transboun dary level to meet the challenges facing our planet.

Indeed, we must achieve the Millen nium Development Goals and ensure "green growth" and face the global changes associated with the rapid world population growth, migration, increasing urbanization, climate change, etc. Our efforts should indeed allow fighting against natural disasters, reliably meeting the drinking water needs of urban and rural populations to improve hygiene and health and prevent epidemics, securing food sufficiency, developing industry, energy production, waterways transport, tourism and recreational activities, preventing and controlling pollution of all kinds to preserve aquatic ecosystems, support fish production and more generally preserve the biodiversity of water-related environments.

All these stakes cannot be tackled on a sectoral or local basis, or sepa rately from each other. The search for solutions must instead involve all stakeholders in an integrated and joint approach, orga nized in cooperation with the river basin units and for the sustainable use of water resources.