-Water resilience is now recognised as a strategic issue, extending beyond environmental policy. Many ministers linked water to competitiveness, food security, energy security, civil protection and climate adaptation.
-Financing remains a central priority. Several Member States highlighted the need to mobilise both public and private investment for water infrastructure, digitalisation, innovation and nature-based solutions.
-Digitalisation is increasingly seen as an enabler. Better monitoring, interoperability, data sharing and digital water management were repeatedly identified as key tools to improve implementation and resilience. Several delegations also welcomed the forthcoming Digitalisation Action Plan.
-How can Europe scale up water reuse? Water efficiency and reuse featured prominently throughout the debate. Yet Europe currently reuses only around 2.4% of treated wastewater, and EU legislation provides a harmonised framework only for agricultural irrigation. A pending question remains: What are the right conditions for stimulating industrial and domestic water reuse?
-How should local aspects be reflected in EU governance? Many ministers underlined that water challenges differ considerably across Europe and that implementation should respect regional circumstances. This discussion also echoes ongoing debates in the EU Parliament and the Committee of the Regions regarding the future architecture of Cohesion Policy under the next MFF, given that a large share of water investment is channelled through regional funding.
