Water and Beyond: EU transformative approaches for international partnerships

‘Water and Beyond: EU transformative approaches for international partnerships’ took place on 18-21 January 2021. 

‘Water and Beyond’ delivered insights on how to strengthen transboundary cooperation, build broader partnerships and trigger water investments in support of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. It laid the groundwork for applying the European Union Priorities for International Partnerships in the water sector and established links with current programming and the Team Europe approach. 

This high-level event was hosted by the European Commission Directorate-General for International Partnerships and the Government of Slovenia, with the support of the Government of Portugal as the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. It was addressed to policy-makers, decision-makers and stakeholders who are contributing to ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. 

The event took place over four consecutive days, with high-level panels, thematic sessions and networking opportunities to facilitate contacts between participants with common interests to foster ongoing or future cooperation.

Seven technical sessions on various water-related topics were flanked by a high-level opening and closing session led by relevant political leaders. Topics discussed include:

• Water as an equaliser: realising impact for human development
• Water as a catalyst for cooperation: fostering trust and peace
• Bridging the financial gap: investing in SDG 6
• The water-climate nexus: how to address the cascading crises
• With knowledge and skills: water as the engine for economic development and jobs
• Water and the environment: resource management to support nature
• Water as a human right: working towards implementation with all partners

These sessions were co-hosted by prominent European and international partners in the water sector, namely: the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), Women for Water Partnership (WfWP), WaterAid, and Bremen Overseas Research & Development Association (BORDA). Each session featured a number of high-level technical keynote speakers, among which were the EU Commissioner for Crisis Management, the Slovenian Minister for Development, the Portuguese Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Executive Secretaries of several basin Commission, the Special Envoy for International Water Affairs for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation, the UNECE Executive Secretary, the Associate Director for WASH at the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the CEO of Water and Sanitation for All.

We invite you to see the list of speakers.

CHECK THE WATER & BEYOND AGENDA

For more information, please contact us: INTPA-F2-WATER-SECTOR@ec.europa.eu