Water resources in the European Union have faced increasingly pressing challenges in recent years, largely due to the impacts of climate change. The European Commission is responding to this challenge with a major new initiative called European strategy for water resistanceThis strategy responds to a clear demand for enhanced action from Member States, EU institutions and various stakeholders. Despite the existence of a comprehensive EU legal framework for the protection and sustainable management of water resources, structural mismanagement has led to the persistent degradation and pollution of water and aquatic ecosystems.

Climate change as the main driver of problems

The situation is being significantly worsened by climate change. Over the past five years, floods, prolonged droughts and water shortages have affected an increasing number of areas in the EU. These extreme events are significantly worsened by climate change, as well as pollution and biodiversity loss. The consequences are serious – harming people, the environment and the economy, and increasing tensions between a growing number of water users. Weather-related water events, influenced by a changing climate, together with poor management, have already caused hundreds of billions of euros in damage in the EU. As a result, water is increasingly becoming a limiting factor for various economic sectors.

Strategy for building resilience

The overall objective of the European Water Resilience Strategy is to set a clear path to water safety and resilience. Resilience is a key aspect in the context of adaptation to climate change and its impacts on the water cycle. The strategy aims to better integrate water aspects into different policies and funding sources. This will ensure that water issues are not addressed in isolation, but in line with other EU priorities, including climate.

The initiative has three specific objectives:

• Restore and protect the disrupted water cycle, which is directly and strongly affected by global climate change.
• Ensure clean and affordable water and sanitation for all.
• Support a competitive EU water industry and a clean, water-efficient and circular economy.

To achieve these goals, the strategy will focus on five action areas, including governance and implementation, infrastructure, finance and investment, security, as well as industry, innovation and education. These areas are essential for building and modernizing water infrastructure, which can better cope with the extremes caused by climate change, as well as to support innovation in water management.

The Commission will also highlight the principle "Water comes first", which aims to better manage water demand and promote water reuse and circularity. This approach is increasingly important in regions affected by droughts linked to climate change. The strategy will build on existing, strengthened EU water rules and support their full implementation. Importantly, the initiative complement the European Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change, thereby contributing to the coherence and complementarity of EU policies aimed at addressing the consequences of changing climate conditions.

Expected benefits

The expected impacts of the initiative include ensuring the availability of clean water and better protect the EU from water-related risks, such as floods and droughts, which are exacerbated by climate change. The coherence and complementarity of all EU water-related policies and measures will be increased. Given the transboundary nature of water problems and the differences in water availability and needs between regions and Member States, the initiative will take into account the subsidiarity principle and regional disparities.

The European Water Resilience Strategy is a key Commission initiative that directly responds to the threats posed by climate change to the EU's water resources. By focusing on restoring the water cycle, building resilience, better integrating water into policies and supporting innovation, it seeks to ensure a sustainable and secure future for water resources in a changing world. Spring