A lengthy working session was dedicated to drafting the Euro-Mediterranean Water Declaration — the second of its kind, following the one adopted in Malta in 2017 — which is scheduled for approval in Rome at the conclusion of the ministerial meeting in March 2026.
The main technical priorities — including the water–food–energy–environment nexus, financing mechanisms, and the need for capacity building — along with the sensitive geopolitical dimensions of water management, were reviewed by the One Water delegation. The delegation included Marco Rago, Vice President of the Forum’s Organizing Committee; Emilio Ciarlo and Filippo Soccodato, respectively Director and Secretary General of One Water; and Ilaria Orlandi, representing CIHEAM Bari.
The meeting concluded with an extended discussion with Dr. Nasser Kamel, Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean, which brings together 44 countries from the region. During the exchange, participants emphasized the importance of ensuring continuity between the meetings held first in Barcelona and now in Rome, the need to present tangible actions and results, and the urgency of mobilizing financial resources and political will to address the challenges ahead.
“One Water” and the Union for the Mediterranean reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening their role as champions of a Mediterranean rooted in peace and cooperation — a region that must preserve its unity and continue to foster dialogue between the northern and southern shores, while also promoting the inclusion of Balkan and Middle Eastern countries.
