1 NOVIWAM: Five European countries together for improving water quality and water use efficiency Y. Sidibé a , J.P. Terreaux b , M. Tidball c , D. Fernandez d *, M. U. Mayenco d , J. M. Berland i , C. Alcácer-Santos d , E. Gjinali j , A. Hofstetter c , N. Jacquin I , N. Kathijotes h , F. J. Luque Ruiz d , A. Machado e , G. Martins f , R. Préget c , M. Proteriotis h , S. Sá e , F. Sinojmeri j , M. Tapakoudis g . a INRA, Université Montpellier 1, LAMETA, France Corresponding author b Cemagref Bordeaux UR ADBX et LAMETA, France c INRA et LAMETA, France d CENTA, Spain e ARH Norte, Portugal f University of Minho, Portugal g Atlantis-Consulting, Cyprus h Cyprus University of Technology, Cyprus i Office International de l’Eau, France j Polytechnic University of Tirana, Albania *Project correspondant Abstract The European NOVIWAM (NOvel Integrated Water Management Systems for Southern European Regions, www.noviwam.eu) program aims to promote interregional co-operation in the field of water management tools and methods. One of its originality is to analyze in depth the relations between decision makers, stakeholders and researchers in order to disseminate know-how and technologies, and to tackle the compelling water management problems faced in the Euro-Mediterranean climate regions. In a first period, aiming at a good ecological and chemical state of waters and at a sustainable and efficient resource management, five European countries/regions (Albania, Cyprus, Poitou-Charentes in France, Northern Region in Portugal and Andalusia in Spain) are working together. The program will thus contribute to the objectives of the European Water Framework Directive. But additionally, the NOVIWAM program will establish a schedule for the implementation of a ｫ Join action plan ｻ, trying to involve other countries into it, and generalize the conclusions of this three year work at a regional and international level. Keywords: NOVIWAM Project, IWRM, Europe 1. Introduction In most Mediterranean countries, there is a growing awareness around the issues related to the management of water resources. In a context of increasing scarcity of resources, quality issues, environmental concerns coupled with a greater intersectoral competition, the introduction of integrated management methods and more effective tools have become a priority. In 2000, European countries have established a common tool for water management, known as the Water Framework Directive (WFD). The objective of this Directive is to achieve good status of water resources both qualitatively and quantitatively. It aims to prevent and reduce pollution, promote sustainable use, protect the environment, improve the health of aquatic ecosystems (wetlands) and mitigate the effects of floods and droughts. The general principles are the recovery of water management costs by the users of the resource,