1. Brussels, 16 February 2012 Andrea NAM DG Environment, Water Unit
Workshop on Water Accounts and 1st co-ordination meeting of the 2011 Halting Desertification in Europe Pilot Projects The rationale of the pilot projects aiming to Halt Desertification in Europe
Brussels, 16 February 2012
Andrea NAM
DG Environment, Water Unit

2. EP supporting work of tackling WS&D
the European Parliament requested the Commission to initiate pilot projects
budget allocated for financing
st call for proposals launched, 4 grant agreements signed
budget allocated for financing new pilot projects
2011 2nd call for proposals launched, 3 grant agreements signed
budget allocated for financing new pilot projects/
call for proposals expected to be launched in 2013

3. 1st set of pilot projects
-amount made available under this call for proposals is €
- The objective: development of pilot initiatives on innovative technologies, techniques or practices, to demonstrate the potential of water saving techniques in different regions of the European Union, using low-cost (technological) approaches, contribute to the exchanges of good practice and innovation at the local level

4. 1st set of pilot projects
The following pilots received financing under this budget line:
Mitigation Drought in vulnerable Area of the Mures Basin (MIDMURES) in Romania- objective: drought forecasts, rainwater conservation in soil and optimizing irrigation methods
Addressing Desertification by Efficient Irrigation in Agriculture in Spain and Cyprus (DESIRAS) (1 pilot in Guadalquivir, 2 in Cyprus)
objective :reducing water use in agriculture by finding the optimum moment for irrigation
Remote-sensing based DSS for Sustainable drought-adapted Irrigation (REDSIM) in Spain (Segura and Upper Guadiana basins)
objective: improving irrigation practices through the use of an information system based on remote sensing, water balance and crop models in deficit irrigation
Innovative approach to halt desertification in Pinios, Greece (I-ADAPT)
objective: options for water saving in the river basin and integration of specific actions to combat desertification in a RBMP

5. 2nd set of pilot projects
The following pilots received financing under the budget line 2011:
Assessment for water balances and optimization based target setting across EU River Basins ( ABOT) - Research Institute for Geo-Hydrological protection, Natural Research Council (IT) covering 4 pilot river basins:Tiber (IT), Mulde (DE), Pinios (GR), Vit (BG)
System of economic and environmental accounts for water in the Guadiana River Basin - SM Consultores S.L. ( ES)
Halting desertification in the Jucar River Basin ( Halt-Jucar-Des) - EVREN (ES)