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By the end of 2012, the European Commission will present a communication called the "Blueprint to Safeguard Europe’s Water", which will be the policy response to challenges in achieving EU water policy goals. The Blueprint will be accompanied by a strong effort of external communication, targeting both stakeholders and the general public. In this context, the Commission is planning to hold two conferences in the course of 2012 (3rd European Water Conference and final Blueprint Conference) to draw maximum attention to the Blueprint preparation and associated assessments. The Ecologic Institute supports the European Commission in organising the two conferences and in developing targeted conference documents.

Since the adoption of the Water Framework Directive in 2000, EU water policy has made an importantstep forward by taking an integrated approach on the basis of the concept of river basin management aimed at achieving good status of all EU waters by 2015.

However, as pointed out by the European Environment Agency's 2010 State of the Environment Report, the achievement of EU water policy goals appears far from certain due to a number of old and emerging challenges. The Blueprint to Safeguard Europe's Water will be the EU policy response to these challenges and it will aim to ensure good quality water in sufficient quantities for all legitimate uses.

Building on the outcomes of the 2nd European Water Conference 2009 and its focus on enhanced public participation in water planning and management, the Blueprint will be accompanied by strong external communication, targeting stakeholders and the general public. It is in this context that the European Commission intends to hold:

• The 3rd European Water Conference, which should serve as a platform to exchange information between different stakeholders, Member States and the Commission about the Blueprint.  It targets 400 participants and it will take place on 24-25 May 2012 in Brussels.
• The final Blueprint Conference, coinciding with the launch of the Blueprint. This conference targets circa 200 participants and it will take place in November 2012 in Cyprus with the support of the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU.

In this project, Ecologic assists the European Commission in organising the two conferences and in developing targeted conference documents. The specific objectives of the project are to:

• Organise the two events, including all practical aspects relating to the events such as thematic preparation, logistic organisation, designing conference webpages and development and dissemination of promotional material.
• Provide assistance in developing targeted conference working documents for both events. Ecologic Institute will assist in the collection of relevant information and analysis of the material. After each event, Ecologic Institute will be responsible for drafting the proceedings of the event as well as a concise summary for policy-makers and the public."