The workshop on “Legal Issues, Policy and Governance of MAR Activities” was held in Malta from the 21-23rd October, bringing together 21 partners from six EU countries (Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, and Spain) and one associated country (Israel).The consortium includes local partners Water Services Corporation, Sustainable Energy and Water Conservation Unit and Paragon Europe. The partner institutions cover a wide range of institution types including universities, research institutes, governmental bodies, local authorities, industry, and small/medium enterprises (SMEs).

The project aims to demonstrate managed aquifer recharge as a solution to water scarcity and drought. Due to climatic changes, researchers estimate that only about 50 percent of today’s amount of water will be available in the Mediterranean region by 2100, while the population continues to grow. Funded by the EU’s Seventh Framework programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration, the MARSOL project is offering solutions that can be implemented immediately to transform excess water especially in low demand times of year into clean water.

A number of sites were indicated for the pilot research by the project, amongst which the Southern Region of Malta. The workshop analysed the economic, political and social impact on governments to employ solutions offered by the research from the project. In Malta the pilot project site is currently being managed in Xghajra, Zabbar,and eventually the project will be expanded to create a freshwater barrier to offer increased protection to groundwater in the south of Malta.

The technologies being proposed by the project are also safe in most regions of the Mediterranean according to Prof. Christoph Schüth, MARSOL Coordinator who spoke about the importance of implementing these technologies in order to enhance water resources and help overcome the problem of water scarcity, especially in Southern Mediterranean countries.
During the meeting, various speakers representing the partner countries presented reports about the legal frameworks adopted in the partner countries but also the fragmentation in the processes that still exist. The workshop also discussed the proposals set forward by the MARSOL project, together with their benefits and risks. Many partners expressed their satisfaction that the expertise brought into the consortium of this project is a step in the right direction to move beyond the pilot projects and put the research into practice across Europe and beyond.

For further information about the project visit the website www.marsol.eu For press enquiries please contact Sara Meli on e-mail sara.meli@paragoneurope.eu