Macedonian Minister of Environment and Physical Planning Muamet Hoxha urged stronger regional cooperation in dealing with serious climate challenges during the Second Ministerial Meeting on Water of the Union for the Mediterranean in Rome.
Hoxha told the gathering of representatives from Euro-Mediterranean nations that droughts, floods and pollution demand coordinated action in managing transboundary river basins, stressing that shared water implies shared responsibility.
The environment minister highlighted the need to link water management with energy, agriculture and environmental protection.
He noted that water resources cannot be managed in isolation and that modern development depends on digitization.
Hoxha said the country has been aligning its national policies with European Union standards through the integration process, with a focus on improving wastewater treatment and building climate resilience. Achieving these goals requires significant investments, sustainable financing and domestic and international resource mobilization, Hoxha said.
The minister expressed full support for the ministerial declaration on water and the Rome initiative, affirming the state’s readiness to partner with regional countries to turn strategic goals into sustainable projects.