Transboundary IWRM attempts in the mediterranean emphasis on the drin river case and the involvement of stakeholders

Abstract

Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is a holistic, participatory approach with involvement of all relevant stakeholders to address effectively water issues at river basin level within either a national or transnational framework. In the EU countries, the EU WFD provides for cooperation of riparians with stakeholders toward this end. In the wider Mediterranean region, very few relevant attempts have been made, with limited results. This chapter briefly refers to three cases with different models and level of involvement of stakeholders: The NW Sahara Aquifer System with rather limited stakeholder involvement, mostly, from the research and academic community; the Sava River case with a stakeholder involvement added, rather late, in the process; and the Drin River case, where the stakeholder involvement was - to a certain extent - one of the driving forces, integrated from the beginning into the process. The latter case is analyzed in detail, explaining the main specificities of the Drin Basin system, the international framework within which the Drin Dialogue was developed, the key players, the NGO and other stakeholders' role and contribution, and the important results until now, including the adoption of a Memorandum of Understanding among the riparians.