As Europe celebrates Europe Day, Water Europe emphasised the indispensable role of the European Union in addressing the continent’s escalating water challenges. Speaking ahead of the anticipated EU Water Resilience Strategy, Loïc Charpentier, Head of Advocacy at Water Europe, underscored that water issues – encompassing “too much, too little, and too polluted” water – are crises no single nation can resolve alone.
“On this Europe Day, it’s vital to remember that the EU delivers practical solutions to challenges that transcend borders, and water is one of the biggest,” said Charpentier, referencing his recent interview with ENDS Europe. “Europe provides us the platform, the coordination, and the scale to make a real difference.”
The continent faces a daunting future, with projections indicating a 56% gap between water supply and demand by 2030, and grim statistics from the European Environment Agency showing only 37% of surface water bodies in good ecological status. These challenges are exacerbated by climate change and a fragmented financial landscape for the water sector.
Water Europe is calling for the forthcoming Water Resilience Strategy to be a cornerstone of the EU’s response, advocating for:
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Full Implementation of EU Directives: Ensuring the updated Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive and the Drinking Water Directive are fully enacted to protect citizens’ right to clean water and sanitation.
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Stimulated Investment through a Dedicated Fund: The creation of an EU-level water transition fund within the next multiannual financial framework is crucial. Such a fund would “provide visibility, overcome the challenge…with the fragmentation of the financial opportunity, and also can leverage cross-sectoral benefits,” Charpentier stated. He noted that compliance with existing legislation alone is estimated to cost €255 billion.
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Transition to a Water-Smart Economy: This involves stimulating investment across sectors, benefiting local authorities, industry (through circular processes), and agriculture. Farmers, Charpentier noted, will need to adapt practices to combat water scarcity and pollution, requiring collaborative solutions.
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Embracing Innovation and Research: Europe must invest in research and innovative solutions, including digitalisation for predictive and optimised water management, and advancing the circular economy by extracting resources from used water. A balanced approach combining nature-based solutions with essential infrastructure development is also key.
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Upskilling and Competitiveness: Developing new skills and supporting water-related job profiles to make the sector more attractive, alongside fostering industrial competitiveness through new water treatment technologies.
“There needs to be stimulated investment everywhere,” Charpentier emphasized. Water Europe believes that a robust, EU-coordinated Water Resilience Strategy can transform these challenges into opportunities, fostering a water-smart society that is resilient, sustainable, and secure.
