Turkish Water Institute (SUEN) participated in the Euro-Mediterranean Water Forum, held in Rome, the capital of Italy, from 29 September to 2 October 2026.
Organized through the collaboration of the Italian One Water Committee, the Mediterranean Water Institute (IME), and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), the Forum served as an important international gathering to address current challenges and opportunities for cooperation in water management across the Mediterranean region. Representatives from public institutions, international organizations, academia, the private sector and civil society came together at the event.
Throughout the four-day Forum, participants discussed a range of issues, including the impacts of climate change on water resources, water security, transboundary water cooperation, the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus, financing for water investments and innovative technologies. Particular emphasis was placed on strengthening regional cooperation, enhancing knowledge and experience sharing, and developing practical solutions to common challenges in response to mounting water pressures across the Mediterranean Basin.
The Forum also addressed the priorities of the regional water agenda and potential areas for joint action in the coming period within the framework of the UfM Ministerial Declaration on Water. Strengthening water governance, climate resilience, capacity development, and financing mechanisms were among the key topics highlighted during the discussions.
As part of the Forum's programme on 1 October 2026, Dr. Tuğba Evrim Maden, SUEN's Coordinator for Policy Development, chaired the session entitled “Hydrodiplomacy: Advancing the Right to Water for Peace and Stability.”
The session brought together representatives of international organizations and experts from different countries to discuss the contribution of water diplomacy to regional cooperation, the role of legal and institutional mechanisms in transboundary water management, cooperation at the basin level, and ecosystem protection.
The session featured contributions from Sonja Koeppel, Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Water Convention; Birgit Vogel, Executive Secretary of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR); Diego Pozzoli, representing the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation; and Stefano Lo Savio, representing the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Maurizio Casarci also contributed to the discussions on behalf of civil society.
Discussions highlighted the importance of building trust in the management of transboundary water resources, promoting data and information exchange, ensuring sustained institutional cooperation, and translating water diplomacy into concrete action. Participants also addressed the right of access to water, inclusive governance and the participation of local communities in decision-making processes.
The Forum provided an important platform for sharing diverse experiences in water management across the Mediterranean region and exploring opportunities for international cooperation. SUEN's participation contributed to sharing Türkiye's experience in water management and water diplomacy, following regional developments, and strengthening cooperation with international organizations.