Dear Water Europe friends,
The past few weeks have marked a pivotal moment for Europe’s water sector. With the release of the Water Resilience Strategy by the European Commission, we are witnessing a long-overdue recognition: water is becoming a central pillar of Europe’s sustainable and secure future.
This Strategy is not just a top-down policy milestone. We are proud that our Water Europe community has contributed to this development through years of mobilisation and dedicated work. With consistent advocacy, co-creation via our network of Water-Oriented Living Labs (WOLLs), and alignment with transformative European initiatives such as the Water4All Partnership, we have worked tirelessly to position water where it rightfully belongs, at the heart of Europe’s resilience agenda.
Over the past month, we have met with the cabinets of several EU Commissioners, engaging in strategic discussions to underline water’s critical role across diverse policy portfolios. These exchanges helped rally political support for the Water Resilience Strategy’s objectives.
One particularly encouraging development is the inclusion of the Water-Smart Economy in the Strategy, a concept that Water Europe has long championed. But we must be clear: the Strategy alone is not enough. Transforming Europe into a water-smart continent will require dedicated financial instruments and bold investment.
To this end, our White Paper on Water Financing, released this month, outlines why a Water-Smart Economy is not just a theoretical ideal, it is an economic imperative. Recognising the value of water across key sectors can unlock nearly €1 trillion in added value by 2030. Furthermore, investing in water will help utilities bridge the €255 billion funding gap needed to meet EU compliance standards.
As we reflect on our collective efforts, I encourage you to explore our Annual Report 2024–2025, published last week. It highlights how our activities have contributed to shaping the Water Resilience Strategy and raising the water agenda across Europe, anchored in facts, impact, and tangible outcomes.
Finally, as we hold our Annual General Meeting this week, we are already preparing for the next milestone: Water Innovation Europe 2025, which will take place on 27–28 October in Copenhagen!
