From water stress to water security: Wetlands as a strategic asset for the Mediterranean

Описание: To mark World Wetlands Day, MEP Cesar Luena and MEP Jutta Paulus will host a policy dialogue on 5 February 2026 at the European Parliament, to present the key findings of the MWO-3 and explore how the European Union can translate this evidence into action.

The Mediterranean Wetlands Outlook 3 (MWO-3), produced by the Mediterranean Wetlands Observatory, confirms a persistent and systemic degradation of these ecosystems. To date, over 56% of Mediterranean natural wetlands have been lost, with continued declines driven by water over-abstraction, land-use change, river fragmentation, and climate impacts. These pressures reduce wetlands’ capacity to regulate water availability, buffer climate extremes, and sustain key economic sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, and tourism.

At the same time, the MWO-3 shows that wetland loss is not inevitable. Where governance frameworks are coherent, ecological water needs are secured, and restoration is adequately financed, wetlands demonstrate measurable recovery. The report identifies five strategic levers for action, including restoring hydrological connectivity, scaling up ecological restoration, strengthening water governance, integrating wetlands into spatial planning, and reinforcing regional cooperation.

Co-organised by Wetlands International Europe and Tour du Valat, in collaboration with MedWet, the event will examine how the Nature Restoration Law, the European Water Resilience Strategy, and the Pact for the Mediterranean can support large-scale wetland restoration and investment, while strengthening EU–Mediterranean cooperation on water resilience and climate adaptation.