Morocco and European partners have taken a significant step in strengthening their collaboration on water resource management. On June 2, 2026, in Rabat, the Ministry of Equipment and Water, alongside the European Union and key European nations including Germany, Italy, and France, unveiled an ambitious support program for the National Water Plan (PNE). The initiative boasts a total funding package of 3.7 billion Moroccan dirhams—equivalent to approximately 348 million euros.

The launch ceremony brought together representatives from the Ministry of Economy and Finance and European partners. This groundbreaking program aligns with the Team Europe approach, designed to consolidate the European Union’s and its member states’ efforts around strategic projects.

The financial structure combines 514.4 million dirhams in grants from the European Union with nearly 3.2 billion dirhams in concessionary loans secured through 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 structured around four key priorities: enhancing understanding of water resources amid climate change impacts, strengthening management of extreme events such as droughts and floods, preserving groundwater reserves, and building institutional capacity among sector stakeholders. A robust technical assistance component will support these goals while fostering knowledge exchange between European and Moroccan experts.

During the event, Nizar Baraka, Minister of Equipment and Water, emphasized that water is both a heritage to safeguard for future generations and a strategic national sovereignty issue. Highlighting Morocco’s proactive stance in addressing drought challenges, he noted that the country is progressively transforming its water management model. The new program, he stated, will reinforce 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 sustainably managing its natural resources. The EU Ambassador to Morocco, Dimiter Tzantchev, described the program as fully aligned with the Morocco-EU Green Partnership and the Euro-Mediterranean Pact, which prioritize climate resilience and water management in Euro-Mediterranean cooperation. He highlighted how the Team Europe approach mobilizes 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 multiple 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 Drinking Water and Irrigation Program (PNAEPI) 2020-2027.

The ambassadors of Germany, Italy, and France collectively praised the initiative, noting its potential to serve as a model for regional cooperation.

Germany, through KfW, will focus its support on climate adaptation and groundwater protection. Italy will leverage its expertise in water resource management and promote gender equality within the sector. France, via AFD, will ensure effective implementation by integrating climate resilience and gender equality considerations.