Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

This report presents an outline for the upcoming European Water Resilience Strategy that represents a significant advancement in the EU’s commitment to enhancing water resilience, ensuring sustainable water management, and safeguarding water as an indispensable resource for future generations. The rapporteur aims to deliver a basis for a comprehensive and binding legislative framework that addresses water resilience through six key pillars: water efficiency, pollution mitigation, climate adaptation, funding, digitalisation and innovation, and cross-border cooperation.

With the strong belief that water sustainability must be a cornerstone of all EU policies, the rapporteur argues that every policy should be assessed for its impact on water resources, including quality, quantity, and accessibility. Embedding water sustainability into decision-making processes ensures that water resilience becomes integral to EU governance. This requires moving away from the outdated perception of water as an infinite resource, to recognising its intrinsic value as being essential to addressing environmental, social, and economic challenges Europe faces today, and in the near future.

The rapporteur emphasises the importance of binding sectoral water efficiency and abstraction targets for agriculture, industry, and domestic use, tailored to basin-level assessments. An evidence-based approach, supported by enhanced data collection and digital tools, is vital to effectively monitor and enforce these targets. Innovative water management practices must be prioritised to address water scarcity. Agriculture and industry, as two of the most significant water users, but also contributors to our food and economic security, must adopt efficient practices to balance their economic and environmental contributions. Encouraging innovation, fostering knowledge exchange, and implementing sustainable practices are crucial steps to ensure responsible water use across sectors.

Addressing pollution is equally essential to achieving water resilience. The rapporteur stresses the urgent need for stricter enforcement of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and related legislation to combat chemical pollution in water. Emerging pollutants, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and bisphenols, present long-term ecological and health risks that require immediate action. Establishing EU-wide quality standards for PFAS in groundwater and surface water is crucial. Additionally, enhanced monitoring under the WFD, coupled with comprehensive measures to regulate industrial discharges, urban wastewater, and agricultural inputs, is necessary to combat contamination by PFAS and other hazardous substances. Relating to agriculture, the common agricultural policy funding should support the transition to low-input and organic farming practices to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides and fertilizers. By addressing pollution at its source and integrating circular economy principles, the EU can protect water from source to sea.

Climate adaptation is fundamental to making the European Water Resilience Strategy a future-proof tool. Water resilience is inextricably linked to the impacts of climate change, including floods and droughts. The rapporteur underscores the importance of nature-based solutions, such as restoring wetlands, rewetting peatlands, and creating natural water reserves, to enhance resilience against extreme weather events. These measures not only mitigate climate impacts but also restore ecological balance. The rapporteur believes that Member States must develop comprehensive drought and flood management plans that incorporate digital monitoring and early warning systems to ensure effective responses. Adaptation measures must avoid exacerbating water- and energy-intensive activities while ensuring equitable access to water for all sectors.

Adequate funding is a cornerstone of this strategy. The rapporteur calls on the Commission to establish a dedicated funding line for water resilience within the upcoming multiannual financial framework (MFF). This funding should support the goals of the strategy, including infrastructure modernisation, innovative technologies, data collection, nature-based solutions, and compliance with legislative obligations, with a particular focus on addressing regional disparities and supporting economically disadvantaged areas. Public-private partnerships will also be pivotal in strengthening investment in water resilience. Governance frameworks should clearly define the roles of stakeholders in planning, financing, and implementing nature-based solutions, while integrating diverse funding sources, including philanthropic contributions and private-sector partnerships.

Digitalisation and innovation are transformative forces in advancing water resilience. Digital tools, artificial intelligence, and smart water technologies can revolutionise water management and monitoring by providing real-time data on water quality, usage, and leakages. Such technologies enable evidence-based policymaking and timely responses to emerging challenges. Real-time data collection is particularly critical for detecting small but significant changes in water systems, allowing policymakers to prioritise resources effectively. The rapporteur stresses the importance of data collection in ensuring monitoring and analysis of water efficiency and water pollution targets. To that end, the rapporteur highlights the role of digitalisation in robust data collection and calls on the Commission and Member States to prioritise knowledge sharing, and capacity building to ensure coordinated and equitable advancements in data collection through adoption of innovative digital technologies.

Water resilience is a transboundary challenge requiring strong international and regional collaboration. Climate change exacerbates shared water challenges, such as floods and water scarcity, which threaten social cohesion and stability. The report calls for enhanced international and regional cooperation to promote sustainable water management and equitable resource distribution. The rapporteur advocates the establishment of natural water reserves and greater collaboration at river basin level. Strengthened partnerships with neighbouring countries and international organisations will ensure that water resilience becomes a cornerstone of global and regional environmental strategies.

Water is essential to ensure the resilience of Europe. It is a resource needed for our food security, for our industry’s competitiveness, including for emerging technological advancements, and, above all, it is essential for our own livelihood. The rapporteur believes that this report provides a bold, comprehensive framework for a stronger, more competitive and more resilient Europe, ready to tackle both current and future water challenges. By prioritising sustainability, inclusivity, and innovation, the report outlined envisions a people-centred water resilience framework that secures the long-term health of Europe’s water resources, ecosystems, and communities today, and for generations to come.