EU Parliament Back in Session: Water, Budget & Agriculture
This week at the European Parliament – Welcome back to a new political year!
The summer break officially ended with MEPs gathering in Strasbourg for the first plenary after the summer break (8–11 September), with debates and votes that set the tone on budget, cohesion, agriculture, and resilience to climate impacts. Some highlight from this week:
State of the Union 2025
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented priorities for the coming year, and looking back at the first year in office, recalling that “no raw material is more critical than water. Water is a pillar of life and of the economy, including farming, fisheries and industry.”
As for the priorities, during the upcoming year it is foreseen the publication of the European Climate Adaptation Plan, an Affordable Housing Plan, and the Ocean Act, all directly relevant to water security, climate resilience and the Water Resilience Strategy. The Ocean Act will follow the EU Oceans Pact, published on June 4 alongside the Water Resilience Strategy (WRS). The Ocean Act will be a key enabler of the WRS and vice-versa, as a source-to-sea approach, or the efficient management of freshwater systems, is both fundamental to achieving the WRS and the Ocean Pact objectives
EU long-term budget (MFF): briefing by the rapporteurs
Co-rapporteurs Siegfried Mureșan and Carla Tavares briefed media in Strasbourg on Parliament’s take on the Commission’s 2028–2034 proposal, framing the fiscal room for the Union’s climate, cohesion and resilience ambitions.
The new MFF is positioned as a cornerstone for achieving the goals outlined in the EU Water Resilience Strategy.
Cohesion policy update: new room for water resilience
Parliament approved reforms allowing regions to channel funds more quickly to new priorities, explicitly including water resilience (e.g., access to water), alongside decarbonisation, energy infrastructure and civil preparedness. The mid-term review passed with strong majorities and now awaits Council adoption.
Mainstreaming water security in EU funding is crucial to promote and ensure water resilience in Europe. The cohesion reform explicitly names water resilience as a priority, opening avenues for investments in access, efficiency, nature-based solutions, and drought/flood preparedness at the regional level.
Future of EU agriculture (post-2027 CAP)
MEPs adopted their position calling for a larger, stand-alone CAP, less red tape, and concrete water management investments (retention, distribution, storage) plus wastewater purification and treatment, essential to sustain yields under drought and flood pressure.
Parliament’s CAP position backs retention, storage and wastewater treatment, key levers for reducing pressure on freshwater ecosystems while protecting food security.
Danish Council Presidency priorities
Before the summer break, Denmark unveiled its priorities for its presidency of the Council of the EU, with Danish Ministers outlining priorities across committees.
The Danish Presidency marks a pivotal moment for European water sector. With Denmark, a recognized global leader in water technology and sustainable resource management, at the helm, the next six months are poised to significantly accelerate the EU’s agenda on water resilience, circularity, and technological innovation.
The Presidency arrives at a critical juncture as the EU finalises and begins implementation of key water legislation. The key areas of impact of the Danish presidency are anticipated to be:
- Ambitious implementation of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD)
- Shaping and pushing for a robust Water Resilience Strategy
- Driving digital and green transitions
What’s next
- Trilogues and Council decisions on the cohesion mid-term review; implementation guidance will determine how quickly regions can pivot funds toward water resilience.
- Follow-up on CAP post-2027 as Parliament’s position feeds the negotiations; watch the treatment of water investments in the final framework.
