Seeking Unity in Mediterranean Diversity

The Union for the Mediterranean is a young organization. What priority areas are you focusing on and which concrete projects are you working on at the moment?

The UfM was established in 2008, but the secretariat, which is mandated to do the technical work, only started working in January 2011, while our project guidelines were approved just in April 2011. This means that we are a very new organization, but we have had to prove immediately our worth as a technical organization by identifying regional, sub-regional or transnational projects to work on.

Rafiq Husseini, UfM Deputy Secretary General

Our task is to identify, design – or sometimes redesign – the projects that promoters submit, and develop them into regional or sub-regional projects. This is where we have an important overview role to play, bringing together different promoters who are working on the same topics and amalgamating their ideas. This is especially relevant because many countries in the region face similar problems.

Once a project is formulated, we also help the promoters to seek funding. In this respect, we also aim to reach out to parties beyond Europe – in the Arab world for example. We believe these parties should also become more involved in projects in Arab countries around the Mediterranean.

Our work is challenging on many levels. Firstly, it is difficult to find regional projects, as countries tend to submit national projects. We can take on national projects if they are part of a regional initiative accepted by the 43 UfM countries. The only initiative of this type to date is Horizon 2020, which focuses on the de-pollution of the Mediterranean. Another impediment is that the UfM is not a funding agency as such, and we therefore have no budget to support projects. That means we have to work on developing strategies and initiatives in order to have frameworks within which we can develop and endorse a variety of projects. We have to adopt or adapt already existing strategies and initiatives in the domain of climate change, marine biodiversity and the environment.

The projects we are currently working on fall into different categories. The first UfM-endorsed project is infrastructural: the Gaza desalination project. While it is not a regional or even transnational project, it does have far-reaching regional implications. Everyone is aware of this project’s humanitarian, developmental and political importance and the 43 countries endorsed it without much hesitation. It is a big project of more than €350m that involves not only desalination but also a north-south water carrier in Gaza. We are now moving towards seeking funding for this project for which we will turn to the countries who pledged money for the reconstruction of Gaza at the Sharm El-Sheikh Conference in March 2009. The Arab countries pledged €1.6bn as did Europe and Western countries. However, the vast majority of the money that was pledged at the time has still not been allocated.

Another example of an infrastructural project that we would like to implement involves the use of treated wastewater to create a green belt around Mediterranean cities threatened by desertification. This project was submitted by Egypt, but we believe it could also be applicable in Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria and we are speaking to the different parties.

In a different category, we have a project focusing on the strengthening of information systems. We received three projects on this topic and have agreed to amalgamate the proposals to create a single project for the creation of a shared regional database. Strengthening national information systems is the first priority, as you can’t share information regionally before national data are complete and up to date.

A third type of project concerns capacity building through the strengthening of NGO networks and NGO capacity in southern and eastern countries. Along with the democratization processes we are witnessing in these countries, there is a mushrooming of the NGO sector in many fields, also in the field of water and environment. We want to support the creation of a consortium and develop the capacity of NGOs in those countries, both through national and regional networks.

We also have study projects: for example a project submitted by Albania for the study of the Shkumbini River Basin. Jordan has also submitted a project for the study of the Jordan and Yarmouk basins. We are keen to promote these types of study projects that can form the first step towards shared river basin management.

Finally the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and GWP Med are preparing to submit a proposal to study water governance in different countries. Such a study was already carried out in OECD countries, but we now want to extend it to other countries in the region, in order to improve governance and thus, in the longer term, the protection and preservation of water resources.

All these projects are at different stages in the pipeline: from the Gaza project, which has already been approved and labeled, to the Jordan River Basin Project, which still requires a lot of work.

What is the timeframe for these projects?

We would prefer for the timeframe to be short, but many of these projects are not straightforward: whether it is the creation of information systems, the study of shared river basins or governance – they all have political connotations. Our job is to try to smooth over political impediments so that the project can be implemented.

The Mediterranean is one of the most arid regions in the world, but there are differences in the degree of aridity around the sea and the ability to cope with this aridity. How do you think the water-related problems in the region should be addressed?

I think the Mediterranean region faces two distinct problems. In the south aridity is a growing problem, while the north is increasingly facing problems of flooding, which generate economic and other losses. In the south, some areas are more arid than others and of course the response to this aridity differs from one country to another. Our approach to these problems is regional: we do not look at the countries per se, but at regions and sub-regions.

Despite the conflicts between countries, there are also common, regional challenges such as desertification, pollution, water scarcity, climate change, global warming – these are issues that need to be urgently tackled, otherwise the Mediterranean region as we know it, the whole civilizational context that depended on that particular climate and environment, will disappear. We need to face this common challenge together. The problems ahead cannot be tackled by individual countries; they need to be addressed on a regional or sub-regional level. In this context, it is important to find projects that countries can carry out jointly. We want to encourage countries to learn from best practice and from past mistakes in the region.

Do you see a link between the Arab protests and water?

One of the key demands of protesters around the Arab region this year has been an end to corruption, particularly the illegal appropriation of public property, whether it is land or water. Water – especially in the southern countries – is seen as a gift from God and there is a strong cultural perception that it is and should remain a public good.

Of course we encourage Public-Private Partnerships with the understanding that they should be based on ironclad guarantees that the public domain is not violated and public goods are not misused by anybody, that there is no nepotism, no corruption. This is important, especially in the water sector. Without such assurances we will never succeed in involving the private sector and securing private-sector investment in water-related projects.

Do you think the protests and subsequent revolts in the Arab world will have an impact on water governance?

Most definitely: autocratic regimes don’t have to be accountable to the public and this has led to a squandering of public assets. As democracy takes hold in the region, accountability will become essential: the new governments have to find ways to secure public assets. This requires the establishment of strict regulatory frameworks and accountability mechanisms to reassure the public that these assets are protected.

The Mediterranean has been identified as a climate change hotspot. What measures does Union for the Mediterranean support to limit the effects of climate change on the region’s population and water resources?

Climate change is wreaking havoc in the area: the south is becoming hotter, facing problems of desertification and water scarcity, while the north is plagued by problems of flooding. This has a huge economic and human impact and there has to be a Mediterranean-wide strategy for mitigation and adaptation. There is no clear consensus on mitigation, but adaptation is an issue that almost all UfM members agree on. It is a more practical issue and it can create jobs, so a strategy on climate change should focus on adaptation and take mitigation into account. We still don’t have a strategic initiative on climate change in place, even though some 18 countries signed a declaration on climate change in October 2010 in Athens as part of an initiative launched by Greece and Turkey. The UfM is now working to develop this Mediterranean Climate Change Initiative and turn it into a strategic UfM initiative.

Do you think decision-makers are sufficiently aware of the threat of climate change and water scarcity in the Mediterranean region?

I think they are aware, but it is not a priority for them. Politicians are still thinking in quick gains and solving immediate problems. It is our task to make them take longer-term actions: we are supporting the organization of a ministerial meeting on the environment, and we are encouraging the development of long-term strategies and initiatives and the making of firm commitments. We also need to communicate with the general public and create awareness of the common challenges we face. We need to have champions – popular figures who enjoy public trust – who can place the issue in the public domain. A two-sided approach is required: top-down from the ministerial level and bottom-up from the public level.

Between 50 and 90 percent of water resources in the Mediterranean goes to irrigated agriculture. In light of the predicted impact of climate change, do you think there is a future for agriculture in this arid region?

We learned in history books that the wheat of the Hauran Plain in current-day Syria fed the Roman Empire. The area has always been very fertile, and agriculture has been a main feature of the region, it is therefore important to preserve it. On the one hand, we have to protect the land; in many countries good agricultural land has been lost as cities and towns expand. Amman is an example, but also Alexandria and Cairo – all the agricultural land around these cities has been destroyed. On the other hand, we have to make better use of water-saving technologies – drip irrigation and information technology – to save water. In addition, we have to look at crop choices and ensure we optimize crop variety. Agriculture will remain a top priority and a national security issue for many countries in the region. We therefore need to deal with this issue scientifically rather than ignoring it or trying to remove it from the agenda.

The Mediterranean is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world and rapid tourism development in the region has had far-reaching consequences for water resources. However, tourism is also a key source of revenue for Mediterranean economies. How do you develop sustainable tourism in this context?

Tourism is a big water consumer, but it is also a big income generator. There are many innovative ideas about how to create ‘green tourism’ that does not destroy the environment and waste resources. Tourism must remain part of the Mediterranean economies because it is an important income generator for many countries. There is a lot to be said for green buildings, green housing, green hotels – we have to encourage such concepts so that new developments can take place in a sustainable manner.

Is there such a thing as a Mediterranean identity, and is there enough goodwill among the countries around the sea to build upon such a shared identity to develop a common strategy for water management around the sea?

The French historian Fernand Braudel once remarked that the north and south of the Mediterranean have never been in the same state of development at the same time: if the south was developed, the north was not and if the north was prosperous the south was not. Yet, historically, there have been empires that ruled the whole Mediterranean region for long periods of time. So there is diversity, but there is also unity. The Mediterranean is a big lake – it’s not a sea. Throughout history, people have moved from west to east and from north to south, and this has further accentuated the diversity. Diversity is part of the Mediterranean identity. And I believe there will be a strengthening of that Mediterranean identity. This is also what the UfM stands for: coming together and becoming prosperous. If I didn’t believe that this was possible, I wouldn’t be here doing this job!

Data availability and data sharing is a problem in many parts of the Mediterranean. How can data sharing and harmonization be improved?

First of all, there is a lot of missing data, which is why it is important to strengthen data collection and information systems nationally. But there is also a misconception about the strategic importance of this data and the need for confidentiality. I don’t deny that there are conflicts between countries, but I believe these conflicts can be resolved. Through history, we have seen countries completely destroyed by conflict, only to reconcile and come together to cooperate and build a future together. This is why we have to believe that human nature aspires to a brighter future in which conflicts will be replaced by cooperation and mutual trust. The UfM’s job is to minimize mistrust and encourage cooperation through joint projects. 

What are the technical solutions to the water crisis in the Mediterranean region?

There needs to first of all be a focus on agricultural technologies because agriculture is the main consumer of water. Then we need to think about non-conventional sources: desalination is becoming affordable, even if there is still an environmental impact that needs to be addressed. Rainwater harvesting is another area that should be developed, as a lot of water is lost at the moment. Some people claim – and they are partially right – that it is not about water scarcity, but water management. This is also very important: water governance and the valuing of water, whether financial or otherwise. 

How do you see the future of water resources in the Mediterranean? What will the region look like in 25 years?

We know that historically some of the cities around the Mediterranean ceased to exist because of a lack of water: the Roman city of Jerash in current-day Jordan for example was abandoned because of water scarcity. The prospect of water wars in the region is real: as resources dwindle we will be competing for water, which could lead to conflict. Already today, there are water conflicts brewing in the region. We are moving towards a future in which there will be less resources, higher demand, growing population and therefore we need to focus on protecting the resources we have and encouraging innovation to create new water resources. We have to do everything we can to protect every single drop of water.