The objective of China Europe Water Platform (CEWP) is to promote water policy dialogues, collaborative research and business development based on mutual interests and joint funding.
It is of strategic importance for China and the European Union to improve cooperation on management of water as a crucial natural resource in order to avert a future global water crisis and its potential impacts on social and economic development and stability. CEWP is a regional component of the EU Water Initiative (EUWI).
CEWP officially kicked off during the 6th World Water Forum in Marseille on 14 March 2012. Ministry of Water Resources of the People’s Republic of China and the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, represented by the Danish Minister of the Environment launched CEWP by signing of a Joint Statement.
CEWP is led by two concurrent secretariats hosted by the Chinese Ministry of Water Resources and the Portuguese Ministry of Environment and Climate Action (representing the EU and its member countries) respectively. CEWP is supported by the EU and the People's Republic of China. The EU is funding the cooperation through Partnership Intrument and through co-funding of the EU member states participating the platform.
Activities
CEWP Work Programme 2018-2019 provides an overall framework for the development and implementation of CEWP. It presents the objectives and activities of CEWP for the coming years.
CEWP activities are organised in four Focus Areas:
- River Basin Management and Ecological Security
- Rural Water and Food Security
- Water and Urbanization
- Water and Energy Security
From the beginning of 2018, CEWP has strengthen its activities with € 6 million support from the EU through the Partnership Instrument (PI). The Programs will encompass the four existing Focus Areas of CEWP as well as a new, Horizontal Activities Program which will support the EU Secretariat, boost the business and innovation activities and include new emerging issues to CEWP work.
Joining CEWP
All EU Member States are invited to join the platform and take the lead in specific sectors or topics in which they have a comparative advantage or interest. Government agencies, research institutes, enterprises and international organizations from China and EU can also join CEWP and put forward specific topics for discussion. More information about how to join CEWP is available here.
Documents
Joint Statement upon the establishment of the China-Europe Water Platform (CEWP)
Appendix to Joint Statement: Organisation of the China-Europe Water Platform