During the month of April, Water Europe held a series of high-level meetings with the cabinets of several European Commissioners together with other water stakeholders:
– Ms Mirka Janda, member of the Cabinet of Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms, Raffaele Fitto, on how water resilience is fundamental to European cohesion, economic stability, and competitiveness;
– Mr Podgorean, member of the Cabinet of Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu, on the integration of water-related skills development into the Pact for Skills, supporting the green, digital, and resilience transitions;
– Ms Astrid Dentler, Deputy Head of Cabinet of Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, to exchange on how water resilience can be fully integrated into Europe’s climate, net-zero, and clean growth agenda;
- Ms Lucie Sestakova, Head of Cabinet of Commissioner Josef Síkela, Commissioner for International Partnerships, on prioritising sustainable water management for the EU’s global water leadership and autonomy;
- Mrs. Johanna Bernsel, Deputy Head of Cabinet to Commissioner Glenn Micallef, Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, to discuss the interactions between water policy, the forthcoming Water Resilience Strategy, and the role of youth and education.
A key takeaway from the discussions is that investing in water resilience isn’t just environmental; it’s a strategic imperative for a more competitive, more cohesive, and climate-prepared Europe. Water is not only a vital natural resource but also an enabler of innovation, economic development, and social well-being.
Five years ago, Water Europe led a Coalition that met the previous EU Commission. Such action reflected a better understanding of the value of water in the different EU portfolios, particularly the importance of the water-energy-nexus. Building on that legacy of the Water Resilience Initiative letters, this new round of meetings aims to advance dialogue on the strategic role of water in building a resilient, sustainable, and secure Europe and to ensure that the value of water is fully considered in the different policy actions of the European Union.
This renewed engagement reflects Water Europe’s continuous call for a cross-sectoral and holistic approach to water management and for a comprehensive European Water Strategy that recognises water’s role across all sectors and policy areas—not only within environmental frameworks but also in climate, energy, agriculture, industry, and beyond. Our Socio-economic Study on the Value of Water demonstrates water’s fundamental contribution to Europe’s competitiveness, innovation, and societal well-being. Through these high-level meetings, Water Europe continues to advocate for the integration of water resilience into the European Union’s strategic agenda.
