Amman, Sept. 29 (Petra) – Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abu Soud called for "stronger" Mediterranean cooperation on water security, saying water should not be used as a political tool or monopolized by any single country.
Speaking at the second Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Ministerial Meeting on Water in Rome, Abu Soud said water security is a "shared regional responsibility" amid mounting geopolitical pressures, calling for practical mechanisms to strengthen cooperation on sustainable water management.
On attendance, the event brought together representatives from 43 UfM member states, including European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy Jessika Roswall, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, and UfM Acting Secretary-General Fadi Hajali.
Abu Soud said Jordan supports a regional framework covering transboundary surface and groundwater resources, noting that such resources are directly linked to food security, energy, public health, economic development, and the environment.
He said Jordan remains "committed" to translating the Mediterranean Water Declaration into practical measures, stressing the need for cooperation on water governance, financing, knowledge-sharing, and sustainable investment.
Abu Soud noted that Jordan is among the world’s most water-scarce countries and has made water security a national priority through efforts to diversify conventional and non-conventional water sources, reduce water losses, expand treated wastewater use, protect groundwater and surface-water quality, and increase private-sector participation in water management.
He also cited the National Water Carrier Project as part of Jordan’s efforts to secure additional "non-conventional" water resources.
The minister called for "practical" responses to water scarcity, drought, climate change, and flood risks, as well as fair access to water and sanitation services. He also highlighted cooperation in digital transformation and the water-food-energy-environment nexus.
Abu Soud said Jordan supports wider use of treated wastewater and other non-conventional sources to reduce pressure on freshwater supplies and support rural economic development.
Additionally, he added that Jordan has sought to align its water policy with international legal principles on equitable and reasonable use and the prevention of harm to other states, including through its accession to the 1992 UN Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes.
He said future regional cooperation should focus on three tracks: knowledge and data exchange, governance and cooperation, and sustainability and investment.
In turn, Tajani said Italy is working to strengthen regional dialogue and cooperation and views water as a strategic issue for the future of Mediterranean countries. He added that Italy is committed to helping regional states design and finance water-security projects.
Roswall said the Mediterranean is among the regions most exposed to water scarcity and climate impacts, adding that cooperation and adequate financing are essential to improving resilience.
Hajali said Mediterranean countries face combined pressures from water scarcity, climate change, socioeconomic and demographic challenges, and geopolitical instability, and described the Rome meeting as a step toward turning political commitments into practical results.
The ministerial meeting was held ahead of the Euro-Mediterranean Water Forum.
During discussions, participants agreed to focus future cooperation on water governance, the water-energy-food-ecosystems nexus, financing and investment, digitalization, and water-climate issues.
The delegates also adopted three strategic documents to guide regional cooperation in the sector.
//Petra// AO
