people”

The challenge Water is a human right (29 th session of Committee on economic, social and cultural rights, November 2002); Water is at the top of the international sustainable development agenda;  The major challenge is implementation.  Theory and best practices available, e.g. Monterrey, Camdessus report, documentation produced for EU-WI, WWF2, Bonn conference, WWF3….

WSSD IWRM target  IWRM: Develop IWRM and water efficiency plans by 2005;  IWRM and WFD;  Implementing the WSSD target could greatly benefit from the EU experience;  Need to define the key elements of IWRM plans, e.g. within the framework of EUWI.

Water supply and sanitation targets  Implementation of targets should be linked;  A holistic approach should be taken – not only taps and household sanitary services;  Financing and governance are major issues (see WFD);  Health issues are major concern: 1.1 billion – no access to safe drinking water, 2.4 billion no sanitation, 2 million die each year

Water supply and sanitation  European experience can not be exported without modification;  Development policy in EU: > 100 years; developing countries: 12 years;  2-3% GNP: Kenya 1024 years;  30 billion US$/year required;  > 80% public investment; PPP?;  Region-specific and step-wise approaches should be developed;

Water supply and sanitation  Demand driven approaches;  Appropriate technology;  Appropriate financing, including water service pricing;  Regulation and legislation;  Institutional set-up;  Stakeholders involvement;

Water supply and sanitation  UNEP/WHO/Habitat/WSSCC key principles and checklists;  Water supply and sanitation remains a challenge, also for the EU and the Med region.  B-a-u is no longer an option, including financing, technology, and management;

WFD and EU water initiative  Others much better qualified to speak on the topic;  UNEP applauds initiative, with its initial focus on Africa – home of UNEP HQ  Focus:  Water supply and sanitation, IWRM, financing;  Integrated approach of WFD should not be forgotten

WFD and the marine strategy

Population concentration in coastal zones

Marine pollution 80% of all marine pollution comes from land-based activities!

G lobal P rogramme of A ction for the Protection of the Marine Environment From Land-based Activities

Linking the fresh and salt water agenda’s  WFD: addresses inland surface water, transitional waters, coastal waters and groundwater;  US clean water act (1972): addresses fresh and coastal water;  International: Fresh and salt water agenda’s are not as yet linked (see WSSD, CSD, IYFW);  Traditional institutional divide reflected in international agenda.

Linking the fresh and saltwater agenda’s  EU marine strategy: addresses marine issues;  WFD addresses fresh and coastal issues  Connection and interrelation between two major pieces of EU legislation is vital;  Also at the international level, EU could take a lead role in the coming 2 years, conform WFD.

MAP  Need for integration and cooperation  METAP;  SMAP and MEDA;  MAP;  EIB, Life, etc.  The Mediterranean could show the way how to turn the promises of WSSD into reality.

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