{"id":985,"date":"2026-03-10T14:03:05","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T14:03:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/?page_id=985"},"modified":"2026-03-30T10:38:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T09:38:23","slug":"the-regional-nexus-policy-dialogue-process-in-south-east-europe","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/work-areas\/thematic-areas-and-key-projects\/water-energy-food-ecosystems-nexus\/the-regional-nexus-policy-dialogue-process-in-south-east-europe\/","title":{"rendered":"The Regional Nexus Policy Dialogue process in South East Europe"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Integrated natural resources management remains a substantial challenge in South East Europe (SEE), despite significant advancements especially in the past decade. Unsustainable and non-integrated management of natural resources has been directly and indirectly affecting economic growth, human prosperity as well as the environment and ecosystems.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems Nexus approach<\/strong><\/a> has been introduced in the natural resources management agenda to facilitate the enhancement of water, energy and food security, while preserving ecosystems and their functions. The Nexus approach provides for an integrated and coordinated approach across sectors, with a view to reconciling potentially conflicting interests as they compete for the same scarce resources, while capturing existing opportunities and exploring emerging ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Nexus approach is especially relevant to SEE given the significant share of hydropower in the region\u2019s energy mix<\/strong>. It is also important in the context of the efforts of the Economies in the Region to transition to a Green Economy<\/strong> and accede to the European Union<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advancing the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems Nexus approach in South-East Europe (SEE) is one of the key strategic actions of the Environment dimension of the SEE<\/strong> Regional Growth Strategy <\/strong>entitled \u201cSEE 2020 \u2013 Jobs and Prosperity in European Perspective\u201d developed under the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In SEE, existing good practices<\/strong> relevant to a Nexus approach include:
<\/strong>– the establishment of inter-ministerial coordination bodies;
– consultative bodies, for example, on rural development;
– the integration of water and biodiversity targets in agriculture and\/or rural development plans;
<\/strong>– Nexus assessments and studies to identify priority synergies and trade-offs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, many policy and management areas to better address Nexus dynamics still show significant gaps and potential for improvement. In general, the administrative system established often foresees several authorities sharing the competencies for the specific Nexus sectors, with one \u2018line\u2019 authority leading initiatives. Currently, policy development via regulations, strategies or plans is often characterized by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– formal institutional cooperation, but not necessarily translating into policy integration;
– isolated efforts;
– lack of common targets;
– overlapping responsibilities and competing objectives among local and central governments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Regional Nexus Policy Dialogue<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A set of activities was developed as part of the Regional Nexus Policy Dialogue<\/strong>, including:

1. Four Regional Nexus Roundtables<\/strong> held back-to-back with meetings of Nexus-related Ministry representatives:
<\/p>\n\n\n\n