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Happy New Year 2026!
The SEMIDE team wishes you a year filled with successful collaborations, impactful projects and shared progress towards sustainable water management in the Euro-Mediterranean region.
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Introduction |
SEMIDE is proud to present our latest e-Flash for November-December 2025. In this issue, we share recent news related to Euro-MED cooperation and widespread challenges for the water sector, and showcase the key updates of our projects striving for a sustainable future in our region. Also included are the latest publications, opportunities, and calls, and don’t miss out on our agenda of upcoming events.
Enjoy discovering our 173rd e-Flash and join us in sharing water knowledge across the Mediterranean!
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Editorial |
First EU Water Resilience Forum held in Brussels on 8 December 2025 |
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SEMIDE took part in the Water Resilience Forum organised by the European Commission in Brussels. The event gathered EU institutions, regional authorities, researchers, and industry leaders to advance the implementation of the EU Water Resilience Strategy (WRS) published in June 2025. The forum will be organized every 2 years to review implementation progress.
EU representatives stressed that water resilience is essential for Europe’s climate goals, competitiveness and long-term sustainability. The Commission announced several initiatives for 2026, including a Digital Water Action Plan, an EU Water Academy, a Water Resilience Platform, and a Water Resilience Investment Accelerator.
Discussions also highlighted the need to restore the water cycle, strengthen governance, tackle emerging pollutants, and reopen the Water Framework Directive.
Breakout sessions addressed:
• Water efficiency from farm to factory, including reuse, leak detection, nature-based solutions and innovative technologies.
• The upcoming EU Water Academy, focused on training, skills and knowledge transfer.
• Digital transformation, with emphasis on scaling existing tools, interoperability and workforce digital skills.
• Financing water resilience, stressing better governance, improved risk data and recognition of water as a strategic priority in the next EU budget.
• Industrial Challenges and Opportunities – How can the Water Resilience Strategy boost EU competitiveness
• Urban Water Resilience and sponge cities
By participating in the Forum, SEMIDE strengthened cooperation with European water actors and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting knowledge exchange, innovation, and improved water governance across the Mediterranean and Europe.
Further information on SEMIDE website
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EuroMED News |
SEMIDE co-leads the EU ZeroPollution4Water Policy Working Group
On 4 December 2025, SEMIDE took part in Water Knowledge Europe 2025 – Winter Edition, held in Brussels and organised by Water Europe. During the event, SEMIDE acted as co-lead of the Policy Working Group of the ZeroPollution4Water Cluster, alongside Water Europe, as representative of the Horizon Europe NIAGARA project. Within NIAGARA, SEMIDE is in charge of stakeholder analysis and policy analysis, helping to connect project outcomes with the needs and expectations of policy-makers and key actors in the water sector. This expertise feeds directly into the work of the Policy Working Group, which aims to better align research and innovation results with EU water and zero pollution policies. By co-leading this Working Group for the coming year, SEMIDE will continue to contribute its experience in stakeholder engagement, policy analysis and Euro-Mediterranean cooperation, supporting a stronger dialogue between science, innovation and policy to achieve the EU’s Zero Pollution ambition.
Further information on SEMIDE website
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UfM Vision Statement 2025
Mandated by Ministers at the 2024 Regional Forum, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) is undergoing a strategic transformation reaffirming its foundational purpose while aligning with emerging regional realities. Since its inception in 2008 and the last structural revision in 2017, the UfM has demonstrated resilience and adaptability, navigating shifting dynamics. The institution has delivered tangible results, including 14 sectoral Ministerial meetings, a visible role in global processes, such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP summits, and leveraged its convening power to establish impactful processes, such as the Blue Mediterranean Partnership, a multilateral investment facility aimed at supporting the transition to a sustainable blue economy mobilizing more than 1 billion EUR by 2030. These achievements underscore the capacity of the Institution to convene, deliver and innovate in a challenging context. As the UfM’s activities have grown, the member states have called for the definition of a renewed, coherent and ambitious vision to guide the Institution and a work programme that ensures its effective implementation.
Further information on SEMIDE website
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Interreg Euro-MED Programme – Launch of the 2025 Stakeholder Consultation
The Interreg Euro-MED Programme has officially launched its 2025 stakeholder consultation. Since 2022, this annual initiative has aimed to strengthen the Programme’s community by gathering valuable insights, perceptions and feedback from its partners and stakeholders across the Euro-Mediterranean region. This year’s consultation focuses on the theme “The Programme implementation: Making the best of ourselves”, addressing three key dimensions: the current progress of the Programme’s implementation, strategies for amplifying the impact and visibility of project results, and the preparation of the 2026 Mid-term event, one of the Programme’s major upcoming milestones. A short introductory video is available to present this year’s topic.
Participants are invited to take 10 to 15 minutes to complete the questionnaire and share their thoughts, expectations and ideas, contributing to a more effective and forward-looking Euro-MED Programme. This participatory approach is essential to building a greener, smarter and more sustainable Mediterranean.
Further information on SEMIDE website
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SEMIDE participates in the 15th UfM Regional Platform on Water and the kick-off of the 6th Mediterranean Water Forum in Barcelona
UT SEMIDE took part in the 15th Meeting of the UfM Regional Platform on Water, held in Barcelona on 5–6 November 2025, followed by the kick-off meeting of the 6th Mediterranean Water Forum (Euro-Mediterranean Water Forum) on 6–7 November 2025.
The objectives of the 15th UfM Regional Platform meeting were to review progress at the national level in the implementation of the UfM Water Agenda, including the UfM Financial Strategy for Water since the 14th meeting of the Platform; to discuss the draft Ministerial Declaration on Water in the Mediterranean; and to review preparations for the second UfM Ministerial Meeting on Water. Meeting participants approved the Strategy for the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus in the Mediterranean, the UfM Recommendations on Water Finance, building on the work of the UfM Working Group on Water Finance and Investment (WG-WATFIN) and the UfM Regional Strategic Framework for the Digitalisation of the Water Sector. During the meeting, SEMIDE highlighted the need for institutional and governance frameworks for data sharing to advance IWRM, the importance of nature-based solutions (NBS), and the relevance of circular-economy approaches to water management, supported by economic analysis and sustainable financing instruments.
The kick-off meeting of the Euro-Mediterranean Water Forum, which will be held in Rome from 29 September 2026 to 2 October 2026, provided an opportunity for water actors from across the region to discuss the Forum’s priorities and potential contributions. In this context, SEMIDE proposed organising a side event on nature-based solutions (NBS) from design to investment, building on results from EU projects such as the OurMED PRIMA project and the CARDIMED Horizon Europe project.
Further information on SEMIDE Website
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Contribution to the European Commission’s Expert Publication on a Nature-Positive Economy
The European Commission has officially published the Expert Publication “Policy Imperatives for a Competitive and Resilient Nature-Positive Economy”, developed under the coordination of Invest4Nature with the support of NetworkNature.
The SEMIDE (Euro-Mediterranean Information System on know-how in the Water sector) is proud to have contributed to Chapter 3: “The vital role of Nature-based Solutions in a Nature-Positive Economy.” This chapter highlights how Nature-based Solutions (NbS) can drive the transition towards an economy that supports both resilience and biodiversity restoration, by integrating natural processes into sustainable water management and climate adaptation strategies.
The publication gathers insights from multiple European experts and Horizon Europe projects, emphasizing the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration to scale up NbS implementation.
The report will be officially launched during the European Business and Nature Summit (EBNS), taking place on 23–24 October 2025 in Helsinki, Finland, during the session “Rationale and Roadblocks for Business Transformation to Nature Positive” led by Horizon Nua and Trinity College Dublin.
Further information on SEMIDE website
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Advancing Water Resilience: Insights from 222 EU-Funded Projects
The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation has published three new reports analyzing how EU-funded projects contribute to the objectives of the EU Water Resilience Strategy and to the upcoming Water Resilience Research & Innovation Strategy.
Together, the reports review 222 European projects, highlighting concrete innovation results. The analysis is built around the 3 objectives of the Water Resilience Strategy:
• Objective 1 — Restoring and protecting the water cycle as the basis for sustainable water supply
• Objective 2 — Building a water-smart economy with citizens and economic actors, supporting EU competitiveness, attracting investment, and fostering a thriving EU water industry
• Objective 3 — Ensuring clean and affordable water for all
Further information on SEMIDE website
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Commission invests €14 billion through Horizon Europe to boost global research and innovation leadership
On 11 December, the European Commission adopted the main Horizon Europe work programme for 2026-2027, a €14 billion investment designed to drive research and innovation (R&I) across the EU's strategic goals. These goals include achieving climate neutrality, boosting the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in research and innovation, and ensuring resilience in a rapidly changing world.
To achieve this, the programme introduces new cross-disciplinary calls and topics that will boost decarbonisation and the use of AI in research.
Further information on SEMIDE website
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National News |
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Egypt becomes second African country to join Horizon Europe
Egypt has officially joined Horizon Europe, becoming the second African country associated to the EU's multibillion-euro research and innovation (R&I) programme (Tunisia being the 1st African country associated to the programme, see full list of 21 countries). This grants Egyptian researchers, universities, innovators and entities access to all parts of the programme on similar terms to those of EU Member States. It enables them to lead projects, contribute to cutting-edge research, and support national research reforms and institutional capacity-building.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “People are at the core of the EU-Egypt partnership supporting them to develop their talents, ideas, and skills. Egypt's association to Horizon Europe will create opportunities for cutting-edge projects and innovations. These developments will be in vital research areas like water management, sustainable farming, and food security, bringing tangible benefits to our societies.”
Further information on SEMIDE Website
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Syria Fully Reintegrated into the Union for the Mediterranean After Barcelona Meeting
At the 10th Regional Forum of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), held on 28 November 2025 in Barcelona, the foreign ministers of the 43 member states officially welcomed Syria’s full reintegration into the Union for the Mediterranean.
Further information on SEMIDE Website
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Algeria steps up desalination efforts amid growing water stress
Facing increasing pressure on its water resources, Algeria is accelerating the development of seawater desalination to secure drinking water supplies. A major new project is currently underway in the Chlef region, with a planned daily production capacity of several hundred thousand cubic meters.
This initiative reflects an emergency response to recurring water shortages affecting many provinces, particularly during the summer months. However, desalination remains largely a corrective measure addressing long-standing structural weaknesses in water management. Significant challenges persist, including aging distribution networks, high water losses, insufficient maintenance of hydraulic infrastructure, and limited demand management. Despite substantial investment, ensuring long-term water security will require a more sustainable and forward-looking approach to resource management.
Further information on SEMIDE Website
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Spain's water cycle digitalisation PERTE: a model for lower and middle-income countries
Spain’s Water PERTE (Strategic Project for the Recovery and Economic Transformation) is a national programme designed to modernise water management through digital technologies. It supports the use of tools such as smart monitoring systems, data integration platforms, and advanced analytics to improve efficiency, reduce losses, and strengthen decision-making across the water cycle. The initiative is built on strong public leadership, coordinated governance, and a mix of public and private funding.
Spain’s experience shows that digital transformation in the water sector depends not only on technology, but also on institutional strengthening, capacity-building, and incentives that encourage long-term adoption. This approach provides useful lessons for lower- and middle-income countries seeking to improve water management and resilience.
Further information on SEMIDE Website
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France: An unprecedented interactive map makes it possible to identify the pollutants present in the drinking water supplied to each address
France now has a new interactive map called Dans Mon Eau that shows the presence of major chemical pollutants in the drinking water supplied to every address. The tool was created by the NGOs Générations Futures and Data for Good by collecting and combining official water quality data to make it easier for the public to access and understand the actual contamination levels in their local tap water. The map highlights territorial differences in pollutant levels and aims to improve transparency about water quality across the country.
Further information on SEMIDE Website
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Project News |
SIRENA Project Selected for Funding under the PRIMA Programme
The project SIRENA – Streamlining Nature-Based Solutions for Resilient and Sustainable Water Management in the Mediterranean Region has been selected for funding under the PRIMA Programme.
SIRENA aims to mainstream and upscale Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) to support the transition towards water-resilient and climate-adaptive Mediterranean regions. Through participatory governance and an integrated approach, the project will address key challenges such as droughts, floods, water quality degradation and biodiversity loss.
SIRENA will be implemented by a consortium of 10 partners from Europe and the Southern Mediterranean, coordinated by NTUA, Greece.
Within SIRENA, SEMIDE will be responsible for impact and evaluation, as well as for co-creation processes and capacity-building activities, contributing to the effective uptake and long-term sustainability of NBS across the Mediterranean.
Further information on SEMIDE Website
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OurMED took part in the PRIMA Conference “Rethinking the Future of Mediterranean Land and Water” in Athens
On 11 November 2025, OurMED partners: UfZ, UNISS, TUC, UNIPR and ESIM participated in the conference “Rethinking the Future of Mediterranean Land and Water” held in Athens, an initiative led by the PRIMA project SALAM-MED in collaboration with OurMED and NATMed. The event brought together experts, PRIMA-funded projects, decision-makers and young researchers to discuss innovative strategies for tackling the challenges of Mediterranean drylands.
Throughout the day, participants explored nature-based solutions, governance approaches, and new pathways for land and water resilience in the region. A strong focus was also placed on science diplomacy and on the role of intergenerational collaboration in shaping future strategies.
The event concluded with the preparation of a Joint Declaration, capturing shared commitments to reinforce cooperation and drive sustainable land and water management in the Mediterranean.
Further information on OurMED website
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Inauguration of the CARDIMED French Demonstration Site at Saint-Charles Campus
On 10 December, the French demonstration site of the CARDIMED project, located on the Saint-Charles campus, was officially inaugurated in the presence of the President of Aix-Marseille University. The inauguration marked the signing of Aix-Marseille University’s Biodiversity Charter, which aligns with the university’s broader Social Responsibility Master Plan developed in response to the Climate Plan. The Charter aims to integrate sustainable development challenges across all university policies, including governance, procurement, education, research, innovation, and social policy. As part of the first phase of works; now completed and covering half of the demonstration site; 1,140 m² of sealed surfaces were removed and replaced with green areas, trees, and permeable materials. These nature-based solutions are designed to reduce surface runoff and enhance rainwater infiltration.
Further information on CARDIMED website
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NIAGARA Project Annual General Assembly: Advancing Stakeholder Engagement
On 27 and 28 November, the Annual General Assembly of the NIAGARA project took place in Barcelona, Spain. During this event, SEMIDE facilitated an internal consortium workshop aimed at strengthening stakeholder engagement through the simplification and effective dissemination of the project’s outcomes. Each technical partner was invited to reflect on and clearly articulate, in accessible terms, the role and functioning of their respective prototype, ensuring that key messages could be easily communicated to non-specialist stakeholders. This exercise not only supported knowledge transfer and outreach objectives but also contributed to team building, as partners from different backgrounds and levels of expertise worked together, fostering collaboration between specialists and non-experts. With this preparatory work now completed, SEMIDE will engage all target stakeholders previously identified during the stakeholder mapping and analysis phase. NIAGARA project develops strategies to offer a holistic solution to the widespread issue of water pollution focusing on understanding, monitoring and remediating contaminants in Drinking Water Treatment Plants.
Further information on NIAGARA website
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Nominations/Vacancies |
Malta (November 2025) Inġ Sandro Lauri Appointed CEO for the Energy and Water Agency. Further information here.
France (Sept 1, 2025): Philippe Gouteyron was nominated assistant Director of Water Protection and Management (Sous-directeur de la protection et de la gestion de l’eau) within the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion. Further information here.
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Europe’s cities now have a powerful new resource to accelerate the design, implementation, and monitoring of Urban Nature Plans and urban greening strategies. The newly published Handbook of Tools for Informing and Monitoring Urban Greening Strategies and Nature Plans - developed through the Science Service for Biodiversity, an initiative supported by BioAgora in collaboration with the EC Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity (KCBD) - offers a practical overview of 59 digital tools that can help cities strengthen biodiversity and climate resilience. |
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Plan Bleu has released its latest publication, “Towards Sustainable Desalination in the Mediterranean: Integrating Environmental, Economic and Social Perspectives,” a comprehensive report bringing together ten scientific studies conducted by fifteen researchers from across the Mediterranean region. In the context of increasing pressure on water resources, this new volume offers an in-depth analysis of desalination challenges and concrete recommendations to support the sustainable development of the sector. |
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The European Commission has pre-published the draft Work Programmes 2026–2027 on the Comitology Register to help stakeholders prepare early. This includes Cluster 6 (Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture & Environment) with water-related topics. Note these are drafts and may change before official publication. |
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Submission Deadline: Jan. 23, 2026 |
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The conference focuses on sustainable water management, climate resilience, and the integrity of ecosystem functioning. |
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Submission Deadline: 3–8 May 2026 |
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Overview: Sustainable water management sits at the heart of climate resilience, yet faces intensifying pressures: over-extraction, water-quality degradation, biodiversity loss, and socio-economic inequities. Traditional, monosectoral approaches no longer suffice. At EGU 2026, this session spotlights integrated pathways for fairer water governance from catchments to policy. Co-organised by the PRIMA-funded OurMED Project and NextGen4MED. |
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Overview: The 6th edition of the TERRAenVISION Conference “Nature-Based Solutions to facilitate the transition for living within the Planetary Boundaries” will take place from 7 to 10 September 2026 in the historic city of Trier, Germany, featuring three days of scientific sessions followed by a field visit on the final day.
Submit your session proposal here. |
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The 3 main axes of the Colloquium are Science, Technology & Innovation, Law, Institutions & Society, Literature, Poetry & Imagination |
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29 September- 2 October 2026 |
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The Forum, which has previously focused solely on Mediterranean countries, will for the first time include all European and Balkan states. This decision was announced in Bali, Indonesia, during the 10th World Water Forum. |
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The XIX World Water Congress will explore innovative solutions and adaptive strategies and approaches for water resources in an increasingly changing world. |
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