The EU Commission has adopted a water resilience strategy aimed at restoring and protecting the water cycle, securing clean and affordable water for all and creating a sustainable, resilient water-economy in Europe.
The Commission’s stratetgy will support EU Member States in managing water more efficiently, both through implementation of current EU water legislation and through over 30 actions.
Europe has been hit by extreme weather events, including catastrophic floods, prolonged droughts and forest fires. This has affected citizens, farmers, environment and businesses alike, with impacts on health, disruption of energy, food and drinking water supply, and growing economic losses across the EU. Five out of the top ten global risks for businesses are water-related.
“We have long taken water for granted,” said ECF vice-president Teresa Ribera: ” … This is a comprehensive plan for a water sustainability, a flagship action to address growing water scarcity by improving water management practices and nature-based infrastructures, safeguarding water and water ecosystems for generations to come.”
The Strategy focuses on three key objectives:
First, it will restore and protect the water cycle, from source to sea. For this purpose, effective implementation of the already existing EU framework for freshwater, including the Water Framework Directive and the Flood Management Directive is key and must focus both on water quantity and quality. In addition, efforts must be stepped up to improve water retention on land, effectively prevent water pollution and tackle pollutants in drinking water, including PFAS.
Second, the Strategy aims to build a water-smart economy to boost competitiveness, attract investment and promote the EU’s water industry. To achieve this objective, it is essential to improve water efficiency and sustainable water management. This is why the Commission also published today a Recommendation on Water Efficiency, providing guiding principles to reduce water consumption. It sets an objective to improve water efficiency in the EU by at least 10% until 2030 and recommends Member States to set their own targets for water efficiency, based on their territorial and national circumstances. In this context, as national leakage levels vary from 8% to 57%, it is also important to reduce leaks in pipes and modernise water infrastructure through public and private funding and take up of digital solutions.
Finally, the Strategy will help secure clean and affordable water and sanitation for all. To achieve this, the Strategy underlines the essential role of consumers and businesses in saving water at home or at work. Therefore, the Strategy promotes the exchange of best practices to raise public and sector specific awareness.
EU Water Resilience Strategy – Communication
