News

The Mediterranean region, a critical climate change hotspot that is warming at a rate 20% faster than the global average, is home to over 180 million people who are considered water poor and an additional 60 million who face water stress. The Union for the Mediterranean, in line with the 2024 World Water Day theme of leveraging water for peace, highlights the need to step up collaborative responses to the water scarcity crisis, an issue that is compounded by climate change as well as factors including overtourism, increased population growth or rapid urbanisation. The UfM continues to work towards advancing… read more

The 2nd UfM Stakeholder Conference on Sustainable Blue Economy took place on February 19 and 20 in the Greek capital, with over 350 participants evaluating the progress made within the framework of the 10 Sustainable Blue Economy priority areas adopted in 2021 and discussing next steps.  The event, which featured 11 workshops on topics ranging from marine research and innovation to sustainable tourism or the blue finance process, was hosted by the Union for the Mediterranean, its EU and Jordanian Co-Presidency, and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Island Policy of Greece. February 19-20, Athens. Over 350 people got together… read more

5-7 February 2024, Tunis – The 5th edition of the Mediterranean Water Forum, co-organised by the Union for the Mediterranean, the Institut Méditerranéen de l’Eau, and the World Water Council in coordination with the Republic of Tunisia, took place this week in Tunis with the aim of unifying Mediterranean voices ahead of the 10th World Water Forum in Bali this May. Months after the kick off meeting in València, stakeholders converged to address a wide range of challenges and highlight best practices in a region heavily impacted by water scarcity and climate change. Around 400 participants from across the Mediterranean… read more

5 December 2023 – The Union for the Mediterranean held the First Online Conference on Digital Transformation of the Water Sector in the Mediterranean, a valuable platform for stakeholders to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and explore innovative solutions for water institutions and utility service providers in the region. This conference also served as a first step for a Roadmap Towards Digitalisation of the Water Sector in the Euro-Mediterranean Region as UfM Member States deem it essential to formulate effective strategies to achieve Sustainable Development Goals and address pressing water-related issues in the region. Participants discussed the Mediterranean region’s unique water management challenges, which… read more

EBRD, EIB, UfM, EC, AFD, CDP, KfW, donors and beneficiary countries sign cooperation agreement at COP28 Blue Mediterranean Partnership to support transition to a sustainable blue economy in the Mediterranean region Partnership to start operating in early 2024 Partners aim to mobilise at least €1 billion in investments At COP28, partners and donors involved in the Blue Mediterranean Partnership reinforced their support for developing the sustainable blue economy in the southern Mediterranean region. The parties involved signed a letter of intent to make their participation in the Partnership official and to make the Partnership operational in early 2024. The Blue… read more

Brussels, November 15-16, 2023 – The 7th UfM Task Force on Environment convened in Brussels and online, bringing together national representatives and regional stakeholders to deliberate on crucial environmental issues pertaining to the Euro-Mediterranean region. Chaired by the EU and Jordanian Co-Presidency alongside the UfM Secretariat, the meeting highlighted significant developments across various fronts as described in the 2030 GreenerMed Agenda. Delegates engaged in joint discussions focused on the upcoming COP28 for Climate Change and COP16 for Biodiversity, as well as the implementation of the approved Global Biodiversity Framework. The exchange allowed Member States to outline the priorities and needs… read more

30-31 October 2023, Cairo. The fourth edition of the EU-UfM-African Development Bank Conference on Water Finance and Investments took place on 30 and 31 October as part of the Cairo Water Week. Water security is of utmost importance to the Euro-Mediterranean region and Africa: access to clean water, sustainable management, and the ability to combat droughts, floods, and water pollution are essential to their overall wellbeing and socioeconomic prosperity. These challenges were highlighted from a financial perspective at this event within the broader context of the interdependencies binding water to energy, food, and environmental sustainability — the WEFE nexus. This… read more

October 18, 2023, Valencia – The Union for the Mediterranean in collaboration with the Mediterranean Water Institute (IME), the World Water council, and in coordination with Spain and Tunisia discussed pressing water challenges in the region at the 5th edition of the Mediterranean Water Forum’s kick-off meeting on October 18 in Valencia (Spain). This took place with the aim of creating a robust platform for stakeholders to converge and strategize around complex water issues ahead of the full event in Tunis next February leading up to the 10th World Water Forum in Bali. During the kick-off meeting, participants from diverse backgrounds,… read more

6 October 2023, Barcelona. The Mediterranean region is currently grappling with the challenge of over 80 million hectares of degraded land. Moreover, more than 400,000 hectares of forests are lost to wildfires each year, placing at least 16 animal and plant species in Mediterranean forests at the brink of extinction due to environmental threats, including climate change. Also, land abandonment rates in the Mediterranean have surged, reaching as high as 30%. This alarming trend not only jeopardizes our cultural landscapes but also threatens the invaluable services they provide. From 2nd- 6th October, the Young Leadership Programme Mediterranean 2023 (YLPMED 2023)… read more

6-7 June 2023, Fez, Morocco – UfM Deputy Secretary General in charge of Water, Environment and Blue Economy Almotaz Abadi met the Moroccan Minister of Equipment and Water, Nizar Baraka in the margins of 3rd International Conference on Water and Climate (ICCS). In their meeting, they discussed the important role water and blue economy sectors are playing to mitigate the climate change impacts. The minister have briefed on the effect that Morrocco is doing to cope with the impact of the climate change specially their Plan on the Water Desalination as well the wastewater treatment and reuse to respond to the… read more