In co-operation with the University of Malta, the Working Group held its meeting this year at Ta’Xbiex, Msida, MALTA on 5 April 2003.  As the Group’s host, Professor Godfrey Pirotta organised two excursions: one directly following the meeting to historical Valletta, the capital of Malta, and the next morning another to prehistoric sites. This historical tour of Malta was greatly appreciated by all.

During its 2002 meeting, the Group had decided to develop a new research theme based on a three-year cycle.  They chose “The Management of Water” as their general theme and selected JosRaadschelders, as their Rapporteur.  The guidelines were then developed in an introductory report prepared by the Rapporteur and entitled “Fresh Water Management as Collective Action in Time:  a multi-dimensional and multi-level challenge of governance in a multi-disciplinary context” that may be accessed here ( 266 k). For the Malta meeting, each participant prepared a preliminary country study on this topic which was presented, examined and discussed during the meeting. The Group - which comprises approximately 15 academics/civil servants from 12 countries – will now revise their water management country studies on the basis of the Rapporteur’s suggestions, comments and observations of the other Group participants, and in light of the country institutional arrangements which have arisen over time and in an historical context.