Following the establishing 1st Meeting of the WEG Drafting Group (5 April 2016, Athens), two more similar meetings (26-27 July 2016, Malta; and, 26 September 2016, Brussels) further worked on:
- Elements towards a common regional water agenda in the UfM framework, including for provision of a Strategic Guidance towards water security in the Mediterranean;
- Future WEG Mode of Operations and a Roadmap/calendar of works;
- Guidelines for a long-term WEG Work Programme, including a Financial Strategy, in order to provide the implementation framework for the Strategic Guidance.
The next step in the process is the UfM Senior Officials Meeting consisting of representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Euro-Mediterranean countries, scheduled for 14 October 2016 in Brussels. There, the UfM Co-Presidency (European Commission and Jordan) and the UfM Secretariat are expected to present the suggestion to hold the UfM Ministerial Conference in Malta.
This far-reaching UfM political and technical process aims at establishing a joint vision for water security in the Mediterranean towards 2030 and beyond. It draws on integrated responses, focusing on the feasible and the tangible. Building trust among countries and stakeholders, it aims at linking capacities and financial resources towards addressing needs. GWP-Med contributes to the UfM process servicing as its technical facilitator providing key technical and organizational support for the delivery of all related outputs and activities.
Works are supported by and are part of the GWP Water, Climate and Development Programme (WACDEP) and UfM partners. The EU-supported SWIM/H2020 II SM Project also contributes.