Water Resilience Strategy: A Crucial Step Toward a Water-Smart Europe
On January 27, 2025, the European Parliament’s ENVI Committee held an important discussion on Europe’s growing water challenges and the development of a comprehensive Water Resilience Strategy (WRS).
MEP Bajada presented six key pillars for the WRS: efficiency, pollution control at the source, climate adaptation, financing, innovation, and cross-border cooperation.
At Water Europe, we welcome this comprehensive approach and fully support the WRS going beyond the existing water acquis by addressing water as a cross-sectoral and legislative priority. We also echo the points made by Ms. Bentele, Chair of the MEP Water Group, emphasizing the importance of digitalization in the water sector and exploring water reuse and efficiency in buildings.
In line with our vision for a Water-Smart Society, we encourage European institutions to prioritize investments in circular water, resilient infrastructure, digital water solutions, and inclusive governance. Our recent study highlights that strategic investments of €255 billion by 2030 could ensure compliance with EU water directives, save €3 billion annually, and create 13,000 jobs. We advocate for a dedicated Water Transition Fund in the next MFF to support industries, local authorities, and regions in deploying water-efficient technologies to tackle current and future challenges.
Key takeaways from the ENVI Committee meeting:
- Legislative Initiatives: A drought directive and binding efficiency targets were discussed to address water scarcity.
- Nature-Based Solutions (NBS): Advocated as essential to increasing water availability, restoring ecosystems, and tackling pollution.
- Innovation & Digitalisation: The adoption of digital monitoring systems and innovative agricultural practices is critical for efficiency.
- Funding Framework: Public-private partnerships are vital for financing water resilience projects.
- PFAS Pollution: The reduction of PFAS concentrations is crucial to achieving EU water goals.
- Source-to-Sea Approach: Integration with the Ocean Pact is essential for restoring water cycles and free-flowing rivers.
As the Call for Evidence is expected tomorrow, February 4, 2025, Water Europe is committed to working with stakeholders to build a water-resilient future for Europe. Together, we can turn challenges into opportunities and ensure water security for generations to come. 💦
