WES co-organised on the 5th of February, the 2nd Regional Roundtable on the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus in the Mediterranean, where the first draft of the relevant Strategy was presented and discussed. The Strategy is developed jointly by the EU, UNEP/MAP and UfM and technically facilitated by WES, GWP-Med and the PRIMA Foundation. Its structure is based on three major goals and eight objectives. The Strategy also provides the framework for implementation, monitoring and synergies and elaborates on various types of necessary financial means and capacities to achieve the goals and objectives.

The three goals of the Strategy to promote the WEFE Nexus:

1. Appropriate institutional arrangements, policies, and cooperation frameworks are established at country and regional levels.

2. Efficient and effective planning, financing and implementation of management and technical solutions.

3. Informed decision making based on enhanced science-based knowledge, engagement of capacitated stakeholders, and increased public awareness.

The meeting was attended by H.E. the Minister of the Environment of Tunisia, Ms Leila Chikhaoui Mahdaoui and H.E. the Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of Egypt, Prof. Hani Atef Nabhan Sewilam.

Mr. Frederic Fourtune, DG NEAR, addressed the meeting and chaired the “Implementation Framework, Financial Means and Monitoring of the WEFE Nexus Strategy” session, while the WES TL, General Rapporteur of the meeting, presented the conclusions and the way forward. The latter was also the key-note speaker of the first plenary session on the 6th of February 2024, which was also devoted to the WEFE Nexus.