On the Road to the 2nd Ministerial Meeting on Water: UfM Drafting Group sets path for Ministerial Declaration
6-7 February 2025, Malta – The Ad-hoc Meeting of the Drafting Group for the Ministerial Declaration on Water in the Mediterranean convened on 6–7 February 2025 in Malta, hosted by the Maltese Energy & Water Agency (EWA). This meeting initiated the drafting process for the 2nd UfM Ministerial Declaration on Water, as agreed during the 14th Meeting of the UfM Regional Platform on Water in Lisbon, June 2024.
The UfM presented a draft outline of the Ministerial Declaration, which was well-received by UfM member states. Participants engaged in discussions along the main themes, and their feedback will be incorporated into a revised draft. The final version is expected to be endorsed by the UfM Regional Platform on Water by mid-2025.
Italy formally announced its candidacy to host the upcoming UfM Ministerial Meeting on Water, proposing to hold it in Rome during the first quarter of 2026, with exact dates to be confirmed.
The meeting featured an address by Miriam Dalli, Malta’s Minister for the Environment, Energy, and Public Cleanliness. She emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum in the drafting process to achieve significant advancements in water management and modernization within the Mediterranean region. Minister Dalli reiterated Malta’s support for the Ministerial process and advocated for a new regional initiative aimed at delivering tangible results.
“With collaboration and innovation, we can lay a foundation for a more resilient Mediterranean, offering secure and affordable water for everyone,” Minister Dalli stated. “This is about improving daily life: ensuring that families have reliable water, that farmers can maintain their livelihoods, and that businesses can grow sustainably.”
This forthcoming Ministerial Declaration follows the First UfM Ministerial Declaration on Water, which was launched in Malta in 2017 during the UfM Ministerial Meeting on Water.
Stakeholders broadly supported the proposed concept, process, structure, and themes of the Ministerial Declaration. A notable highlight of the meeting was the announcement of an initiative to be endorsed by Ministers, aimed at establishing a partnership platform to promote capacity building and mobilise financing for water projects. This initiative serves as a practical demonstration of collective commitment to achieving common water goals and represents a Mediterranean contribution to the upcoming UN 2026 Water Conference.
The UfM Deputy Secretary General ad interim for Water, Environment, and Blue Economy, Stephen Borg, recalled that much remains to be done to ensure sustainable and equitable water management across the Mediterranean region, and effective policies across sectors, adequate funding, and strong governance are key to strengthening national water strategies. Stephen Borg stated that ‘the Second UfM Ministerial Meeting on Water will serve as a crucial forum to reaffirm our shared vision, inspire bold actions, and catalyse transformative change’.
The meeting underscored the collective commitment of UfM member states and stakeholders to advancing water management and policy in the Mediterranean region, setting the stage for the forthcoming Ministerial Declaration and associated initiatives.
