Environmental protection and the implementation of a sustainable development policy within the European Union have created new workplaces and occupational profiles. Knowledge in water-related trades is rapidly changing, demanding major efforts in terms of adaptation and continuing training. The main objective of this pilot project is to develop and test a European software package for evaluating and validating core skills in the domain of water. TEST'EAU will focus on technical knowledge at secondary school diploma level plus a two year's apprenticeship level on earth sciences, chemistry and biology. An evaluation system will be established using multimedia software support such as interactive CD-ROMs with the possibility of Internet-based use. Training modules will be developed alongside this system, targeting mainly technical training to prepare the agents who are often assigned to local communities, and advanced training to prepare engineers specialised in the environment. With this software package, it will be possible to evaluate candidates' general skills, such as their capacity to observe and reason, their memory and their ability to synthesise. Furthermore, the package will allow evaluators to size up their specific aptitude and their use of skills in everyday working conditions. Their reactions in face of extreme situations, such as natural disasters, will also be able to be gauged. The results will be distributed mainly through the thematic network ETNET-WATER. Impact This pilot project will allow the creation of a professional certification system on a European scale and of training methodologies in the domain of water policy.