Integrated water resources management is a key concept of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) that also influences water policies and management discourses in many parts of the world.

As part of its commitment to the EU Water Initiative, the European Commission has invited 10 renowned experts, five from Europe and five from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Mediterranean to review what lessons can be learnt from some 50 international S&T cooperation projects addressing integrated water resources management (IWRM) over the last 10 years, how much research results have been used to inform practice and how this should inform future cooperation in IWRM.

They will carry out most of their work in three working sessions in Brussels, scheduled as follows:
   1. 18-22 July 2005
   2. 19-21 September 2005
   3. 24-29 October 2005.

The principal expected outputs of the review are:
   1. A technical report
   2. A policy brief
   3. A brochure for a general public.

The draft technical report is scheduled for early November 2005 and will be validated by a large mirror group of experts in different parts of the world.

This international review is intended to be complementary to a more European-focused review process carried out under the auspices of the NeWater Project. Both reviews are closely coordinated.

Their combined results and the of experiences analysed will be presented to the 4th World Water Forum in Mexico City, 16-22 March 2006.
   

EC