Doc. 8416
10 May 1999

Creation of a Euro-Mediterranean Water Technology Institute

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mr Fernandez Aguilar and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

Introduction

Water is an important ingredient for almost all human activity: in industry, in the energy sector, in agriculture, in aquaculture, for transport, for households, in the medical field, etc. In all these cases there are questions of availability, of the physical state(solid/liquid/vapour), of the purity, of the concentration of matters dissolved or dispersed and of the effects of this. The study of water and the understanding of its functions and multiple uses are fundamental for the building up of a water technology excellence. Such knowledge and know-how will be crucial in the future in order to help master the water scarcity that is forecasted for many regions in the world – and is a source of potential conflict.

Water Technology

Water technology deals with the handling of this resource for different purposes and under varied conditions. It is a highly complex area of science and technology and is of great importance. It addresses problems of cleaning water, hydrological engineering, water resources system analysis, flood forecasting, reservoir and floodplain management, desalination of water, water recycling, water well technology, water valve and pipe technology, irrigation technology, water treatment, aquaculture technology and many other specific issues. A major problem in the Mediterranean Region is the availability of water and its optimal use among competing users.

Euro-Mediterranean co-operation

Many countries in the Mediterranean region have specialised institutions dealing with different aspects of basic and applied water research. Many of these institutions are closely co-operating. This is true in the field of agriculture (International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies), but also in other fields. The challenges are however enormous and additional efforts in Research and Development is

needed. There is certainly also room for improved co-operation in the region and with the European and international R&D community as a whole. It is above all important to involve industry and to foster new industrial creations. A Centre of Excellence focusing on technological applications in this area could be very useful. It could help transform existing and emerging knowledge and know-how into industrial applications for the solution of different water problems. The Centre could be conceived as part of a network co-operating with other centres to ensure of its impact on the whole region.

Industry (including agriculture, aquaculture and finance)

It is important to involve industry and finance(private and public) in the work of the Centre in order to make sure that any new development or invention will result in new industrial activities and new employment. This involvement could take the form of an Foundation, which would be partly responsible for the Centre and for the orientation of its work. The Foundation could negotiate the general public contribution to the Centre whereas applied activities would be financed on a project basis.

Organisation

The Centre could have a small core staff headed by a Director. It should act under the supervision and control of an Administrative Board with representatives of the major “shareholders”: industry, finance and public organisations. An internationally composed Scientific Committee and an Industry Committee would help guide the work of the Centre.

In view of the above, the Assembly recommends to member governments and particularly governments of Mediterranean states:

i.        to carefully assess the need to create a closer network co-operation on water management issues;

ii.       to create a Euro-Mediterranean water technology institute to improve water availability and water management in the Mediterranean Region.

Signed : ¹

Fernandez Aguilar, Spain, EPP/CD

Beaufays, Belgium, EPP/CD

Duka-Zolyomi, Slovakia, LDR

Etherington, United Kingdom, SOC

Guirado, Spain, SOC

Kittis, Cyprus, LDR

Kurucsai, Hungary, LDR

Lengagne, France, SOC

Lotz, Hungary, LDR

Luczak, Poland, EPP/CD

Mattéi, France, LDR

Raskinis, Lithuania, EPP/CD

Steolea, Romania, EDG

Wittbrodt, Poland, EPP/CD

Zissi, Greece, SOC

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group