Morocco and its European partners have taken a decisive step in strengthening cooperation for sustainable water management. On June 2, 2026, in Rabat, the Ministry of Equipment and Water, alongside the European Union, Germany, Italy, and France, launched an ambitious support program for the National Water Plan (PNE) with a total funding package of 3.7 billion Moroccan dirhams—equivalent to nearly €348 million.

Attended by the Minister of Economy and Finance and key EU representatives, the launch event underscored the program’s strategic importance. This initiative is part of the ‘Team Europe’ approach, designed to unify EU and member state efforts around high-impact projects.

The funding structure combines €514.4 million in grants from the European Union with nearly €3.2 billion in concessional loans from three major European financial institutions: Germany’s KfW development bank, Italy’s Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), and France’s Agence Française de Développement (AFD), which leads the initiative.

The program is built around four core pillars: enhancing water resource assessment in the face of climate change impacts, strengthening management of extreme events such as droughts and floods, preserving groundwater reserves, and building institutional capacity within the water sector. A robust technical assistance component will support these goals while fostering knowledge exchange between Moroccan and European experts.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Equipment and Water Nizar Baraka emphasized water as both a national heritage to safeguard for future generations and a strategic matter of sovereignty. With recurring droughts straining the country’s resources, he highlighted Morocco’s commitment to proactive adaptation, transforming its water management model through forward-thinking policies.

The program, he noted, will bolster the nation’s resilience against climate change and ensure sustainable water governance. For the European Union, this initiative reflects a shared commitment to supporting Morocco in managing its natural resources sustainably. EU Ambassador to Morocco Dimiter Tzantchev stressed that the program aligns with the Morocco-EU Green Partnership and the Mediterranean Pact, placing climate resilience and water governance at the heart of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation. He praised the Team Europe model for mobilizing complementary financial and technical resources to deliver practical solutions to shared climate challenges.

Like much of the Mediterranean basin, Morocco faces growing water scarcity. Between 2017 and 2025, the country experienced multiple severe droughts, while demand surged due to population growth and economic expansion. This new program builds on existing efforts under the National Water Plan and the National Program for Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation (PNAEPI) 2020–2027.

Ambassadors from Germany, Italy, and France unanimously hailed the initiative as a potential model for regional cooperation.

Germany’s KfW will focus on climate adaptation and groundwater protection, while Italy will contribute its expertise in water resource management and gender equality within the sector. France’s AFD will ensure effective implementation by integrating climate resilience and gender equality into the program’s execution.