English summary of the site (one page pdf version ) Who are we?
GRUPPO 183 is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) created in 1995 by a group of Italian experts, environmentalists, congressmen, members of national and local authorities, trade unions, and leading business men to ensure implementation of existing environmental legislation and in particular of Law 183/89 on the protection of soil and water resources. It is now monitoring and supporting the correct implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive 2000/60 in Italy. The association makes part of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification network of the organizations that are currently working on desertification-related issues.
In the last years (2003-2006), Gruppo 183 has carried out a number of activities related to river planning and implementation of EU water legislation in Italy. In particular: (click on the items for further information)
What follows is a list of the main initiatives undertaken by the GRUPPO 183 since its creation to the year 2002.
Following the guidelines indicated in its planning document, "Water and Soil in Land Policies: Proposal for a Government Plan" (July 17, 1995), the GRUPPO 183 has been concentrating its work (observation, planning, intervention, and development of public awareness) in three main areas:
1) Implementation and Adoption of Law 183/89, Institutional Reform
Following the renewal of Parliament in 1996, GRUPPO183 worked out and presented a specific proposal for the immediate onset and implementation of a maintenance program for soil conservation (Rome, July 10, 1996).
Soon after (Rome, October 31, 1996), the Association organized a national meeting, "The Re-launch and Adoption of Law 183/89", in which it presented its proposal document. This document generated a lively debate among those present:at the meeting: experts, representatives of Parliament and other government officials, regional representatives, Watershed Authorities, and various associations. The document was also submitted to the Equality Committee of the Chamber of Deputies and Senators for a survey on soil conservation (Veltri Commission).
When it came time to define the legislation on institutional reform concerning the redistribution of responsibilities between the Central Administration, regional authorities, and local autonomies, GRUPPO 183 set up a meeting for the institutional leaders directly interested and presented them with a very specific proposal: "Environment, Water and Soil in the Implementation of Law 59/97" (Rome, March 18, 1998).
After the 1998 Sarno flood in the Campania Region, GRUPPO 183 drafted - together with researchers, experts, and national watershed authorities - a document/appeal for standards of immediate intervention regarding the new legislation (DL 180, converted into L. 267/98 - Rome, May 19, 1998).
The Sarno tragedy was also the focus of another national meeting organized about a month later (June 18, 1998) by GRUPPO 183, together with a national enviornmental NGO (Legambiente), in Naples.
Concerning land management, GRUPPO 183 - together with the Board of Regions, UPL, UNICEM, and ANCI - organized yet another meeting, entitled: "Maintenance in Land Management: the Country's Most Important Public Work, a New Frontier for Services" (Rome, October 29, 1998).
2) From Emergency and Rescue to the Establishment of Institutionalized Intervention (Water Services in Southern Italy)
Since its origin, GRUPPO 183 has been performing the very specific tasks of observation, planning, and intervention in conjunction with ordinary government intervention and rescue operations in the area of Southern Italy in regard to water problems.
Particular attention was given to problems concerning the use of the EC's structural funds, the enforcement of Law 36/94 (s.c. Galli), and to the affirmation of SOGESID S.p.A.'s (company for the management of water plants) transitory role in supporting regional and national governmental institutions.
As concerns the water services in Southern Italy, another national meeting was arranged by GRUPPO 183, called: "The Management of Water Services in Southern Italy from Extraordinary to Ordinary Intervention" (Rome, May 17, 1995).
Regarding the difficulties involved in the use of the EC's funds for water resources, GRUPPO 183 organized a second meeting on water services in Southern Italy: "How to Spend the 4 Billion Lira for Water in Southern Italy" (July 10, 1996).
The Association has petitioned the Government and Regional Authorities repeatedly about SOGESID's situation of crisis and stalling - presenting them documents with criticisms as well as corresponding suggestions (September 20, 1996; February 9 and May 20, 1997) - up until SOGESID's re-launch and reorganization, accompanied by the convention "Towards Self Management of Water Services in Southern Italy, the SOGESID Action" (Rome, February 5, 1998).
On the topic of the EC's structural funds' expenditure planning for 2000 - 2006, GRUPPO 183 - together with CNEL, SOGESID, and SUDGEST - set up in Rome, on June 25, 1999, the "Companies and Water Resources in Southern Italy: Industrial Subjects, Manpower and Public Expenditure" meeting. At this meeting, the Fourth Commission of CNEL - along with SOGESID, SUDGEST, and GRUPPO 183 - presented the dossier "Water and Southern Regions, Actual Status, Problems, and Prospects", prepared by SOGESID for the occasion.
Given the situation of crisis and stalling at the EAAP (Ente Autonomo dell'Acquedotto Pugliese - The Puglia Aqueduct Company), GRUPPO 183 - in conjunction with the Chamber of Deputies' Progressive Group for Federalism of the Basilicata, Puglia, and Molise regions - arranged for the national meeting, "A Watershed Authority for the Democratic Management of Waters Currently Controlled by EAAP and EIPLI", in Bari on May 19, 1996.
Another meeting on the subject, "Government and Management of Water in Southern Italy after the Program Agreement Basilicata - Puglia - Ministry of Public Works", took place in Rome on October 26, 1999, in cooperation with SUDGEST, and the regional representatives of Puglia Basilicata. Publication of the acts from this meeting was provided by the SUDGEST Consortium.
3) From Private Consortia, Regional Organs, and Government Authorities to National Awareness (Law 183, Regions and Land Drainage Consortia)
Based on the goals set forth in Law 183/89 and in the first part of Law 36/94, establishing the standard/objectives for budget, water resources, and ratio between regulation and management of services, GRUPPO 183 started to look into the intricate problem of land drainage consortia, currently controlled by RD 215/1933.
To this end, the Association organized the first national seminar on "Law 183/89 and Services of Regulation and Re-use of Water: Regions, Local Entities and Land Drainage Consortia" (Rome, April 11, 1997).
Publication of the acts from this meeting was provided by GRUPPO 183.
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