Four partners, one envelope, one conviction: water is a question of sovereignty. Morocco, the European Union, Germany, France and Italy launched a joint programme on Tuesday in Rabat worth 348 million euros — or 3.7 billion dirhams — to support Morocco’s National Water Policy. Built on a “Team Europe” approach, the programme combines 48 million euros in EU grants with three concessional loans of 100 million euros each, mobilised by the French Development Agency (AFD), Italy’s Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) and Germany’s KfW. The AFD leads the programme.
The four priorities of the programme address Morocco’s most pressing water challenges: improving knowledge of water resources in the face of climate change; strengthening the management of extreme events such as droughts and floods; protecting water quality and biodiversity; and preserving underground water resources. The programme is aligned with the Morocco-EU Green Partnership signed in October 2022 and the Pact for the Mediterranean adopted in November 2025 — both of which place climate resilience and water management at the centre of EU-Morocco cooperation.
“For Morocco, water is a legacy to be preserved for future generations — and an issue of sovereignty”.
— Nizar Baraka, Minister of Equipment and Water · Rabat, 2 June 2026
Minister Nizar Baraka framed the stakes plainly. Morocco, he said, has chosen anticipation and action in the face of drought — “profoundly transforming its water model”. The programme extends that national dynamic by sealing “a true alliance of skills and expertise” between Morocco and its European partners. Technical steering will be carried out in coordination with the Ministry of Economy and Finance and all concerned institutions.
Germany, France, Italy — and the Piano Mattei connection
Each European partner brought its own framing to the launch. EU Ambassador Dimiter Tzantchev called the programme an illustration of the EU’s commitment to supporting Morocco and the Mediterranean region in sustainable water management, noting that the “Team Europe” approach allows partners to “combine forces to provide concrete and sustainable solutions”. German Ambassador Robert Dolger emphasised KfW’s focus on climate adaptation and the preservation of underground water. Italian Ambassador Pasquale Salzano highlighted Italy’s contribution via CDP as part of the “Piano Mattei” plan — Rome’s strategic initiative for Africa — identifying water as a priority sector and citing expertise in resource management and commitment to gender equality as key assets.
The programme reinforces Morocco’s existing frameworks: the National Water Plan and the National Programme for Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation (PNAEPI) 2020–2027. Morocco has faced decades of increasing pressure on its water resources, a pressure sharply exacerbated by the effects of climate change.
- Source: MAP