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| | | E-flash 175September 2026 |
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Editorial | SEMIDE at the EUROMED Water Forum 2026: advancing Nature-based Solutions, digital innovation and data-driven governance of water-related ecosystems
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The Euro-Mediterranean Water Forum will take place from 29 September to 2 October 2026 in Rome, Italy. For the first time, the Forum will bring together all European Balkan and South Mediterranean countries, providing a unique platform for dialogue and cooperation on water-related challenges across the region. The event will be preceded by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Ministerial Meeting on Water on 28 September, gathering its 43 member states, with the aim to strengthen water security and accelerate investment across the Mediterranean. It is expected to endorse three strategic frameworks: the Strategy for the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems Nexus in the Mediterranean Source-to-Sea Continuum, the UfM Recommendations on Water Finance, and the UfM Regional Strategic Framework for the Digitalisation of the Water Sector. This year’s edition comes at a pivotal moment, as digital transformation moves to the forefront of the European Water Agenda from the forthcoming EU Action Plan for the Digitalisation of the Water Sector to a new generation of Earth observation and AI-based monitoring tools. This growing momentum is reflected in SEMIDE’s contribution to the Forum, which will span three complementary sessions focusing on Nature-based Solutions (NbS), digital and AI innovation, and data-driven governance of water-related ecosystems. Together with MedWet, SEMIDE will co-organise, during the Basin Day led by INBO on 1st of October, a session entitled “Up-scaling and mainstreaming Nature-based Solutions (NbS) at the basin level”, (16:30 to 18:00 in La Nuvola - Expo and Congress Center - Room Itaca). The session will feature case studies and experience-sharing from River Basin Organisations, including the Júcar River Basin, followed by panel discussions addressing the governance, financing and scaling-up of green-grey infrastructure and Nature-based Solutions at basin level. A limited number of free entrance ticket for this session are available from SEMIDE Technical Unit on 1st come, 1st serve basis. Other sessions of the Basin days include i) high-level plenary panel "Water Governance: Cities, Basin Authorities and Stakeholders Commitment"; ii) Operationalizing IWRM: shaping the high-level segment dedicated to basins and watershed at the 11th World Water Forum; iii) Governance, a key role for Water resilient River basins. Also on 1 October, from 14:30 to 16:00 CET, SEMIDE will contribute to the Euro-Med Talk, “A New Tech-Blue Hope – Digital and AI: Water Innovation.” SEMIDE’s Director, Eric Mino, will join the panel to discuss how digital technologies, artificial intelligence and geospatial innovations are transforming water resources management across the Euro-Mediterranean region. Finally, SEMIDE will contribute to the side event “From Data to Action: Digital Tools for Water-related Ecosystem Governance, Management and Restoration in the Mediterranean”, taking place on 1 October 2026 from 11:30 to 13:00 CEST. Organised by Tour du Valat, Plan Bleu and MedWet, the session will explore how open-source platforms, Earth observation and other digital tools can help bridge the gap between scientific data and policy implementation, supporting more effective governance, management and restoration of water-related ecosystems across the Mediterranean. Further information on EUROMEDITERRANEAN WATER FORUM Website
| EuroMED News | EESC warns water is now a matter of economic security for Europe Ahead of the UN Water Conference 2026 (8-10 December, Abu Dhabi – UAE), the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held a plenary debate with EU Commissioner for Environment and Water Resilience, Ms Jessika Roswall. The EESC calls for water to be treated as a strategic resource for Europe’s economy, security and global role. The debate comes as water stress increases across Europe, putting pressure on supply chains, infrastructure and industrial production. In response to this, the Committee is calling for a shift in how water is framed in EU policy, from a mainly environmental concern to a strategic resource for competitiveness and resilience. European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy Jessika Roswall echoed this broader approach, saying: ‘Water is not only an environmental priority, but also a vital ingredient for our competitiveness, preparedness, resilience and overall security. We need a sustained and cross-sectoral effort to solve our water challenges in Europe with all partners around the table.
Further information on SEMIDE website
| Mediterranean Climate Dialogue: Regional Priorities Ahead of COP31
The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) is bringing together Mediterranean stakeholders through a series of regional consultations ahead of COP31, to be held in Antalya, Türkiye, in November 2026. The discussions focus on shared climate challenges and priorities, including climate adaptation, water and food security, the energy transition, and sustainable development. The consultation held in Amman, Jordan, contributes to this regional dialogue by highlighting the need for stronger cooperation and practical solutions across the Mediterranean. The outcomes of the consultations will feed into a Mediterranean synthesis ahead of COP31, helping to strengthen the region’s voice in international climate discussions.
Further information SEMIDE Website.
| AI dives into a sea of data, from plankton to pollution
Scientists are turning to Artificial Intelligence (AI) to analyse millions of images and sensor readings, spotting changes in oceans and rivers faster than ever before. Underwater cameras and environmental sensors mean modern monitoring of oceans, rivers and lakes now generates far more data than researchers can realistically analyse by hand. Making sense of that massive flow of information was the goal of iMagine, an EU-funded research collaboration between aquatic scientists and digital experts from 11 European countries. Running from 2022 to 2025, the project developed AI tools to help researchers process and analyse large volumes of aquatic data faster and on a much larger scale. Coordinating the effort was Gergely Sipos, an expert in research computing and digital infrastructure at the EGI Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that connects researchers across Europe with computing, data and other digital services. “This is about the health of the ocean, rivers and lakes that people depend on for food, climate, tourism and drinking water,” said Sipos. “Faster and cheaper monitoring means problems like plankton decline, litter accumulation, oil spills and coral degradation can be picked up and acted on sooner.” Although iMagine ended in 2025, the tools and data developed by the researchers have been made available for other scientists to use and adapt to their own work. That includes the datasets used to train AI models to recognise everything from fish species to floating litter. Making them available means other researchers can build on what has already been learned, rather than starting from scratch. “Anyone can access our work,” said Sipos. “We continue to support scientists. We offer training material and even jump on video calls if needed.” Further information on SEMIDE Website
| European Climate Resilience and Risk Management – Integrated Framework to be launched in October 2026 After a wide European open consultation process, the European Commission is expected to publish a communication for EU regulation covering member states obligation to develop climate resilience strategic plans, the preparation of a common EU climate reference scenario based on a 3°C global warming trajectory by 2100 and resilience by design guiding principles.
Further information SEMIDE Website
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National News | Morocco: ONEE Approves €26 Billion Investment Plan to Secure Water and Energy Supply Morocco's National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) approved in late July 2026 a MAD 248 billion (around €23 billion / $26.4 billion) investment plan covering the 2026–2030 period, of which MAD 42.1 billion (about €4 billion) is dedicated to drinking water infrastructure. The plan is designed to meet 63% of national drinking water demand from desalination, compared with 13% in 2025 and less than 8% in 2023. New desalination plants are planned across several regions, including Casablanca, the Oriental, Tangier, Souss-Massa and Guelmim-Tan-Tan, with the Casablanca plant set to become one of the largest in the world at 300 million cubic metres per year. The programme reflects Morocco's accelerating shift towards non-conventional water resources after several consecutive years of drought.
Further information on SEMIDE Website
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Tunisia: Gargour Seawater Desalination Plant Inaugurated in Sfax On 18 June 2026, Tunisia's Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries brought into service the Gargour seawater desalination plant in the governorate of Sfax, one of the largest hydraulic projects ever carried out in the country. The plant has an initial capacity of 100,000 m³ per day, designed to be expandable up to 250,000 m³ per day, and was delivered with the support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) at an estimated cost of around 1.18 billion dinars. Beyond securing drinking water for the Sfax region, its commissioning will allow a reorganisation of the national supply network by freeing up resources previously directed toward Greater Sfax. The project strengthens Tunisia's strategy to diversify water sources in regions severely affected by water stress.
Further information on SEMIDE website |
Egypt: New Water Year Launched Under the "Water 2.0" Programme
Egypt launched its 2026–2027 water year on 1 August 2026, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation announcing a wide-ranging programme to modernise water management through agricultural drainage water reuse, infrastructure rehabilitation, digital transformation and protection against floods and coastal erosion. This second-generation "Water 2.0" programme is built around ten strategic pillars, including water treatment and reuse, smart water management, digital transformation, climate adaptation and institutional development. Flagship reuse projects are advancing rapidly, with the New Delta conveyance system reaching 79% completion and the two routes linking the Bahr El-Baqar treatment plant to Sinai reclamation areas about 89% complete.
Further information on here
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Italy: EIB Backs ACEA with €450 Million to Modernise Water Infrastructure in Lazio
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved a €450 million financing package for the utility ACEA, with a first €200 million tranche signed in Rome to launch its 2027–2030 investment programme. The funds will support upgrades to water supply, treatment and distribution networks and wastewater plants across the Lazio region, including reducing water losses, digitalising systems, strengthening infrastructure interconnections and developing water-reuse solutions to improve efficiency and climate resilience. The seventeenth agreement between the two partners since 1999, it brings their total cooperation to around €2.6 billion. The EIB remains the leading European public financier of the water sector, having supported Italian utilities with €837 million in 2025 alone. Further information on SEMIDE Website
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OFB launches new MOOC on Natural Based Solutions to address climate change
The French Biodiversity Agency (OFB) has launched a new free online MOOC, “Adapting to climate change with Nature-based Solutions”, designed to help researchers, citizens, local authorities, businesses and other stakeholders better understand and implement Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for climate adaptation. Developed under the LIFE ARTISAN project, the nine-week course explores the links between climate, biodiversity and well-being, while providing practical guidance to identify, plan and implement NbS projects. The course is fully online, free of charge, and runs from 16 September to 13 November 2026.
Further information on SEMIDE Website
| Project News |
MEDWaterHUB: Exploring Mediterranean water data through interactive maps
The MEDWaterHUB is a digital platform developed within the OurMED project and funded by the PRIMA Partnership. Designed to make Mediterranean water-related data more accessible, the platform enables users to explore, visualise and communicate environmental information through intuitive interactive tools. By combining interactive maps, environmental indicators and dynamic visualisations, Explorer Mode allows users to analyse spatial and temporal patterns across the Mediterranean region. It provides an accessible way to better understand key water-related challenges and supports informed decision-making for researchers, policymakers and stakeholders. MEDWaterHUB aims to transform complex scientific and environmental datasets into clear and engaging visual insights. As a Cross-Cutting Legacy platform, it is designed to leverage data, scientific evidence and environmental storytelling across Euro-Mediterranean projects, ensuring that valuable project results remain accessible beyond their lifetime. This first demonstration showcases the capabilities of Explorer Mode, with additional features currently under development. Upcoming releases will include Story Mode, offering narrative-based visualisations, as well as data download tools to facilitate access to the platform's datasets.
To explore the platform, visit the MEDWaterHUB website
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STARS4Water Impact Reporter – Request for Contributions
The STARS4Water project has developed a tool called Impact Reporter: https://ir.stars4water.eu/ . The Impact Reporter is an application designed to document, analyse, and share insights into the impacts of past flood, drought, storm, and heatwave events. It provides a comprehensive platform for reporting biophysical, social and cultural, economic, and health-related impacts, as well as mitigation and adaptation measures implemented in response to these events. The project team is currently populating the Impact Reporter with case studies from river basins across Europe. River basin organisations or experts are welcome to use the tool and contribute by identifying and documenting significant flood, drought, storm, or heatwave events that have affected their river basin. Contributions could include information on: the event and its characteristics; the impacts on the environment, society, economy, culture, and public health; the mitigation and adaptation measures implemented in response; and relevant reports, studies, data sources, or contacts. It is also interesting to explore and learn from existing case studies, such as Flood event in Thessaly in September 2023 (https://ir.stars4water.eu/event/factsheet/4/) or Dutch extreme drought event in 2022 (https://ir.stars4water.eu/event/factsheet/5/). Contributions would therefore not only strengthen this resource but also help ensure that valuable local knowledge and experience are preserved and shared with the wider European water community. | CARDIMED: join the Mediterranean Resilience Alliance The CARDIMED project (Climate Adaptation and Resilience Demonstrated in the Mediterranean region) works to build climate resilience across the Mediterranean by mainstreaming Nature-based Solutions through demonstrations across multiple regions and communities. Its participating regions and communities from the Mediterranean Resilience Alliance, a growing network designed to upscale existing sites, add new ones and mobilise climate investment, aiming to reach at least 28 regions and 70 communities and to leverage over €450 million in climate investment by 2030. Organisations interested in joining can express their interest through the Alliance’s Expression of Interest form.
Learn more and apply: cardimed-project.eu/mediterranean-resilience-alliance
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SEMIDE contribution to the FutureLakes podcast on financing lake restoration How can we measure the success of lake restoration, and how can we secure the investment needed to restore these vital ecosystems? A recent episode of the FutureLakes Podcast, featured by The Freshwater blog, explores these questions, bringing together scientific and economic perspectives on the future of Europe’s lakes. The episode looks beyond traditional environmental indicators to consider the wider benefits of healthy lakes, including biodiversity, recreation, livelihoods, carbon and economic value. SEMIDE’s environmental economist Najla Kamergi contributes to the discussion by exploring the concept of lake “bankability” and the role that economic valuation can play in mobilising finance for restoration. Her contribution also raises an important question: how can we put an economic value on nature while ensuring that its broader environmental and societal values are not overlooked?
This episode is part of the FutureLakes project, a project funded under the EU mission “Restore our Ocean and waters”, working to develop innovative approaches to lake restoration, combining nature-based solutions, biodiversity, circular economy approaches, governance and sustainable financing. Listen to the episode: What’s a lake worth? Measuring success and funding the future of lake restoration — The Freshwater Blog
| NIAGARA: Predicting Water Contaminants Before They Become a Problem Within the NIAGARA project, the Faculty of Polymer Technology (FTPO) in Slovenia, is using computer simulations to investigate the mechanisms behind the formation and degradation of harmful substances in water. Their work helps researchers understand these processes at molecular level and supports the development of more efficient treatment technologies. “Computational methods are mathematical techniques used to model, simulate and predict the behaviour of real systems,” explains Matic Pavlin from FTPO. “In the NIAGARA project, we use molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations and density functional theory to study how selected pollutants degrade in water. Read more here
| CARDIMED opens its Consortium Meeting to public authorities and businesses in Marseille On 16 October 2026, CARDIMED will open its annual meeting to a wider audience at the Hôtel de Région in Marseille, with two parallel sessions connecting the project with different communities. The Public Sector & Business Session will welcome public authorities, companies, consultancies and other regional actors working with NbS and climate adaptation, while a parallel Research Session will focus on scientific exchange and collaboration. Further information on CARDIMED Website | |
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| The Nature-based Solutions in the Arab Region report, jointly published by UN-Habitat and the Islamic Development Bank, provides a comprehensive collection of case studies addressing the region’s critical environmental and resource challenges. Focusing on four main thematic pillars: water management, coastal restoration, urban greening, and agroecology, the publication showcases innovative practices ranging from constructed wetlands and mangrove restoration to the revival of traditional techniques such as Foggaras and Aflaj. By combining indigenous knowledge with modern spatial planning and hybrid infrastructure, the study demonstrates how nature-based approaches foster long-term climate resilience, enhance water security, and drive key socio-economic co-benefits across Arab nations. Read the report here |
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| The European Federation of National Associations of Water Services (EurEau) published in June 2026 its flagship report Europe's Wates in Figures 2026, offering the most comprehensive overview of the continent's drinking water and wastewater services. Produced every five years, the report confirms that Europe enjoys near-universal access: 97% of Europeans are connected to drinking water services and around 90% to wastewater collection and treatment, for roughly 1% of household income, but warns that this high coverage masks growing vulnerabilities linked to ageing infrastructure, insufficient investment and mounting climate pressures. European operators invest around €52.5 billion per year in networks and facilities, a nominal increase compared with 2021, but a decline in real terms once inflation is factored in, leaving network renewal rates well below what is needed to prevent progressive deterioration. The report also points to an emerging "employment crisis", with the sector struggling to attract the skilled professionals required to manage increasingly complex treatment processes, and notes a slight reduction in water losses, to around 23.5% of supply. EurEau calls for sustained long-term investment and stronger pollution-prevention measures to secure resilient and affordable water services for future generations, echoing the ambitions of the European Water Resilience Strategy. |
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| The Joint Research Center of the European Commission has published a detailed report in August 2028 on use the natural capital accounting to measure the strength and endurance of competitiveness. It is reflection 10 years of work on integrated environmental and economic accounting, based on the UN System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) framework. |
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| The Water4All European Partnership has pre-announced its 2026 Joint Transnational Call for research and innovation projects on Sustainable Water Management (excluding extreme events and circularity), with funding organisations from 30 countries across Europe and beyond. The call invites proposals addressing Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM), river basin management, groundwater management, water resilience, integrated water monitoring and data management, and water-positive solutions, contributing to the implementation of policy frameworks such as the European Green Deal, the Water Framework Directive, the European Water Resilience Strategy and the SDGs. The call opened on 8 September 2026, with an international informative webinar held on 17 September 2026. Pre-proposal submission deadline: 10 November 2026, 15:00 CET. |
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| Biodiversa+ has launched BiodivFuture, its 2026–2027 Joint Call for transnational research and innovation projects on biodiversity and novel ecosystems. 25 countries, together with the European Commission, are participating in the call, supporting research into how novel ecosystems emerge, how they function and change over time, and what this means for biodiversity and society. Projects may address one or several of three interconnected themes: novel ecosystem functioning; pathways to novel ecosystems; and biodiversity benefits and equity, mirroring the goals of the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework. The call uses a two-step process: pre-proposal deadline 10 November 2026 (12:00 CET); full-proposal deadline 16 April 2027. |
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| The Interreg NEXT MED Programme has launched its third Call for Proposals, dedicated to Sustainable Tourism, with a total budget of €8.2 million. Implemented under the Mediterranean Multi-Programme Mechanism (MMM), the call supports the transfer, adaptation and upscaling of successful solutions developed through previous Interreg projects for wider deployment across Mediterranean territories. Public authorities, research and higher-education institutions, associations and other territorial stakeholders are invited to build transnational partnerships, with an online information session held on 11 September 2026. Application deadline: 29 October 2026, 13:00 CET |
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| The Donors ‘Initiative for Mediterranean Freshwater Ecosystems (DIMFE) launches its annual call for projects. Application deadline: 15 October 2026. Themes of the call are i) Conservation and restoration of freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity; ii) Sustainable use and management of water resources; iii) The development and implementation of sustainable financing mechanisms for freshwater ecosystem conservation and sustainable water use. |
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| MAIF, the French mutual insurance group, through its Fonds MAIF pour le vivant, has opened a new call to support Nature-Based Solutions projects that restore ecosystems, strengthen biodiversity and improve territorial resilience to climate change.
Selected projects can receive up to €500,000 in funding and will join the Nature 2050 programme, where their environmental and territorial impacts will be monitored over the long term. The call is aimed at organisations acting in the public interest and developing concrete, locally anchored solutions to climate-related risks. Application Deadline: 16 November 2026, 12:00 CET |
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| Call for contributions: Astee’s 106th Congress on water and waste services in a +4°C context |
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| Astee has opened its call for contributions for its 106th Congress, focused on the transformation of water and waste services in response to climate change. Researchers, engineers and water and waste professionals are invited to submit contributions on topics including climate adaptation, water resource management, Nature-Based Solutions, pollution, reuse, resilience and coastal territories.
Contributions can be submitted as oral presentations, posters, workshops, training sessions or for the international session. |
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| 29 September – 2 October 2026 |
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| For the first time, the Forum includes all European and Balkan states. SEMIDE sessions: - A New tech blue hope: Digital and AI: Water Innovation (T10) – Euro-Med Talk: 1 October 2026, 2:30-4 p.m, Rome
- Up-scaling and mainstreaming Nature based Solutions at basin level (SEMIDE & MedWet) – Basin Day : 1 October 2026, 4:30-6p.m, Rome
- From Data to Action (side event): 1 October 2026, Rome (duration 1h30)
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| 29 September – 1 October 2026 |
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| The 2nd International science conference of AnaEE-ERIC brings together researchers and policymakers around seven thematic sessions on ecosystem resilience, spanning global-change ecology, forest and agricultural resilience, aquatic-terrestrial interactions, Nature-based Solutions for climate adaptation, and digital ecosystems and data integration. Organised with CNRS and AnaEE-France, the conference includes a policy session held in collaboration with Plan Bleu. |
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| Water Europe's flagship event returns under the theme "Raising the Bar for the Water Framework Directive," held under the patronage of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. As the 2027 Water Framework Directive objectives approach and the focus shifts from ambition to implementation, the programme brings together policymakers, investors, industry leaders, innovators and researchers around four key challenges: financing Europe's water ambitions, building resilience to water scarcity, making businesses more water-smart, and using data to improve water management, including the prospect of a European Water Data Space. Further information |
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| Marseille will host the 26th International Congress of ICID and the 77th International Executive Council Meeting from 12 to 17 October 2026. This major event takes place in a global context marked by increasing tensions surrounding water management, food security, and the impacts of climate change. |
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| Held under the theme “Water as a Catalyst for Peace, Shared prosperity and sustainable planet”, the 9th Cairo Water Week gathers ministers, experts and international organisations around five thematic pillars, from the governance of shared water resources under international law and food security through desalination and water reuse, to climate resilience, artificial intelligence and digital transformation for water sustainability, and innovative financing and national water governance. This edition also hosts the 7th Arab Water Conference (26-27 October) and a final preparatory session for the 2026 UN water conference. |
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| From November 2 to 6 2026, in Paris, France, this event will bring together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, local and regional representatives, national and transnational public authorities, businesses, investors, and civil society from around the world, and serve as a global meeting point for those working around nature and people. |
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| Held under the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Fifth Forum of the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change supports EU regions, cities and local authorities in strengthening their resilience to climate impacts. The Forum will spotlight practical and replicable adaptation solutions developed through Mission Projects, with interactive workshop sessions to co-design solutions tailored to communities and extensive networking across sectors and governance levels. A pre-Forum programme on 23 November offers site visits around Dublin and a Community of Practice workshop.
Registration is open until 2 October 2026. |
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| Co-hosted by the United Arab Emirates and Senegal at the ADNEC Exhibition Centre, the 2026 UN Water Conference will be the first UN Water Conference dedicated to accelerating the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6 on water and sanitation. Only the third global gathering of its kind since 1977, and the first led by two nations from the Global South, the Conference aims to move from dialogue to implementation through knowledge sharing, partnerships, investment and political commitments. It will feature two zones: The Oasis, hosted by the UAE, and The Blue Zone, led by the UN, structured around six Interactive Dialogues. |
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