Putting water resilience at the heart of the EU agenda

Long before water resilience became a political priority in Brussels, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) warned that Europe needed a comprehensive strategy to tackle growing water scarcity, droughts and flooding. Back in 2023, it proposed an ambitious EU Blue Deal, calling for water to be considered across all EU policies rather than through fragmented sectoral measures.

The European Economic and Social Committee argued that Europe needed a long-term vision backed by dedicated investment and stronger coordination. Among its key recommendations was the introduction of a “water test” to ensure that the impact on water resources is systematically considered when preparing EU legislation.

The EESC’s call helped place water firmly on the European agenda. The European Commission made water resilience one of its political priorities for the new mandate, and several of the Committee’s recommendations were reflected in the European Water Resilience Strategy, presented in 2025. The European Parliament also echoed the Committee’s approach in its resolution on water resilience, reinforcing the need for a more strategic and coordinated EU policy.

One of the clearest signs of this shift was the appointment, for the first time, of a European Commissioner with responsibility for water resilience. This marked an important step towards the integrated governance that the EESC had advocated from the outset.

Having helped shape the strategic direction, the Committee is now working to ensure that the strategy delivers concrete results. It will continue to provide policy recommendations, monitor implementation and bring together civil society, EU institutions and stakeholders to promote water-smart decision-making across Europe.

Water is fundamental to our economy, our environment and our quality of life. Europe has recognized that protecting this resource requires a common strategy. The EESC is proud to have helped put water resilience at the heart of the European agenda and will continue working to turn that ambition into concrete action. Alain Coheur, President of the EESC’s Consultative Commission on Industrial Change and EU Blue Deal Coordinator