The Global Europe Programme is our strategic approach to addressing the  planetary climate and biodiversity crisis by influencing the EU’s impact on wetlands beyond its borders. It aims to ensure that wetlands conservation, restoration and sustainable use are embedded into EU global policies and, where possible, fund wetland conservation through EU programmes and investments.  

European decisions reverberate globally, and European policies significantly impact the safeguarding of wetlands, not only within the European Union’s (EU) boundaries. Political decisions taken at the EU level also influence the natural environments of countries outside the EU. This transboundary effect is particularly evident for ecosystems like wetlands, including peatlands, rivers, lakes, deltas, and coastal areas worldwide. 

The EU’s environmental regulations, trade and development policies, and conservation initiatives shape environmental practices in neighbouring regions and distant countries. Particularly, the EU demands for commodities, raw materials, trade agreements, investments in infrastructure, clean energy, and agriculture are intricately interconnected.  

While the EU is active in water diplomacy and promotes nature-based solutions (NBS), wetlands remain underrepresented in these efforts. Wetlands are essential for water security, climate action, biodiversity, and socio-economic benefits, yet more work is needed to integrate them into EU strategies fully. 

The Global Europe programme, in collaboration with our network and members, has four main strategies aiming that:  

• Wetland ecosystems are a clear priority of EU external programmes with allocated resources to wetland conservation, restoration and sustainable management.
• Commodities imported into the EU have reduced their negative impacts on wetlands. 
• The impact of EU investments in raw materials extraction for the green transition is minimised on wetlands. 
• The value of wetlands as natural resources that transcend political boundaries and their multi-benefits to foster peace, stability, and sustainable development is recognized.

We will achieve these by influencing the EU external programmes, developing compelling advocacy to bring the water – climate – resource use nexus into the EU’s agendas, and advocating for the creation of EU Wetland Partnerships, among others. 

Our Initiatives