Abstract
Water management nowadays is experienced as an area of conflict, increasingly determined by the conflicting demands of the different water users, including nature. The World Water Council therefore initiated a worldwide appraisal of national water resources management policies and practices. The European Regional Working Group (ERWG) of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) was engaged to prepare the European Sector Vision on Water for Food and Rural Development.
As a result the ERWG delivered a study with a condensed portrayal of continental water policies complemented by 15 national reports, which for the first time provided a comprehensive insight into the water management of the various contributing countries, including political and legal mechanisms, expected environmental challenges, requirements of the users, and organisational and institutional solutions.
Modern water legislation pursues the target of balancing the requirements of human needs and nature conservation by sustainable planning and public participation, the cornerstones of the Water Framework Directive of the European Union. The ERWG study demonstrates the different systems and mechanisms developed by European countries to meet this target. With a view to the future unifying of Europe, national regulations have to be harmonised and transformed into a European water policy. Organisational structures like basin administrations, water management associations, technical–scientific societies, and private and co‐operative facilities will have an increasing role.
This paper highlights the findings achieved by the ERWG study and will give an impression of the manifold solutions. Experience gathered in Spain, France, Slovenia and Hungary will provide knowledge for the development of environmentally sound and market‐oriented water management systems. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.