Spena (One Water): Blue finance, the blue economy and digitalisation on the agenda of the Euro-Mediterranean Water Forum

“The Euro-Mediterranean Water Forum, scheduled to take place in Rome from 29 September to 2 October 2026, enables Italy to assume a leadership role, positioning itself as a hub for water sustainability and resilience and as a laboratory for peace, development and cooperation between Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.” This was stated by Maria SPENA, president of the One Water Committee, speaking today at the presentation of the seventh edition of the 2026 White Paper by the Valore Acqua Community of Teha (The European House Ambrosetti). The event is organised by the One Water Committee, which benefits from the support and partnership of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Environment and Energy Security, Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, Infrastructure and Transport, Civil Protection and Maritime Policy, Health, Universities and Research, as well as those of Rome City Council and the Lazio Region.

“The recent decision by the Union for the Mediterranean to hold the Ministerial Meeting on Water within the Euro-Mediterranean Forum is a great honour for us as organisers and places a greater responsibility on us, particularly in view of the signing of the UfM Ministerial Declaration, which will set out the priorities for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals relating to water in the Mediterranean region. A priority for the Forum is the involvement of civil society and those businesses that have integrated water sustainability into their production processes,” added the chair of the One Water Committee. The chair also announced that the event’s programme will focus on the themes of blue finance, the blue economy and digitalisation. “Our Forum will be a key milestone in the field of blue diplomacy, placing the water-peace nexus and universal access to water resources at the top of the agenda,” concluded SPENA.