the Commission adopted the European Water Resilience Strategy aiming at restoring and protecting the water cycle, securing clean and affordable water for all and creating a sustainable, resilient, smart and competitive water-economy in Europe.
This comprehensive strategy will support Member States in managing water more efficiently, both through implementation of current EU water legislation and through over 30 actions. Member States, regions and municipalities, but also citizens and businesses, are the key actors of water resilience.
Water is key to our existence, but today we can no longer take water for granted. Europe has been hit by extreme weather events, including catastrophic floods, prolonged droughts and forest fires. With rising climate change impacts, this will only get worse. No country or region is spared. This affects 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.
Today, water resilience and sustainable water management must be at the heart of our agenda to enhance EU security in line with climate scenarios and make our businesses more competitive and innovative, and Europe more attractive for investments It is an opportunity for European researchers and companies that are well-positioned to lead the way as they account for 40% of the patents for water technologies worldwide.
President Ursula von der Leyen said: “Water is life. Water resilience is key for our citizens, farmers, environment, and businesses. The Commission's Water Resilience Strategy charts a path toward a sustainable, resilient, smart, and competitive water-economy. We must act now to protect this scarce resource.”
Setting out a common European vision for water resilience
The Strategy focuses on three key objectives for common action.
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.
At global level, the Strategy reinforces the EU's role in promoting water resilience worldwide through international partnerships and cooperation. Leading by example, the EU will promote a global water agenda with international partners and third countries, notably through the Global Gateway.
