DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY, DR. VEYSEL TIRYAKİ VISITED HUGO MORÁN FERNÁNDEZ, DEPUTY MINISTER OF ECOLOGICAL TRANSFORMATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHALLANGE, SPAIN

The high-level study visit was held in Spain between 26-30 September within the scope of the European Union Technical Assistance Project on Preparation of River Basin Management Plans for 6 Basins, supported under the IPA-2 period of the European Union Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance.   

Within the scope of the high-level study visit, on 27 September 2022, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Dr. Veysel Tiryaki visited his Spanish counterpart, Hugo Morán Fernández, Deputy Minister of Ecological Transformation and Demographic Challenge.  Since Spain and Türkiye are Mediterranean countries, they have similar geographical and climatic conditions, and the difficulties encountered in water management are therefore also similar. It was pointed out by both Mr. Tiryaki and Mr. Morán Fernández that increasing the strategic cooperation and sharing experience between the two countries would be beneficial for both sides.  Following the meeting of the Deputy Ministers, a technical meeting was held with Teodoro Estrela Monreal, Director General for Water, Ministry of Ecological Transformation and Demographic Challenge. Water management and governance structure in Spain, central and local responsibilities in water management, preparation and implementation of river basin management plans, the measures taken for water allocation in climate change and drought conditions were discussed.   

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Dr. Veysel Tiryaki, Adviser to the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Ejder Oruç, Adviser to the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Rıdvan Aksu, Director General for Information Technologies, Mehmet Tekin Arpacık, and Deputy Director General for Water Management, Dr. Yakup Karaaslan participated in the high-level study visit, as well as EU Project Officials Ms. Emine Gyulestan, Dr. Burak Turan, Mr. Mustafa Oktay and Ms. Bilgen Kocabıyık.      

Within the scope of the visit, Canal Isabel II Management, Tajo River Basin Management Authority and Guadalquivir River Basin Management Authority responsible for the water and sewerage services of the Madrid Region were visited. Information was obtained on the water management structure in Spain, significant issues regarding the planning of the river basin management plans and implementation of WFD and sister directives at both central and local level.