Water Europe’s Executive Director, Durk Krol, moderated the session “Water-resilient cities: anticipating crisis, building the Water-Smart Society”, co-organised by Water Europe and MedCities during the European Week of Regions and Cities (EURegionsWeek) at the Jacques Delors Building in Brussels.
The session gathered representatives from European cities and regions to explore how innovation, governance, and collaboration can strengthen urban resilience and help anticipate water-related crises.
“Resilience today means more than emergency response – it means transforming the way we plan, govern, and value water as a key enabler of sustainable and liveable cities,” said Durk Krol, Executive Director of Water Europe.
Across Europe, cities are increasingly facing water-related challenges – from floods and droughts to pollution and ageing infrastructure — that test their capacity to anticipate risks and adapt sustainably. The discussion took place at a crucial moment, as the European Commission’s Water Resilience Strategy sets out a comprehensive vision to strengthen Europe’s ability to address water challenges in a systemic and coordinated way.
The event highlighted how local and regional authorities can turn water challenges into opportunities by promoting innovation-driven governance, cross-sector collaboration, and integrated planning, advancing the shared vision of a Water-Smart Society and Economy.
