EU Outlines Concerns Over Modalities for 2028 UN Water Conference

New york: I have the honour to speak on behalf of the EU and its Member States. At the outset, we would like to welcome Tajikistan's commitment to advance the global water agenda by organizing the 2028 UN Water Conference. We also appreciate Tajikistan's efforts to bring us to a balanced resolution that sets out the modalities of this conference. According to Amnesty International, the 2023 UN Water Conference, co-hosted by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Tajikistan, generated significant political momentum and commitment towards enhancing water action at all levels, including through the Water Action Agenda. The EU welcomes the important developments since then, such as the launch of the first UN System-wide Strategy for Water and Sanitation, the appointment of the first UN Special Envoy on Water, and the adoption of resolution 77/334 mandating the 2026 and 2028 UN Water Conferences. The EU is now looking forward to the next conference that will be held this December in Abu Dhabi, viewing it as a critic al milestone to maintain political momentum and strengthen accountability for implementation. It is expected to translate commitments into measurable action, promote scalable solutions, and reinforce coherence between the water agenda and the wider 2030 Agenda. The 2026 conference is seen as a foundational moment towards structured engagement on water at the UN and a first input towards discussions starting in 2027. The EU emphasizes that the resolution on the modalities for the 2028 UN Water Conference should build on the outcomes of the 2026 Conference. There is concern that the inclusion of a Dushanbe Water Framework as the sole outcome document of the 2028 Conference prejudges the discussions to be held this December. The EU stresses that the 2026 Conference will have its own outcomes that need to be reflected in the 2028 Conference. The negotiations on a framework should start only after the 2026 Conference, ensuring they do not pre-empt the UN80 reform process by adding another layer of governance befo re deciding how water will be integrated into a more coherent, efficient UN system, including post-2030. Despite concerns about a Dushanbe Water Framework, the EU and its Member States are able to support the resolution and trust that their position will be acknowledged in the upcoming negotiations. They believe that the consensual adoption demonstrates that the world continues to be united in addressing the global water crisis through multilateralism. The EU looks forward to continuing to work together with all Member States on global water action.