A Conference on the “Water Framework Directive in the Mediterranean” is organized in Barcelona, Spain on April 22-23, 2010 by the EEB, Ecologistas en Acción, Xarxa per una Nova Cultura de l'aigua, and FNCA, in cooperation with ECODES, BirdLife/Seo and WWF/Adena with the financial support of the European Commission.

The conference aims to facilitate the dialogue between EU Mediterranean Member States and civil society in order to identify and discuss in a constructive manner how the Water Framework Directive can help address some of the most pressing water management issues facing the Mediterranean region. The results of the conference should serve to identify common strategies and possible approaches to tackle the main issues that will arise in the development, debate and implementation of the new Basin Management Plans in order to reach WFD goals by 2015, and that are particularly relevant to countries in the Mediterranean region.

Please find here the agenda of the Conference.

Recently a report on understanding the causes of biodiversity loss and the policy assessment framework was published by the European Commission DG Environment. According to the report biodiversity continues to decrease at unprecedented rates as human development and expansion result in the fragmentation and loss of habitat for flora and fauna.

The main pressures and drivers of biodiversity loss identified by this study include direct causes such as: land use change and conversion of habitat to other land uses, pollution, unsustainable natural resources use, climate change and invasive alien species and indirect causes such as: failures in governance, appropriate decision making and institutional functioning, economic and market failures, lack of adequate knowledge and understanding of the processes in ecosystems which conserve biodiversity and provide ecosystem services.

Interestingly enough, the report addresses the issue of biodiversity loss beyond the EU through case studies on coastal, marine and forest ecosystems at different places of the world.

To read the full text report click here.

In the period of 24.11.2009 to 15.01.2010, the European Commission launched a public consultation on the Future “EU Strategy”. The main aim of the consultation was to collect views on some suggested broad policy considerations for the future EU2020 strategy that should enable the EU to make a full recovery from the crisis, while speeding up the move towards a smart and green economy.

MIO-ECSDE welcomed the participatory approach followed by the European Commission in the development of the EU 2020 Strategy and submitted its main views, concerns, and considerations that should be taken into account while drafting the “EU 2020” Strategy.

Please click here to read MIO-ECSDE’s contribution to the public consultation on the future EU Strategy.