Members:
Junta de Andalucia - Morocco

Cross-border cooperation between Andalucia and Morocco on water technology transfer
December 2005, Malaga, Spain

Andalucia and Morocco share a geographic location and similar hydrological systems determined by a Mediterranean climate that often cause strong drought and flood periods. Also, Morocco is facing new challenges on spatial planning and development that occurred in Andalucia a decade ago. A seminar to promote management and technological tools to face common problems regarding water provision at both sides of the Mediterranean sea was held in Malaga in November 2005. The seminar funded by the European Programme Interreg-IIIA, was organized by the regional government of Andalucia through the Centro de las Nuevas Tecnologias del Agua (CENTA) and the International University of Andalucia.

Experts from both regions were discussing common guidelines to address extreme weather conditions that suffered by people in the two areas from the prevention and planning point of view. Despite the importance of engineering work on prevention (dams, water walls, embankments, treatment and collection systems), experts and water managers are looking at other natural and environmental measures such as protection of riverbanks through reforestation to mitigate floods and landsliding.

Technological transfer is one of the key components of the second phase of this EU programme, which allowed the construction of a Centre for Water Technologies Transfer at Tetuan in its first phase. With Interreg IIIA, cooperation has been continuing through knowledge and experience sharing on issues related to control tools for water quality and prevention. The main objective in this second phase is establishing a low-cost water disposal system in Northern Morocco.

Interreg IIIA is also supporting the creation of the first Transcontinental Biosphere Reserve Andalucia-Morocco and a conservation programme on marine and coastal natural resources.

For further information, please contact Andrés Alcantara

Links:

European Programme IIIA: Cross-border Cooperation