Malta is once again a finalist in the European Commission’s REGIOSTARS Awards this time through its partnership in the NAWAMED project. REGIOSTARS is a yearly European competition that recognises EU-funded projects demonstrating the impact and inclusiveness of regional development. NAWAMED, a project co-financed by the ENI CBCMED Programme (the predecessor of the Interreg NEXT MED Programme), is a finalist in the Green Europe Category – the green transition as the enabler of regional development.
Malta has achieved remarkable success at the prestigious REGIOSTARS Awards, securing two victories in recent years. In 2022, Malta won the Public Choice Award with the Cittadella project. Building on this success, in 2024, the Bythos project (an Interreg Italia–Malta initiative) made history as the first project ever to win both the Public Choice Award and its category.
Working alongside partners from Italy, Tunisia, Lebanon, and Jordan, the Energy and Water Agency (EWA) is the Maltese partner in the NAWAMED project. NAWAMED has implemented green walls and façades that treat greywater for reuse in schools, universities, and communities, helping to tackle water scarcity across the Mediterranean. The system collects sink water in tanks, pumps it to a modular green wall, and distributes it through vases filled with material that supports bacterial biofilm for purification. The treated water is then collected, disinfected with UV light, and reused in cisterns. The plants comprising the green wall further enhance biodiversity, aid water distribution, and improve aesthetics. Additionally, these installations engage decision-makers, professionals, and youth in building a sustainable future.
The NAWAMED project has highlighted the technical and economic feasibility of low-cost, nature-based solutions like living green walls to treat non-conventional water resources in schools, universities, public facilities, and refugee camps. It has shown how design and architecture can transform buildings from water users into water producers. For example, recovered wastewater and stormwater can be reused for toilet flushing and irrigation, reducing potable water consumption. Initiatives like NAWAMED are revolutionising how we consume water, paving the way towards a more sustainable future.
As a REGIOSTARS finalist, NAWAMED is also eligible for the REGIOSTARS Public Choice Award, which depends solely on the number of public votes received. NAWAMED is the only Maltese-affiliated project among the finalists, making this Malta’s only chance to win a REGIOSTARS award this year. Everyone, both in Malta and abroad, can vote.
Here’s how you can help NAWAMED win the Public Choice Award. It takes only a few seconds to vote:
1. Visit: https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/projects/regio-stars-awards_en#inline-nav-2
2. Scroll down until you find “NAWAMED – Nature-Based Solutions for Domestic Water Reuse in Mediterranean Countries”.
3. Click on “Vote for this project ✔”.
4. Click on “Confirm”.
Voting closes on 15 October 2025 at 12:00 p.m. (CET).