Mediterranean water policies conceptual framework

Abstract

The WP5 MELIA project aimed to collect and analyze information on existing water policies in the Mediterranean area. The partners have disclosed all information available to them to feed the analysis conducted. After consultation with all partners, the work of WP5 allowed the construction of a conceptual framework on water policies issues. The analysis shows that the legislative and regulatory framework for water management in the Mediterranean countries is multifaceted. The first step was to identify common key issues to the countries. These issues are grouped under the following names: - National strategies, institutional, and legal framework system - Participatory approach and governance - Water scarcity - Water sector, cost recovery, and tariff policy - Groundwater - Nonconventional waters - Control and monitoring of water resources The second step allowed the idenification of gaps for each of these issues. The project is now at the last step - to present the solutions (institutional, planning, integrated management, etc.) existing in the Mediterranean area. It shows that there are a number of tools for better water management either by example on issues of coordination, sharing of water, demand, or pollution management. These levers have been identi fied through the examples provided by the partners. They have varying levels of portability. The purpose of this document is not to assess the level of transferability of these tools but to provide a brief overview. One objective of MELIA is to promote dialogue across the Mediterranean through the conceptual framework, from which actors can have an overview of existing levers. This overview promotes the linking of different actors: advice on existing levers is the fi rst step toward integrating new tools into public policy.