Water as a Common Good: Portugal and Spain Strengthen Ties on Sustainable Resource Management

On October 23, 2024, Portugal and Spain held the XXXV Luso-Spanish Summit (Cimeira Luso-Espanhola) in Faro, under the theme “Water: a Common Good”. This meeting underscored the bilateral relationship between the two countries. Chaired by the Portuguese Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, and the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, this Summit highlighted the cooperation efforts of both nations at European and international levels. The declaration signed during the Summit reaffirmed the relevance of the activity of the Atlantic International Research Centre - AIR Centre (…) centred on a collaborative research agenda and Atlantic interactions” (point 1.10). Both countries emphasized their commitment to strengthening the European project and advocating for sustainable water management, stressing the need to incorporate water considerations into legislative processes planning. The declaration reinforces the importance of good management of the international river basins they share (the Minho, Lima, Douro, Tejo and Guadiana rivers). Throughout the cooperation between both countries, they have been able to face challenges like quality of water and response to extreme events. The governments emphasized the role of the oceans to fight climate change as well as to build a sustainable economy which contributes to employment promotion. They support the sustainable management of the oceans and the development of a “new sustainable blue economy”, aligned with the “Agenda 2030” and ODS 14. Both states emphasized their strong and friendly bilateral relations and mechanisms of cooperations. As a demonstration of their commitment to a sustainable future, Portugal and Spain signed 11 very important agreements, that focus on water, for the construction of a sustainable future and cooperation between both states.