More than a hundred experts, social agents and representatives of the administrations of 24 countries have prepared a common document of conclusions and measures against drought. This text has been presented at the plenary session of the international meeting “Mediterranean, water and droughts” and will be included in the presentation to be given by the Spanish Ministry of the Environment at the IV World Water Forum in Mexico, next March.

The conclusions are the result of the debates held yesterday, also in Zaragoza, in three tables that included the administrative, scientific and social approaches, and which have made it clear that a greater exchange of knowledge and information between the countries that suffer from this phenomenon is necessary.

In addition to the document that will be presented at the World Water Forum, this meeting has also served, with the first meetings held on 14 and 15 February, in Madrid, to define a proposal that will be presented to the European Commission next March, for the European Union to develop a common policy against drought. This proposal is led by Spain, Portugal, France and Greece, with the support of Italy, Cyprus and Malta.

This debate forum has been organized by the Ministry of the Environment, in collaboration with other administrations and institutions such as the Government of Aragon, the Center for New Water Technologies (CENTA), the City Council of Zaragoza, Expo Zaragoza 2008 and the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation through its AZAHAR program.