Water for a Sustainable Europe – Our Vision for 2030

Water for a sustainable Europe – our vision for 2030

“We have achieved sustainable water resource management and universal access to modern and safe water supply and sanitation because we value water in all its dimensions – in its economic, social, environmental and cultural importance.”

Summary document, March 2009

Content

The motivation for and objectives of the Vision The process of the Vision The outcomes of the regional workshops The way ahead – vision mapping and strategic policy paper

Annex

The motivation and objectives of the Water Vision for Europe

Motivation The Water Vision for Europe aspires to be a Vision for all people in Europe and around the globe. The Vision is formulated from a people’s perspective in a positive and proactive manner that seeks to encourage ownership by all. Putting people and values at its core, the Vision departs from the premise that only if we mobilize people and stakeholders around common values we will be able to achieve sustainability with regards to water in Europe. It desires to unite and stimulate people and stakeholders to act in partnership in order to solve Europe’s water problems and to contribute to solutions that will address the global water crisis.

Objectives The Vision serves as a lighthouse and guidance to reach joint actions in the different partnerships on advanced water management and to solve the water problems in Europe and globally. It expresses common aims for the European water sector, containing clear objectives and commitments. By including social, environmental and economic aspects it unites multi-stakeholder opinions. The Vision bridges high-policy level with stakeholder concerns. Finally it is understandable for everyone, thus addressing especially water non- experts.

The Vision is underpinning both programmes of Aquawareness - the European Water Awareness and the Water Stewardship Programme. This newly launched programme seeks to establish a new culture of change stimulating action among political decision makers, business and citizens. This change should support the shift of mindset within Europe towards efficient and sustainable water use. A paradigm shift from supply management to demand management which, together with joint multistakeholder action towards responsible water use, will enable Europe to become a frontrunner in water stewardship.

The postulates of the Vision will serve as a basis for the concrete project settings for Aquawareness: as a source for awareness activities and as a basis to define principles of sustainable water management for best governance tools of the stewardship programme.

Furthermore the Water Vision for Europe is a European Contribution to the 5 th World Water Forum, taking place in Istanbul, March 2009. Lastly, the Vision is the starting point for vision mapping which will identify major obstacles towards implementing the vision aims and suggest points of actions to European decision makers.

Process Creation of the Vision Only when people are mobilised and encouraged around common values, sustainable water management can be achieved in Europe. This need for a common approach as well as for defining common objectives was the driving spirit for creating a Water Vision for Europe.

The Water Vision for Europe, which was initiated by the European Water Partnership (EWP) in 2008, was elaborated in an open multi-stakeholder process, including representatives from the EU Commission, the EU Presidency, the EU Parliament as well as leading multinationals and NGO’s. It was handed over to the European Union Institutions on 30 th June 2008 during the launch of Aquawareness, the European Water Awareness and Water Stewardship Programme.

Launch On 30 th June 2008 the Water Vision for Europe and the Aquawareness Programme were launched during a high level policy panel discussion within the European Parliament in Brussels. The European Union Institutions strongly support the Vision and Aquawareness calling it a milestone towards sustainable water management. Additionally, the new ways of partnerships for realizing and implementing the Vision for the 21 st century were praised.

“The European Water Partnership is a process which significantly contributes to the more efficient implementation of EU legislation on water and the aquatic environment while also improving business competitiveness and the quality of the local environment. It is a development opportunity and, as such, is arriving at just the right time, the time when it is urgently needed at both the European and the world level.”

Janez Podobnik , Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning of the Republic of Slovenia

“Aquawareness is an excellent and timely initiative, responding directly to the challenges highlighted in the Commission’s Communication and its necessary follow-up with all stakeholders.”

Stavros Dimas , EC Commissioner for the Environment

“In the name of the European Parliament I strongly welcome the initiatives that have been launched in this conference today: the European Water Vision for the twenty first century and the Aquawareness programme! Awareness of the current water situation in the Europe Union and its challenges, as well as a vision for the future of Europe's water, are crucial drivers in order to strive for a sustainable water management.”

Hans-Gert Pöttering , President of the European Parliament

Regional workshops After the Brussels based stakeholder process, a regional consultation process was being launched across Europe in order to discuss, disseminate and gain commitments from a broad range of stakeholders. This bottom-up involvement is crucial for achieving a broad ownership and joint commitment towards sustainable water management. Via regional workshops, the reality of Europe’s water situation is reflected, bringing in the regional priorities, challenges and solutions on the surface. Furthermore, these workshops started a map of actual projects and activities already implementing the vision aims which will be continued in the project of “vision mapping”. What is more participants within these workshops discussed and identified the main obstacles towards the implementation of the vision aims. These seminars also facilitated the exchange of expertise and knowledge.

Four regional workshops took place across Europe - in Castellon (Spain), Copenhagen (Denmark), Vienna (Austria) and Brussels (Belgium). A final workshop in Brussels presented and discussed the outcomes of all four workshops.

Outcomes of the regional workshops

Quotes from the workshops

“Water issues are local and need local solutions ”

“Spirit of cooperation and new partnerships are needed inviting all stakeholders around the table ”

“we have to aquawareness water challenges within the broad public ”

”this workshop shall underline the importance of a water democratic culture in which everybody can participate, especially the driest regions”

“The CEE region is very diverse with various local realities and challenges as well as different levels of solution development”

Region-specific outcomes Mediterranean

The City of Castellon organized the first regional workshop for Southern Europe, 3 rd December 2008 in cooperation with the EWP, the Valencian Region, Fundación Agua y Progreso, Fundación Comunidad Valenciana - Región Europea, Federation of Communities of Irrigators of the Valencian Region and the FACSA group.

Priorities: strong focus on water efficiency and water savings enhancing water consciousness within and for the agricultural sector (with different level of focus depending on the region)

Needs: more research and demonstration projects needed for water efficient practices more education with regard to regional realities more exchange on best practices and knowledge transfer sustainable water pricing indicators and a common methodology to assess water availability and the needs in the basins monitoring the quality of sea water in the shores increased cooperation between both shores of the Mediterranean basin better understanding for distinctive role of irrigators within this region more discussions on potential supply side measures: e.g. water transfers, desalination more focus on floating population flows to this region challenging additionally the demand and use of water

Region-specific outcomes Baltic region/Northern Europe

The European Environmental Agency, the Danish Ministry of Environment, the Danish Water Forum and the EWP organized the Baltic Sea regional workshop as Northern contribution to the European Regional Process towards Istanbul as well as to gain the priorities of those regions and obstacles within the implementation of the Water Vision for Europe. The workshop took place on 8 th &9 th January 2009 in Copenhagen, at the premises of the European Environmental Agency.

Priorities: focusing on water quality aspects - pollution of water resources (eutrophication, nutrients, new substances e.g. hormones and medicaments - finding solutions at source instead of end-of-pipe) focusing on climate change impacts on the region

Needs: more awareness campaigns on water savings for the population new (legal, technical) solutions with reference to centralized/decentralized water supply and sanitation systems in smaller agglomerations or summer house regions more information on interlinkeages between water and energy more interlinkeages between agriculture and other sectors higher level of prognosis for decision makers, citizens and business on climate change impacts increased cooperation in the Baltic Sea region between the different stakeholders on the political, technical and social level implementation of knowledge through demand driven technology

Region-specific outcomes Central Eastern Europe

On 26 th January 2009, the Central Eastern Europe regional workshop took place in Vienna (Austria), co-organised by the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, the Austrian Federal Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management and the EWP.

Priorities: ensuring water supply and sanitation to all inhabitants coping with legacy of old infrastructure and technologies – causing maintenance challenges and having impact on pricing policies raising awareness of water challenges (to citizens and politicians), especially on the sanitation situation

Needs: use of tailored instruments for different levels is crucial – development of local, decentralized solutions stimulate political will balance landscape engineering issues (hydropower, water reservoirs) with ecological needs enhance incentives for law enforcement facilitate co-finance for smaller towns and villages

Region-specific outcomes Western Europe

The Western Europe regional workshop took place on 4 th February 2009 in Brussels (Belgium) organized by the EWP.

Priorities: coping with infrastructural and financial challenges increasing information for population (e.g. on water efficiency, water pricing, on available and possible solutions) enhancing knowledge transfer to increase managerial capacities focusing on implementation of EU’s water quality obligations focusing on climate change impacts on water quality

Needs: capacity building – enabling of local authorities to access funds awareness raising on local water issues starting with young generation creation of focal point on water and education (pooling programmes, activities, materials etc. together) incentives for agriculture (financial investments, drawing attention towards and underlining progress already done) include total cost of ownership within new projects simplification of administrative compliance rules and procedures create independent finance for water outside governmental budget cycles set up of information systems interchangeability of data and facts across river basins coordination of action within river basins link science with technology

Joint outcomes

The following comments and opinions were expressed in all four workshops and are here summarized as joint outcomes.

Priorities: creating awareness for sustainable water management is crucial (for decision makers, citizens, business) including and informing the broad public about water management issues is essential including water aspects in all policies increasing exchange of best practices and knowledge to improve water management

Needs: budget for awareness raising communication as well as for facilitating public participation information, education and training across sectors capacities (for project preparations, implementation) more, especially understandable and easy accessible data on water issues adjust existing funding possibilities to new ideas and programs better targeted incentives for agricultural sector small scale finance investments more research and funding capacities for climate change adaptation link science and industry to facilitate fast track uptake in the markets Europe’s frontrunner role in sustainable water management as mentioned in the Vision - this link and responsibility shall be clearly underlined

The outcomes of the regional consultations confirm the priorities of the Aquawareness Programme.

The next steps

5th World Water Forum, Istanbul March 2009 The fifth World Water Forum marks the end of this regional consultation process. In Istanbul, the Water Vision for Europe, including the region-specific views and opinions will be presented as a European contribution to the Forum’s aims during the European Regional Session.

Vision mapping

However the Vision process doesn’t stop at Istanbul. The Water Vision, together with the feedback of the discussions at the World Water Forum will feed into the “vision mapping”. This vision mapping identifies the status quo of where Europe stands on water and how far the implementation of the Vision aims is already developed. As a result a map will be set up which will indicate the actual activities and projects which are already implementing the vision aims. This map will also provide information on missing or overlapping actions. Additionally major obstacles towards implementation of the Vision aims shall be identified and inserted. This vision mapping started during the regional workshops, thus it is an ongoing process and will continue after the 5 th World Water Forum.

The 3 rd Aquawareness stakeholder meeting on 5th May 2009 (Brussels) will present the interim process and discuss a.o. the further development of the vision mapping.

European Policy Summit - strategic policy paper On the basis of this vision mapping a policy document with recommendations of actions for European decision makers, especially the incoming European Commission and European Parliament will be prepared and handed over in autumn 2009 during the European Policy Summit. A European Youth Water Parliament, which will be organized back to back with the Summit, will provide the floor to young people to discuss and elaborate their views on the vision, their actions and recommendations to be included in the strategic policy paper.

Annex 1: Water Vision for Europe

1. We treat water as our common heritage with an economic, social, environmental and cultural value for our societies. Water is not a commodity like any other one – it’s a fragile resource which can not be replaced and we protect and preserve it for future generations to sustain our societies, our economies and the environment. Water sustainability is crucial for us.

2. Water is an essential human need and we recognize the access to basic water supply and sanitation as a human right. The people in Europe have universal access to safe, modern and

affordable water and sanitation services. At the same time we are able to satisfy the other human water needs – for businesses, industry, agriculture and recreation and have achieved a balance with needs of the environment also with regard to sustain biodiversity. We can rely on essential ecosystem services from our healthy rivers, lakes, coastal waters and wetlands and our people can also enjoy high quality rivers, lakes and coastal waters for ecologic and recreational purposes.

3. We manage our water resources sustainable within river basins across political boundaries including transboundary waters and we apply an integrated adaptive water management approach. All the stakeholders including all inhabitants in the basin participate actively in the management decision process. We apply a preventive approach which integrates quality and quantity as well as surface water, groundwater and coastal waters. We have adopted and implemented ambitious legislation such as the Water Framework Directive and other related legislation and made other policy areas such as agriculture, regional, industrial, trade, transport and energy policy ´water sensitive´.

4. We have achieved a true ´water democracy´ where we apply the principles of transparency, integrity, solidarity and equity and where all people and stakeholders are aware of their rights and responsibilities. Our well informed people use their freedom of choice wisely - what they drink and how they use water - and use their opportunity to participate actively in the governance of water management and services. The people have a say in the quality and organization of their services and our services are efficient and sensitive to environmental and social needs.

5. We have jointly achieved a culture where water resources are not wasted, spoiled or overused. We have actively pushed a paradigm shift from supply driven water management to an integrated supply and demand driven approach as well as from an end of pipe to a preventive approach. We are able to satisfy most of our needs with water resources within the same river basin.

6. We have achieved a change of mindset, attitude and practices through raising water awareness and the application of appropriate instruments and incentives. Proven sustainable water practices, pricing and charging policies, transparency about water footprints of individual, industrial, agricultural and local authorities’ practices and of products have been useful instruments in achieving a modern water efficient society.

7. Water services have a price. We pay for services and for the uses and our pricing policies are

guided by transparency, sustainability, efficiency as well as a social and environmental approach. We use water pricing and other economic instruments to achieve sustainable water use.

8. We are coping with the challenges of climate change as well as with the natural phenomena such as floods and droughts as we are continuously improving our adaptive, integrated management approach and we adapted our infrastructure and practices. Our infrastructure is planned, constructed, operated and maintained in an efficient and environmental and social acceptable manner based on a long term perspective.

9. We apply appropriate technologies and have thereby continuously improved our water efficiency and minimized pollution to a level which is negligible with regard to human and environmental health. Communities, agriculture and industry enjoy the economic and social benefits of a high level of water productivity by applying recycling technologies, closed production cycles and efficient irrigation techniques and other technologies. We promote and conduct research and development to continuously improve our know how on adaptive integrated management and innovative technological solutions and have achieved a fast track to bring those technologies to the markets.

10. Europe is a responsible partner in the world that actively promotes and supports the achievement of sustainable water management and universal access to water supply and sanitation in all countries. We have understood that sustainable water management is key to peace and security and to eradicate poverty and have made water a priority of our foreign and development policy. Our trade and economic policies have integrated water issues and we have significantly reduced our global water footprint to a level that is sustainable.

Annex 2: Mediterranean Declaration on the European Water Vision

Mediterranean Declaration on the European Water Vision WORLD WATER FORUM - ISTANBUL

3rd December 2008, Castellón de la Plana, Valencian Region, Spain.

The European Water Vision contained in the document “Water for a Sustainable Europe – Our vision for 2030” drafted within the regional process for the World Water Forum of Istanbul, Intends to be the vision of all the Europeans and stakeholders, formulated from the point of view of the citizens and for the interest of everyone. The Diversity is the strength of Europe, so it is necessary to complete the European Water Vision with the realities, challenges and opportunities of each of the European regions. The Political Bureau of the Intermediterranean Commission of the CPRM, gathered in Evora (Portugal) the 13 th February 2009, raises the contributions and the point of view of the Mediterranean Regions to the European Water Vision. The participants in the Mediterranean workshop held the 3rd of December in Castellón, Valencian Region (Spain), want to contribute with the Mediterranean point of view in the European Water Vision.

1. Nowhere like in the Mediterranean the water is recognized and valuated as common heritage and precious source of life, and never as a merchandise, as in the Mediterranean the water is scarce and irregular, the ecosystems are fragile and the needs and stresses on water are growing and are foreseen to increase.

2. The Water Framework Directive states that “Water is not a commercial product like any other but, rather, a heritage which must be protected, defended and treated as such”, defining the goal of protection of water. The implementation of the WFD faces different situations in each country, and this piece of legislation influences all EU and non-EU Member States.

3. The Mediterranean is a diverse space dealing with different politic, administrative, economic, natural and geographic realities (including islands and territories in analog situation) which makes that each region faces different priorities. Diverse conditions and needs require different solutions.

4. The predominant point is the interdependence, not only between States and Regions, but also between river basins and between the different uses given to the water inside each of them.

5. All scenarios show that the satisfaction of needs in a climate change environment can become increasingly difficult because of runoff decreases and cycle changes.

6. It is confirmed the need of having data, indicators and methodologies to compare and monitor the real situation of the water, given that the water is an essential resource and its current situation needs to be known with certainty.

7. The European basins in situation of water scarcity are mainly located in the Mediterranean. In these basins, additional water contributions need to be made through water transfers and, as the need may be, desalination. These additional supply measures can be adopted within an integrated and sustainable water planning, anticipating the solutions to adopt, considering the measures of water saving and efficiency as it is explained in the reports of the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee with regards to drought and water scarcity.

8. An integrated water management needs an integral institutional framework, with good legislation, good law enforcement, coordination and subsidiarity and improvement of the capabilities of the Public Administrations. The protection of groundwater and the integration of water issues in other policies, ensuring the horizontality to all the public Administrations, are identified as major challenges.

9. The local structures of water management for irrigation or other uses are a figure of water management specific to the Mediterranean, with historical institutions that are sometimes older than

the States themselves, that may serve as example of experiences of participative and democratic management in the framework of a sustainable use of water.

10. The challenges to improve the public participation have to do mainly with legislation in some cases, better use of the technologies of information, awareness and organization of the different economic sectors to cooperate in the public decisions.

11. The specificity of the Mediterranean generates higher costs of water cycle management in all the sectors, compared with other areas of Europe. The main concerns are the quality of supplied water and the sensitivity of the most fragile sectors to the variations of water prices.

12. The Mediterranean receives flows of floating population that condition the planning of the demand and use of water. This generates additional stress on the water resources and additional costs in water supply, sanitation, treatment and protection of the water bodies that are difficult to assume by the local population. This is why the financial co-responsibility is necessary to recover the costs.

13. Regarding support technological research and innovation, the progress of water treatments and recycling, and modernization of irrigation systems are remarkable. However it is necessary to improve the access of the Mediterranean regions to funding for research and development, and for training of the different operators. The communication between economic operators to monitor and benchmark the improvements achieved, including best practices, is also necessary.

14. Although the Mediterranean citizens are increasingly aware of the water’s value, it is important to improve the education with regard to water in all the academic levels, according to each regional reality and with innovative techniques. It would be necessary to pay special attention to information and awareness to residents, tourists and people that move from one place to another.

15. Regarding to cooperation with third countries, it is necessary to pay attention to the sound water management both shores of the Mediterranean Sea, because as this is an issue that affects directly to the European coastal States.

Annex 3 : 1st anniversary of Aquawareness

1st anniversary of

an update of the last 365 days

First stakeholder meeting on Aquawareness, 14th February 2008

On February, 14 th 2008 the EWP invited representatives from the European Commission, the European Parliament, business, civil society, public entities and academia to discuss the concept of Aquawareness – a voluntary water awareness and water stewardship programme. Based on its bilateral meetings with different stakeholders, the EWP prepared a first draft discussion paper which served as a basis for the discussions during this first stakeholder meeting at the European Parliament (Brussels). Chaired by Slovenian Environment State Secretary, Dr. Mitja Bricelj, the stakeholders engaged in lively discussions on developing elements of the awareness raising program as well as on developing principles of sustainable water management. As a result a core group developed to discuss in more detail the key priority areas for the program and to refine the discussion paper for the following stakeholder meeting.

Second stakeholder meeting on Aquawareness, 27 th May 2009

The second stakeholder meeting discussed the draft version of the European Water Vision 1. This vision was a result of the core group meetings, requesting a framework and tool which would express common goals and objectives for the European water sector. For this purpose, the Vision has been worked out in a multi stakeholder process. The Vision will serve as a joint basic starting point for both – policy making and future project setting of the European water sector, thereby uniting stakeholders to joint action on advanced water management. As a lighthouse towards sustainable water management, the vision underpins the project settings of the European Water Awareness and Water Stewardship Programme. It was further agreed that this vision will be further elaborated after its formal launch in June in regional workshops across Europe, enriching the basic text with bottom up experience and realities.

Launch of Aquawareness and of the Water Vision for Europe, 30 th June 2008 “Aquawareness is an excellent and timely initiative, responding directly to the challenges highlighted in the Commission’s Communication and its necessary follow-up with all stakeholders.“ Stavros Dimas , EC Commissioner for the Environment

1 The Vision was first called European Water Vision, but changed after the launch and during the regional workshops to Water Vision for Europe.

“ We have achieved sustainable water resource management and universal access to modern and safe water supply and sanitation by 2030 because the inhabitants in Europe value water in all its dimensions – in its economic, social, environmental and cultural importance ”. Mission statement of the Water Vision for Europe

On Monday, 30 th June 2008 the European Water Vision and Aquawareness, the European Water Awareness and Water Stewardship programme, were launched at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium. Both, the Vision and Aquawareness, were initiated by the EWP and developed in close cooperation with MEP Dr. Richard Seeber as well as with wide ranging stakeholders. The European Union Institutions strongly support the programme, calling it a milestone towards sustainable water management. Additionally, the new ways of partnerships for realizing and implementing the European Water Vision for the 21 st century were praised. The high-level policy discussion set the scene on Europe's Water Vision for the 21st century, with contributions from Richard Seeber (MEP), Pekka Pesonen (Secretary-General COPA-COGECA), Tony Baynes (Director of Public Affairs Coca Cola HBC), Tony Long (Director WWF EPO), Sharon Nunes (Vice President Big Green Innovations IBM), Mitja Bricelj (State Secretary for Environment, Republic of Slovenia) and Peter Gammeltoft (Acting Director DG Environment, Directorate D, European Commission). Mr. Vial (Deputy Water Director, France) and Mr. Victoria (Governor of World Water Council) closed the debate by providing the audience with the way forward during the French Presidency and the way ahead till the 5 th World Water Forum in Istanbul in 2009 respectively.

By dropping their thoughts, the 150 plus participants, from different backgrounds, made their contribution towards the development of a stronger and wider European Water Vision for the 21st century.

Stockholm World Water Week 2008, 17 th August 2008 The side event ”How can we promote sustainable water practices and adoption of new and innovative systems?” highlighted regional initiatives which are focusing on multi stakeholder approaches securing good water management practices and aiming at advanced water stewardship. The representatives from EWP, NoWNET, Asia-Pacific Water Forum, Women for Water Partnership, Global Water Partnership, and Coca Cola European Union Group introduced and discussed initiatives, experience and lessons learnt from stakeholder partnerships, and

advanced water stewardship on a local, regional and global level.

Zaragoza Workshop Day, 4 th September 2008 During the International Exhibition on Sustainable Development – EXPO ZARAGOZA, which was held for three months in summer 2008 in Zaragoza, Spain, the EWP organized a one day workshop dedicated to the following three topics: „Implementing the Water Vision for Europe“, „Mainstreaming behavioral practice change“ and „Profiting from improved facts and figures on water“. Prof. Jacqueline McGlade, Executive Director of the European Environmental Agency opened this workshop with a keynote speech stating that „clear information and citizen involvement are crucial if we are to bring about improvements in Europe's environment, particularly in the field of water .“ As major results of this day the project module “vision mapping” – elaborating where Europe stands on water was developed as well as the joint cooperation willingness among the participants of improving and making data more accessible. The Aquawareness programme has included these two outcomes within its modules.

First workshop on water stewardship, 5th December 2008

On Friday 5th December 2008, the EWP launched the project “Communication of Sustainable Water Management” (SWM) during the kick-off meeting in Brussels. Slovenian State Secretary, Mr Bricelj, welcomed the participants from various sectors such as agriculture, business, tourism, public authorities and NGOs. After presenting shortly the process of the Water Vision for Europe, which forms the basis of the project, he emphasized the need for voluntary initiatives in the business sector in order to support the Water Framework Directive (WFD) process. Mr. Smith (Forest Stewardship Council, FSC) shared his valuable expertise and experiences on the major needs and challenges encountered during the process of setting- up environmental standard systems. The presentation of the project concept initiated a broader discussion on general project goals and the different needs and gaps of the various sectors to create incentives for Sustainable Water Management. As a follow up to this meeting sector wise working groups are being currently set up for agriculture, industry, tourism as well as public and private water users.

Regional workshops on the Water Vision for Europe, Dec‘08 – Feb’09

After the formal launch of the Vision, a consultation process has been launched by setting up regional workshops across Europe with the aim to gain joint commitments towards sustainable water management, created by the stakeholders of one region; to elaborate region specific priorities and challenges; to map actual projects and activities which currently already implement the vision aims and to identify the main obstacles and gaps to the implementation of the vision goals.

The workshops took place in Castellon (3rd December 2008), Copenhagen (8th&9th January 2009), Vienna (26th January 2009) and

Brussels (4th February 2009). The Czech Presidency chaired the final workshop in Brussels (4th February 2009) where the outcomes of these meetings were presented, discussed as well as further steps elaborated.

The Water Vision for Europe enriched by the regional priorities will be presented globally during the 5 th World Water Forum in Istanbul, March 2009 as a European contribution.

Ongoing modules and possibilities to join: Water Vision for Europe Within the vision process three modules are currently going on. After the regional workshops have been finished, an evaluation of the meetings is undertaken at the moment, elaborating the results and preparing a strategic guidance report to be handed over to the incoming European Commission and European Parliament in autumn 2009. In parallel the module on vision mapping is examining the status quo of Europe’s water and with the help of a gap analysis will feed into the strategic guidance report stating the white spots and recommendations for actions. The module on vision animation will translate complex water issues into everyday language for everybody, motivating with dynamic pictures European society to take action towards sustainable water management.

Awareness program Engaging and making youngsters interested in protecting water resources will help and impact the change of behaviour and habits from an early stage on. Generation Blue International aims expanding its experience to other regions and countries. Starting with 3-4 common activities crossnational cooperation and peer exchange throughout Europe shall be achieved. A youth water parliament will give the youngsters a venue to exchange, share and discuss water issues as well as reflect the Water Vision from their perspective. In the spirit of crossnational exchange a summer school for politicians and high officials will be organized where in lectures, small

workshops, exchanges with experts as well as fun activities at water and with water a casual atmosphere will enhance the understanding of water related policies, legislation, technology and latest developments. A platform for information and exchange will pool scattered information on good examples of campaigns, activities and projects for sustainable water management in one publically accessible focal point. This information pool on water activities will serve as a source for inspiration and practical help for everyone willing to take action but not knowing what and how to do. Reciprocally, this platform will offer visibility to existent projects and current campaigns keeping the European society up to date. Lastly, a European Water Barometer will reveal Europeans’ awareness on water challenges in Europe, provide more insight into the perceptions and opinions of European citizens towards water issues, policies and management.

Stewardship programme The goal of this project is to develop an award and communication tool for Sustainable Water Management (SWM) for responsible water users, creating positive incentives for best water governance. This tool will be based on a voluntary system consisting of an objective assessment of water management of water users and a transparent, open, dynamic and representative definition of Sustainable Water Management. A second module within this program will focus on the implementation study for the first project.

Strategic partners of Aquawareness, February 2009 Aquawareness is currently supported by these following strategic partners:

Get involved and join Aquawareness! Would you like to get involved and become a partner of Aquawareness? Join our projects, share your expertise and knowledge on sustainable water management, shape the modules, support the shift of mindsets in Europe towards a water saving and efficient culture, give intellectual guidance to the program! Contact the EWP and find out how your organization, institution or company can be the next strategic partner!

Upcoming dates not to miss : 17th March 2009 – European Regional Session at the 5th World Water Forum, Istanbul

1st April 2009 – Core Group Stewardship meeting, Contact: Brussels European Water Partnership (EWP) 5th May 2009 – 3rd stakeholder meeting on Avenue de Tervuren 168, B-1150 Brussels Aquawareness , Brussels T : 0032 2 735 06 81 F : 0032 2 735 06 82

For Aquawareness in general and the water awareness program specifically: Ms. Agnes Biesiekierska [email protected] direct line: 0032 2 773 51 92

for the water stewardship program:

Ms. Sabine von Wirén-Lehr [email protected] direct line : 0032 2 773 51 93