On Monday, March 17, the MEP Water Group and its Chair MEP Bentele hosted a discussion in the EU Parliament on “Water & the Global Gateway Initiative”, bringing together policymakers, financial institutions, industry representatives and innovators to explore how to put water projects at the centre of the Global Gateway Initiative.
With over 2.2 billion people still lacking safely managed drinking water, and water security becoming increasingly linked to economic resilience, climate adaptation and geopolitical stability, the discussion highlighted why water must be a stronger pillar within the EU’s Global Gateway strategy.
Opening the session, MEP Bentele highlighted the importance of stronger cooperation with partner countries, international financial institutions and the private sector to deliver a “blue dimension” of the Global Gateway.
In her keynote, Hana Genorio (Cabinet of Commissioner Jozef Síkela) emphasised that water is fundamental to economic prosperity and that the Global Gateway can act as a key accelerator for water security while strengthening Europe’s industrial leadership. She also stressed the importance of mobilising EU Member States, scaling investments under the next Multiannual Financial Framework, and expanding instruments such as EFSD+ guarantees and green bond initiatives.
A roundtable discussion moderated by
Durk Krol (Water Europe) explored how water projects can become more investable within the Global Gateway framework.
Édouard Pérard (EIB),
Laurence Leclerq (SUEZ) and
Felix Meyer-Horn (Aerzen) shared perspectives on development finance, private sector engagement, technological innovation and research deployment.
The main takeaways from the discussion were:
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Financing gap and private capital: While global water investment needs are expected to reach €5 trillion by 2026, private sector participation remains insufficient. Blended finance and risk-sharing mechanisms are essential to unlock capital.
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Bankability vs affordability: Projects must balance financial viability with affordability for both countries and citizens, ensuring long-term sustainability.
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Regulatory barriers: Fragmented regulatory environments and procurement frameworks remain key obstacles to investment.
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Governance and risk-sharing: Clear and predictable governance frameworks are necessary to distribute risks effectively and attract private actors.
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Role of public funding: Public finance remains indispensable but must be complemented by private investment at scale.
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Technology and innovation: Europe holds around 40% of advanced water technologies with high environmental standards, representing strong export potential.
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Capacity building: Technical assistance, knowledge sharing and institutional support are critical alongside financing.
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Global demand: In regions such as Africa and the Middle East, up to 100,000 new urban wastewater treatment plants will be needed in the next 15 years.
The discussion also highlighted the importance of transboundary water cooperation, international partnerships (including wetlands initiatives), and the creation of investment platforms or hubs to pool resources and expertise.
Participants stressed that water must receive greater institutional recognition as strategic infrastructure – still lagging behind sectors such as energy and transport – and that the Global Gateway represents a unique opportunity to accelerate progress.
The MEP Water Group thanks all speakers and participants for contributing to this timely and action-oriented discussion.
