18 February 2006
by Bo Appelgren

Dear colleagues,

1. Many thanks for being invited to the E-dialogue. With the good scope for continued discussions, and to provide more flexibility to accommodate our parallel commitments, may I suggest that the terms for the e-conference would be extended with 1-2 months. 2. The reference to the EU WFD, and other European conventions is important and central also in the EU neighborhood policy, in the MEDA. However, it is observed the EU WFD is: a. framework directive for application by the members a well defined, and wealthy region, and heavily focused on quality, pre-caution and prevention, with high and costly objectives to restore the water quality in Europe. This situation is not prevailing in SEEs where the need is on civil security and economic growth and enhanced incomes. The EU WFD is not a transboundary Protocol or a Convention, where the 1992 UN-ECE Water Convention, with its Protocols, and process provides a relevant framework and mechanism for approximation and adoption in the SEE. Under these circumstances the policy and management requirement in the SEEs, similar to other CT countries is on the management of risk under high political and policy uncertainty.

Bo Appelgren - UNESCO