European Water Resilience Strategy.

This Strategy sets out a pathway to make Europe water resilient, firmly rooted in the 2050 vision put forward by the EU at the 2023 UN Water Conference for a water resilient EU, providing water security for all. In order to achieve water resilience, the Strategy identifies three objectives: 1. Restoring and protecting the water cycle as basis for sustainable water supply;2. Building a water-smart economy together with citizens and economic actors in a way that supports EU competitiveness, is attractive to investors and supports a thriving EU water industry.; 3. Securing clean and affordable water and sanitation for all at all times, and empowering citizens for water resilience. EU legislation and policies, including the European Green Deal, provide a strong basis to achieve these objectives. Member States – and their local or regional authorities – are often best placed to deal with water management since they know their own circumstances, challenges and possible solutions best. The Strategy fully recognises that Member States are free to organise their water supply systems as they see fit, within the boundaries of EU laws. To support Member States’ initiatives and enhance cross-border water cooperation, it identifies five areas of EU action: (i) governance and implementation; (ii) finance, investments and infrastructure; (iii) digitalisation; (iv) research and innovation, industry and skills; and (v) security and preparedness.
The Strategy deals with the following issues and formulates flagship actions in relation with these issues: Restoring and protecting the water cycle as basis for water sustainable supply; Building a water-smart economy that leaves no one behind, supports EU competitiveness and attracts investors; Securing clean and affordable water for all, empowering consumers and other users. The Strategy also identifies five enabling areas to pave the way for a water resilient Europe. These are: Governance and implementation to boost change; Finance, investments and infrastructure to achieve a stable supply; Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence to accelerate and simplify sound water management; Research and innovation, water industry and skills to strengthen competitiveness; Security and preparedness to boost collective resilience. A specific section is dedicated to global water governance and cooperation.