Morocco and the European Union have taken a decisive step in their collaboration to address water resource management. On June 2, 2026, in Rabat, the Ministry of Equipment and Water, alongside the EU, Germany, Italy, and France, unveiled an ambitious support program for the National Water Plan (PNE). The initiative, backed by a total funding of 3.7 billion Moroccan dirhams—equivalent to approximately 348 million euros—marks a significant milestone in climate resilience and sustainable water governance.

The launch ceremony brought together key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Economy and Finance and European representatives. This program embodies the ‘Team Europe’ approach, designed to harmonize efforts between the EU and its member states on strategic projects.

Funding for this initiative combines 514.4 million dirhams in grants from the European Union with nearly 3.2 billion dirhams in concessional loans from three major European financial institutions: Germany’s KfW, Italy’s Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), and France’s Agence française de développement (AFD), which leads the initiative.

The program is structured around four core pillars: enhancing knowledge of water resources amid climate change impacts, strengthening management of extreme events like droughts and floods, preserving groundwater, and developing institutional capacities within the sector.

Technical assistance will play a pivotal role in achieving these goals, fostering knowledge exchange between European and Moroccan partners.

During the event, Nizar Baraka, Morocco’s Minister of Equipment and Water, emphasized the dual significance of water as both a heritage to safeguard for future generations and a strategic issue of national sovereignty. He highlighted Morocco’s proactive stance in addressing water scarcity, noting that the country is progressively transforming its water management model. Baraka affirmed that this program will bolster the nation’s resilience to climate change and ensure sustainable water resource management.

For the European Union, this initiative underscores its commitment to supporting Morocco in managing its natural resources sustainably. The EU Ambassador to Morocco, Dimiter Tzantchev, described the program as a cornerstone of the Morocco-EU Green Partnership and the Mediterranean Pact, which prioritize climate resilience and water management in Euro-Mediterranean cooperation. He stressed that the ‘Team Europe’ approach enables the mobilization of complementary financial and technical resources to deliver concrete solutions to shared climate challenges.

Like much of the Mediterranean basin, Morocco faces mounting pressure on its water resources. Between 2017 and 2025, the country experienced several severe droughts, while water demand continued to rise due to population growth and economic development.

This new program complements existing efforts under the National Water Plan and the National Program for Drinking Water and Irrigation (PNAEPI) 2020-2027.

Ambassadors from Germany, Italy, and France praised the initiative, hailing it as a potential model for regional cooperation.

Germany, through KfW, will focus on climate adaptation and groundwater protection. Italy will leverage its expertise in water resource management while promoting gender equality in the sector. France, via AFD, will ensure the program’s successful implementation by integrating climate resilience and gender equality considerations.