The Commission has launched a call for evidence to help shape the European Water Resilience Strategy. With Europe facing growing water challenges—climate change, pollution, and overuse—the strategy aims to enhance resilience, promote sustainable water management, and ensure fair access to water resources.
The European Commission has recently published its latest reports on the state of water in the EU, summarising the progress made over the past six years under the Water Framework Directive, the Floods Directive, and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. While positive trends have been identified, key challenges remain — significant work is still needed to meet EU targets on freshwater quality and quantity. Most plans failed to include quantitative targets, making it difficult to assess the effectiveness of flood risk management, and Member States need to make greater efforts to ensure better protection of marine waters.
To address these shortcomings and the fragmentation of the water policy landscape, the EU Water Resilience Strategy will focus on:
- Enhancing water efficiency and conservation
- Protecting aquatic ecosystems
- Reducing pollution in water bodies
- Strengthening resilience to cope with extreme weather events
- Promoting competitiveness and innovation in the water industry and management technologies
The call for feedback will remain open until 4 March 2025, providing an opportunity for stakeholders, experts, and citizens to contribute to a Europe-wide plan for strengthening water systems. NbS Research and innovation (R&I) projects are especially encouraged to submit their insights, as their evidence-based contributions play a crucial role in shaping science-driven policy. The call for evidence is available on the 'Have Your Say' portal in all 24 EU languages, ensuring broad accessibility and participation.
After gathering evidence and feedback, the Commission will draft the strategy, expected to be published later in 2025. The final strategy will align with the European Green Deal and other sustainability policies, aiming to secure long-term water resilience for the EU.