Malta’s Minister for Energy and Water Management Joe Mizzi called for a “sufficiently strong” European water management framework for addressing the future challenges arising due to climate change, according to a press release by the government’s Department of Information (DOI).
“Malta presents an effective case-study of water management under severe water stress, arising due to our semi-arid Mediterranean climate which significantly limits the availability of natural freshwater resources,” minister Mizzi said. “Climate change projections indicate that this, unfortunately, will increasingly be the case in Europe,” he added.
The minister emphasised the importance of ensuring a common regulatory framework, which could provide that water demands are met while keeping a high level of protection to the water environment even under conditions of chronic water unavailability, according to the DOI press release.
In addition, Minister Mizzi mentioned the significant improvements in the quality of Malta’s marine waters and the increased emphasis on demand management and water reuse which is leading to important reductions in national use of natural water resources.
Such efforts are supported through European Union funds such as the Cohesion Fund, the Regional Development Fund, and the Rural Development Fund.