I have projects that need to be build with a specific version of the JDK.

The problem isn't in the source and target parameters but in the jars of the runtime used during compilation. In some cases I get a compilation error if I try to compile with the wrong JDK, but sometimes the build is successful and I get runtime errors when using the jars.

For example in eclipse I have the ability to establish the execution enviroment for the project in the .classpath file.

Is there a way to handle such situation in maven?

What I would like to have is the ability to handle JRE dependency like other dependencies of the project in the POM file.

UPDATE:

The accepted solution was the best one when I asked this question, so I won't change it. Meanwhile a new solution to this kind of problems has been introduced: Maven Toolchain. Follow the link for further details.

I've found this article:

http://maven.apache.org/plugins/maven-compiler-plugin/examples/compile-using-different-jdk.html

<project>
  [...]
  <build>
    [...]
    <plugins>
      <plugin>
        <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
        <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
        <version>2.1</version>
        <configuration>
          <verbose>true</verbose>
          <fork>true</fork>
          <executable>${JAVA_1_4_HOME}/bin/javac</executable>
          <compilerVersion>1.3</compilerVersion>
        </configuration>
      </plugin>
    </plugins>
    [...]
  </build>
  [...]
</project>