Development and implementation of integrated water resources management policy to a river basin, through the application of a social wide local agreement, based on the principles of Agenda

Project background

Water resources all over the world and in the European Union are under increasing pressure from the continuous growth in demand for good quality water.However, EU policy defines water not as a commercial product like any other, but as a heritage, which must be protected, defended and treated as such. Internationally and in the Community it has become clear that water will be a critical factor for the development of many countries. It is already mainly responsible for the increasing problem of desertification of many boondocks. The need for action to avoid long-term deterioration of freshwater quality and quantity is recognised and requires actions for the sustainable management and protection of freshwater resources.

Project objectives

• Development and application of a sustainable water resource management policy in the Anthemounta river basin, in northern Greece, to reverse current trends of water resources degradation.
  
• Integration of this policy into other sectoral policies in the greater area and Greece. Configuration of a social agreement on water resources management between the stakeholders and consumers in the area as well as the social motivation and supervision of its implementation.
  
• Development of social, technical, administrative and financial tools in order to achieve integrated water resources management in practice.
  
• Exploitation of European best practices and know-how on water resource management. The reinforcement of water resource management in Greece and other European and Mediterranean countries according to the provisions of Water Framework Directive 200/60/EC and the principles of Agenda 21.