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E-flash Special Edition
December 2025 - January 2026
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Editorial |
Launch of a partnership between Nice (FR) and Fes (MO) for resilient urban green areas |
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Nice Cote d’Azur Metropolitan area and the municipality of Fes have set up a joint 2-years project with the aim to exchange of experiences and set up a pilot urban garden in Fes resilient to water stress. The project has been selected by the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs for funding. The project will explore: reusing treated wastewater for irrigating urban green spaces (experience from Morocco); trees, bushes and other vegetation adapted to new climate conditions (heat waves, water stress), agriculture practices and rain and storm water collection & storage, management of green areas with and by local citizens associations. SEMIDE is providing technical support on the mobilization of alternative water resources.
Further information on SEMIDE website.
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EuroMED News |
First EU law on soil set to enter into force
The EU's first law on soil monitoring and resilience enters into force on 16 December, a huge milestone that will help restore soil health.
Healthy soils are essential for agricultural productivity, pest resistance, and nutritional food quality and safety, critical to the long-term viability and profitability of the EU’s farming sector. Soil degradation is an issue in every EU country. 60-70% of soils are in an unhealthy state, costing the EU over €50 billion every year—more than the total GDP of countries such as Latvia and Cyprus. The Soil Monitoring Law looks at all aspects of soil degradation, from erosion and compaction to contamination and soil sealing. It applies to all soils, including forests, agricultural land and urban areas. Member States will be required to monitor and assess soil health, with the new law offering considerable flexibility so Member States can tailor this requirement to their local conditions.
Further information on SEMIDE website
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Have your say: Shape Europe’s future in a world affected by climate change
The European Commission has opened a public consultation to gather input on a future EU climate resilience framework, inviting citizens, businesses, and authorities to help shape how Europe adapts to climate change. As climate-related damages from heatwaves, floods, and extreme weather rise, assessments warn that risks could become critical by the end of the century without urgent action.
Planned for adoption in late 2026, the framework will build on existing EU climate risk strategies and aims to strengthen preparedness, protect health and well-being, reduce major climate risks, and promote climate-resilient innovation. Earlier feedback showed strong support for ambitious measures such as resilience-by-design policies, harmonised risk assessments, nature-based solutions, stable funding, and greater focus on health impacts.
The consultation allows stakeholders and citizens to submit ideas via the Have Your Say portal, with feedback open until 23 February 2026.
Further information on SEMIDE website
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SEMIDE at Bio360 Europe 2026: Advancing Biogenic CO₂ Capture and Utilisation
On 11–12 February, the Euro-Mediterranean Water Information System (SEMIDE) will take part in Bio360 Europe, an international event held in Nantes, France, dedicated to bio-renewable solutions and the transition towards a sustainable, low-carbon economy.
Bio360 Europe is a unique platform for innovation, inspiration, and transformation, bringing together stakeholders committed to delivering maximum impact today while shaping the future of bio-based solutions.
SEMIDE will be present with a dedicated stand representing the EU-funded CRONUS Horizon project and will actively contribute to the conference entitled:
“Capture and Utilisation of Biogenic CO₂ from Combustion Gases.”
As part of this session, taking place on 11 February from 14:00 to 16:00, SEMIDE will present the business models of five innovative biogenic carbon capture and utilisation systems, showcasing key results and insights from the CRONUS Horizon project.
This participation highlights SEMIDE’s commitment to promoting innovative, climate-positive solutions and supporting knowledge exchange on sustainable technologies at the Euro-Mediterranean and international levels.
Further information here.
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Last technical visit in EU from North African countries on NBS for wetland restoration and preservation
As part of the Restore NAW project (led by WWF North Africa in cooperation with the Sahara and Sahel Observatory), SEMIDE is organising a final technical visit to Tuscany region with the support of Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna. Representatives from the water and environment sectors in Morocco and Tunisia will take part in this tour (19-22 January 2022) to exchange experiences and share best practices in Nature based Solutions for the protection and restoration of wetland ecosystems and better adaptation to climate change. Discussions will focus on techniques and approaches that have been implemented and tested in various wetland monitoring, conservation and restoration initiatives carried out in the region. This visit is following 2 successful ones organised in Camargue (FR) in January 2024 (with Tour du Valat) and in the Albufera of Valencia (ES) in April 2026 (with the Mediterranean Network of Basin Organisations).
Further information here.
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Project News |
FutureLakes at the second ProCleanLakes Mission Lakes Webinar
FutureLakes participated in the second edition of the Mission Lakes Webinar Series, under the topic “Entrepreneurial Interest in Lake Protection and Restoration.” The webinar was held on November 18th, 2025 and featured the participation of SEMIDE, Paris School of Business, Landscape Finance Lab and Dunărea de Jos University of Galați.
During the event, Najla Kamergi from SEMIDE delivered a presentation entitled “Integrating Nature into Business: Insights from the Policy Landscape.” Her talk highlighted the direct link between healthy lake ecosystems and business value, examined the evolving European policy landscape and its implications for entrepreneurs, and outlined key drivers of competitiveness for nature-based businesses, namely funding and financing opportunities, standards and certifications, as well as existing alliances that support networking and collaboration. The webinar aimed to provide insights into how entrepreneurship and innovative financing can play a pivotal role in supporting the protection and restoration of European lakes. It also offered a platform for dialogue among researchers, policymakers, and practitioners working towards sustainable water management. The Mission Lakes Webinar Series is a collaborative initiative launched by FutureLakes, EuroLakes, ProCleanLakes, and FERRO, designed to foster the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and best practices in lake restoration across Europe.
Learn more about FutureLakes: https://futurelakes.eu/
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CRONUS: New book chapter in “BIOGAS: A Sustainable Approach for Renewable Energy”
With the support of CRONUS project, a recent chapter entitled “Circular economy and biorefinery of biogas production” is published in the book “Biogas : A Sustainable Approach for Renewable Energy” was published in December 2025 by Elsevier. In this work, our partners from CARTIF showcase the biogas sector as a strong and sustainable solution that valorizes organic waste and industrial byproducts within the framework of the circular economy, aiming at minimizing waste, improving resource efficiency, and decoupling economic growth from the consumption of finite resources. The authors additionally emphasize the role of biorefineries in converting biomass into energy, fuels, and high-value bioproducts to ensure optimal resource utilization, while underscoring anaerobic digestion as a key biorefinery process for waste treatment and biogas production.
Learn more about CRONUS: https://cronushorizon.eu/
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Nominations/Vacancies |
Vacancy: CIHEAM Bari intends to select a Junior Expert in technical project management for the project: “MAENA - Replenishing the small water cycle towards a more resilient agriculture”, funded by the Interreg NEXT MED Programme. The MAENA Project, lasting thirty-six months, intends to promote access to water, the sustainable management of water resources in agriculture and to strengthen farmers' ability to adapt to adverse climatic conditions. Further information here.
Vacancy: PRIMA announces a vacancy for the position of Director of the PRIMA Foundation Secretariat, based in Barcelona, Spain, with a 5-year contract renewable once. Applications are open until 15 February 2026 (23:59 CET). Further information here.
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Nature-based Solutions for Urban and Regional Water Resilience. This policy brief examines how Nature-based Solutions (NbS) can support urban and regional water resilience, addressing challenges related to excess and polluted water. It draws on research, policy insights, and good practices from the wider NbS community, and provides key recommendations to strengthen the integration of NbS into water resilience planning. Co-created through a science–policy dialogue in February 2025, the brief is designed for policymakers and experts interested in advancing effective and sustainable water management strategies. |
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Competing demands from agriculture and tourism place significant strain on water governance in Mediterranean regions, highlighting the need for more inclusive and adaptive management strategies. This study examines participatory water governance through codesign processes, in the form of “Living Labs”, implemented at the Malia and Agia sites in Crete, Greece, as part of two PRIMA projects: Sustain-Coast & OurMED. |
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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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June 2-4, 2026
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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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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Deadline for manuscript submissions: 24 August 2026 |
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Join InnWater team on 4 February 2026 in Szolnok, Hungary, for a hybrid morning session followed by an on-site afternoon meeting. This event will showcase key project results, lessons learned from pilot sites, and discussions on how innovative governance and economic tools can strengthen water management across Europe. |
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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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International forum hosted by the Turkish Water Institute (SUEN). |
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The next major international event for INBO is fast approaching. Following COP 30, this World Basin Summit will bring together institutional actors, scientists, basin organizations, and experts in Rio, Brazil, to advance water security through cooperative and innovative governance. |
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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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Regional water week focused on MENA issues. |
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