About the European Water Forum

The European Water Forum –Strategies & Action – is a think-tank to study and carry out research, but it is also a place of action to promote initiatives and proposals which bring solutions to water related issues in practical and sustainable ways.

The European Water Forum (EWF) ensures a place for all political parties and also offers room for participation and membership to private individuals, organizations, associations and non-governmental organizations.

The European Water Forum is driven by the requirements of sustainability as we tackle every subject with an integrated approach.

On each topic, the focus will be universal and well-informed of the challenges we discuss and the various techniques for resolution. Furthermore, we look forward to gleaning ideas and solutions from Third World countries.

We approach the subject matter from a political background which allows us to reflect upon the essential questions even in difficult and delicate matters

Aims of the European Water Forum

To create a community of problem solvers and idea producers on water issue

y contributing to a broader debate to find new approaches.
• By highlight new science and innovation to address water challenges.
• By generating collaboratively constructed options for action in response to Water problems and challenges.

To provoke new and creative ways to approach the problems.

• By promoting and inciteting the analysis and debate from different perspective
• By divulgating information and knowledge from the European Institutions

To consolidate an experts network

• By bringing together and deploying the skills of an extensive network of multidisciplinary experts - policy specialists, scientific, and others – to address the water issues in a sustainable and efficiency manner.

• By acting as a liaison among countries and governments to exchange strategies and experiences to come up with water problems.

To achieve influence on decisionmakers

By playing a key role in promoting developing practical initiatives to inject innovative ways to deal with water matters.

• By positioning as an opinion former on water matter through a proactive activities agenda and communication policy.

• By having a fluid communications with main key constituencies.



EWF main themes


Climate Change and Water

It is essential to clearly and unequivocally acknowledge the impact of climate change on water scarcity. This process will lead to irreversible consequences on biodiversity and flora and fauna -- for example the disappearance of wetlands, and springs and the impact of melting glaciers.

Furthermore, we are likely to witness the ongoing degradation of soils having a negative social and economic impact. The combination of rising soil temperatures and higher levels of evaporation has lead to desertification of certain zones.

The devastating economic impact of this scenario needs no explanation.


Sea and Oceans

Seas and Oceans are increasingly endangered by human activity and their destabilization is reaching critical levels in the areas of aquatic recourses and in regulatory function, especially for climate.

Meanwhile new activities and exploitations are occurring (mining exploitation, CO2 storage and desalinization....etc).

How can we anticipate new ways of managing oceans and seas while respecting their natural balance and ensuring their survival?

Promoting an integrated approach to water and energy

At the present, we face the grave threat of climate change and lack of energy supply. In the midst of these enormous challenges, we must use a systemic methodology and an integrated approach to finding solutions to these two issues.

As we know from scientific study of the life cycle energy and water are inextricably linked. Connecting costs and needs stemming from access to water and supply and use of water to energy is fundamental.

There is just one way: the integration of Water and Energy policy.

The control of flooding and excess water

here is a need for the European Institutions to promote clear criteria and indicators for the sustainable management of river basins, which includes the evaluation of territorial imbalances.

The shortage of water may be addressed in part by taking advantage of excess water created during flooding and depositing that water into river basins.

In the development of the Floods Directive, it is appropriate to consider a policy to control torrential flooding and to use physical intervention in rivers that would include harnessing the energy produced by dams during these inundations.

These concepts fall squarely under the last report on water from the United Nations entitled "Water: a shared recourse."

Water market: public and private

hough water is a public resource, it is important to discuss the existence of a "water market," with all of its implications. Water is a part of the economic system and can be managed with market logic. We manage energy in this manner and it stands to reason that a similar approach is suitable for water.

Once we begin to relate to water in this way, and reach consensus as to the rules to be applied in this specific market, many conflicts surrounding water can be avoided. What's more, in times of scarcity, mechanisms will be in place to meet those needs.

This market will allow an objective evaluation of supply and demand and could generate much the financing necessary to develop the hydraulic infrastructures required. This public-private partnership will ease any financial strain on the State caused by the development of the market.

Let's manage Water by Market Logic.

Reducing Nationalism

It is urgent to break through the psychological barrier of nationalism which is growing stronger across many European countries and regions. This dynamic hinders collaboration and agreement between those countries and regions. Moreover, it threatens our ability to achieve practical consensus on solutions for the various challenges we face, such as how best to prevent flooding and when it occurs how best to manage, and even benefit from the situation.

The strategy of consensus and collaboration benefits all and maximizes a scarce resource such as water.

Accessibility to water ub the desertification process solidarity

A comprehensive map of water flows is necessary, noting specifically the rate of flow in all regions.

With this information and through this process, we will be able to create a system of water usage based on the common good, equity and solidarity.

Build principles of water use based on equity and solidarity. Africa.