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A quintessential Mediterranean crisis.
We all understand the danger of water scarcity to our health and ecosystems, but its repercussions do not stop there; they extend to threatening food security and socio-economic development opportunities, leading to an increase in the frequency and severity of natural disasters.
These risks are not confined to national borders; our region's countries share transboundary water basins and resources, and accordingly share the repercussions of water scarcity, necessitating a joint regional response.
Therefore, today, representatives of forty-three countries gather in the Italian capital, Rome, to adopt the second ministerial declaration of the Union for the Mediterranean on water, which renews the political commitment to joint work among member states, identifies priorities for sustainable water resource management, and emphasizes the need to enhance cross-border cooperation to manage these resources more sustainably.
However, the importance of the ministerial declaration extends beyond political commitment; it also paves the way for launching the 'Rome Water Initiative', as the practical arm of this commitment; it bridges the gap between strategies and priorities on one hand, and the ability to translate them into feasible projects and investments on the other.
Practically, the initiative aims to help countries develop the technical capabilities needed to manage their water resources and plan investments in them, and to translate their priorities - from modernizing infrastructure and improving water and sanitation services, to increasing their efficiency - into projects that can be prepared, financed, and managed sustainably.
The Secretariat General of the Union for the Mediterranean, through its regional water platform, will develop this initiative, enhancing regional cooperation and helping to achieve tangible results in water management across the basin.
The reality we face is clear: no country can build its water security in isolation from its surroundings. Our water systems, climate, and economies are interconnected, and what happens on one side of the Mediterranean does not remain confined there. Water not only affects the integrity of our ecosystems and the health of our people, but also touches the core of the social, economic, and political stability of our entire region. We possess the knowledge and tools needed to face this challenge together, in a spirit of partnership and regional cooperation.
Acting Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean
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