Vigenin: Water diplomacy is the new language of peace, justice and sustainable development

At a conference of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) on the topic of “Diplomacy and water cooperation”, Bulgarian MEP Kristian Vigenin from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats stressed the need for the European Union to develop an ambitious strategy that puts the management of water resources at the centre of European diplomacy, sustainable development policies and climate adaptation. The occasion for the event was the presentation of a report on the topic prepared by the Bulgarian EESC member Milena Angelova.

“Water is the most natural connecting element between peoples, ecosystems and regions, but in our century it is also becoming a border between scarcity and abundance, between cooperation and conflict,” Vigenin said. “Water diplomacy is no longer a peripheral topic, but a key instrument for peace, climate resilience and justice,” he added.

“Europe has to turn water diplomacy into an instrument of peace and sustainable development. Closer coordination is needed between environmental, migration and foreign affairs policies. The European Union has to take the lead in the efforts for fair and sustainable management of water resources, from the Danube to the Mediterranean, from the Nile to Central Asia. Only through science, solidarity and cooperation can we turn water into a source of stability and justice,” Vigenin emphasised.

Climate mobility and an observatory for water risks

Kristian Vigenin drew attention to an EESC report according to which Europe lacks clear criteria and a legal framework for people forced to migrate as a result of climate change: “Climate-driven mobility is not chaos, it is an attempt to survive. Europe has to build policies that recognise and protect people displaced by droughts, floods and adverse climate conditions,” Vigenin stressed.

Vigenin proposed the creation of a European Observatory for Water Risks and Climate Mobility, which would bring together the European Environment Agency, the Copernicus system, Eurostat and international partnerships such as the UN Water Convention. In his view, this would allow early forecasting of risks, more effective targeting of investment and support for the most vulnerable regions.

Water security in EU policies

The MEP insisted that water security become part of the EU Common Foreign and Defence Policy, the European Green Deal, the strategies for sustainable agriculture and energy, migration policy and international development.

“Water is not just a resource, it is a human right and a common heritage,” he also said.

Bulgaria’s role on the Danube

As a representative of a country along the Danube, Vigenin underlined the opportunity for Bulgaria to contribute actively through cross-border programmes in the Danube and Black Sea regions, cooperation in the management of river basins and the involvement of the scientific and expert community.

“Water diplomacy is not only diplomacy for preventing conflicts, it is diplomacy of the common future,” the MEP said. “Water is the first victim of climate change, but also the first potential mediator of peace,” he added.

Kristian Vigenin thanked his colleagues from the EESC and all participants in the forum who work for a more sustainable and fair Europe: Stefano Palmieri, president of the EESC External Relations Section (REX), Pernille Weiss-Eller, representative of the cabinet of Commissioner Jessika Roswall, and the experts Tony Agotha, EU Special Envoy for Climate and Environment, Mark Zeitoun, Director General of the Geneva Water Hub, and Saule Ospanova from the OSCE.