Dear Water Europe friends,
With the Water Innovation Europe 2024 conference behind us, we cannot help but be inspired by the resilience and dedication of the European water community. The agenda and topics discussed during the two days of our conference demonstrated that we keep on having a consistent voice and united efforts among all our stakeholders. This unity is crucial because we need to make the transition towards a Water-Smart Society with all its elements and engaging all its participants, from farmers and households to industry leaders. The significance of this development is further highlighted by the outstanding contributions received for the WIE2024 awards and the winners we had, showcasing the high quality of the actors driving innovation in the sector.
On the first day of the conference, we also shared a preview of our forthcoming socio-economic study which was very well-received by our participants. The study made it clear that innovative solutions for water management are not just beneficial but very much essential. Without these solutions, our ambitions to achieve the goals outlined in the Green Deal and strengthen our welfare state with clear industrial objectives will remain unattainable. Sustainable water management is at the core of these aspirations.
Policy makers at both European and national levels are realising this more and more, and with this growing awareness, we strongly beleive that water will get the attention it requires in the next legislations. This progress is a testament to the relentless efforts of our Water Europe team, and members, all of whom are striving for a Water-Smart Society.
The coming period promises to be a dynamic one, particularly with the installation of the new European Commission and the follow-up to the EU elections. But let me end by wishing you all a pleasant and restful summer holiday season.
