CAREC Delegation at the 19th Meeting of EUWI EECCA Working Group

Publication date: 13 May 2016

CAREC Delegation at the 19^th Meeting of EUWI EECCA Working Group

On 12-13 May 2016, within the 19^th annual meeting of the European Union Water Initiative Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EUWI EECCA) Working Group, taking place in Paris, CAREC delegation delivered statements focusing on Central Asian water cooperation matters. Highlighting the processes and challenges in water cooperation across Central Asia, CAREC Executive Director Dr Iskandar Abdullaev, emphasized the vital importance of enhanced water collaboration in the region.  

Following Dr Abdullaev, Ms Ekaterina Strikeleva, Advisor on Large-scale Inter-Program projects of CAREC, has also delivered a presentation reflecting upon features of starting soon water diplomacy project, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Ms Strikeleva mentioned the project as one of the ways forward to enhance unanimous cooperative efforts of the Central Asian stakeholders in tackling water challenges. Thus, the participation of CAREC delegation at the meeting was featured by the two thematic presentations:

•   Water cooperation in Central Asia: Experience, Processes and Challenges
  
•   Implementation of the Water Diplomacy Project
  

Being the monitoring and steering body of the EUWI EECCA, the Working Group of EUWI EECCA provides a platform for regional policy dialogue and exchange of experience which holds annual meetings to set priorities and review major EU and EECCA developments in regard to water management policies by sharing experiences of partner countries and information about projects in the field. 

The EUWI EECCA supports the overall goals of the European Neighborhood Policy and priorities established by the EU-CA Strategy, which constitutes a framework for the implementation of the environment and water pillar of the EU Strategy for Central Asia. Support to implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is another core aim of the work.
The meeting is attended by senior officials representing water and environmental authorities, experts from EU Member States, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia; as well as international organizations, multilateral and bilateral donors. In order to achieve progress in the management of freshwater resources across EECCA countries and to enhance the efficiency of the efforts, the EU is now collaborating with the OECD and UNECE in these matters representatives of which are also present at the meeting.