On 5 February 2026, the Mediterranean Wetlands Observatory was honoured to co-organise the policy dialogue “From Water Stress to Water Security: Wetlands as a Strategic Asset for the Mediterranean” at the European Parliament,as part of World Wetlands Day.
[1]This event took place alongside Wetlands International Europe, Fundacion Global Nature and in collaboration with MedWet, hosted by MEPs César Luena and Jutta Paulus. The European Commission was also represented, notably by the Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica, alongside Flore Lafaye de Michaux from the RamsarConvention.
Mediterranean wetlands are a strategic asset for water security, climate adaptation, and socio-economic stability across the region. Yet, the MWO-3 regional report [2] confirms a persistent and systemic degradation: historically, more than 56% of natural wetlands in the Mediterranean countries have already been lost, mainly due to land-use conversions [3]
Bringing together EU policymakers, Mediterranean partners, and scientific and policy experts, the event highlighted a clear message: wetland loss is not inevitable. Where governance frameworks are coherent, ecological water needs are secured, and restoration is adequately financed, wetlands demonstrate measurable recovery and continue to support key sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, and tourism.
Discussions focused on how key EU policy frameworks, including the Nature Restoration Regulation, the European Water Resilience Strategy, and the Pact for the Mediterranean, can drive large-scale wetland restoration, investment, and stronger EU–Mediterranean cooperation on water resilience and climate adaptation.
Protecting and restoring Mediterranean wetlands is not only a conservation priority : it is a strategic investment in water security, climate resilience, biodiversity, and regional stability.
Curious to learn more?
📄 Discover our policy brief: “Restoring Mediterranean wetlands for water security, climate resilience and biodiversity”. [4]