Water has become one of the defining strategic challenges of the twenty-first century. Increasing pressure on freshwater resources, the growing frequency and intensity of climate-related extreme events, rapid urbanisation and population growth are placing unprecedented demands on water systems worldwide. At the same time, water security has become intrinsically linked to food production, energy transition, public health, economic resilience and regional stability. As a result, water governance is no longer viewed solely as an environmental issue, but as a cross-cutting policy priority at the intersection of sustainable development, security and climate resilience.
Over the past decade, the international community has progressively moved beyond a sectoral approach to water management, recognising water as a fundamental enabler of the Sustainable Development Goals and a key driver of economic prosperity, social cohesion and geopolitical stability. Addressing the global water crisis requires integrated governance, innovative solutions and, above all, stronger international cooperation capable of responding to challenges that transcend national borders.
Within this evolving policy landscape, the European Union has reinforced its commitment through its new European Water Resilience Strategy, which places water security at the heart of Europe’s climate adaptation and sustainability agenda. The Strategy identifies water efficiency, ecosystem restoration, circular water use, technological innovation, digitalisation, integrated river basin management and sustainable investment as essential pillars for building resilient water systems. Equally important, it recognises international cooperation as a strategic dimension of Europe’s response to the global water challenge, acknowledging that resilience can only be achieved through partnerships that extend beyond the European continent.
Against this backdrop, Rome is uniquely positioned to serve as a bridge between the European and international water agendas. In September 2026, the Italian capital will host the Euromediterranean Water Forum, one of the leading regional platforms for political and technical dialogue on water resilience in the Mediterranean. The Forum will convene European institutions, governments, international organisations, financial institutions, academia, the private sector and civil society to address shared challenges and identify common solutions for one of the world’s most water-stressed regions.
Organised within the framework of the 17th Festival of Diplomacy and hosted by the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, the Water Forum seeks to contribute to this momentum by providing a high-level platform for dialogue on the future of water governance. The event will explore the priorities emerging from the European Water Resilience Strategy while promoting exchanges between Europe, the Mediterranean and the Gulf on climate adaptation, technological innovation, sustainable finance, integrated water management and water security. By bringing together policymakers, experts, businesses and international organisations, the Forum aims to highlight the growing role of water diplomacy as a catalyst for cooperation, resilience and sustainable development.
The Water Forum is also conceived as a strategic milestone on the road to the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, to be held in Dubai in December 2026. Positioned between the Euromediterranean Water Forum in Rome and the UN Conference in Dubai, the event will provide an opportunity to advance policy dialogue, identify shared priorities and develop recommendations that can contribute to the global discussions on the future of water governance. In doing so, it seeks to strengthen the European contribution to the international water agenda while fostering closer cooperation with partners across the Mediterranean and the Gulf region.
More than a stand-alone conference, the Water Forum aspires to become a platform for long-term dialogue and partnership-building between Europe, the Mediterranean and the Gulf. By connecting regional initiatives with the global process leading to Dubai 2026, it aims to reinforce the understanding of water resilience as a global public good and a fundamental prerequisite for sustainable development, international stability and shared prosperity for future generations.
