As water scarcity and pollution continue to pose global challenges, the current EU policy framework seems insufficient. To address this, top-level water experts gathered at the EESC on 27 February to identify possible solutions. The hearing marks the beginning of the EESC's works on water. 

The EESC is preparing a set of own-initiative opinions and, in the autumn, will share civil society's recommendations for the future of water in the EU.

Summer 2022 saw the most severe droughts in Europe in 500 years. While the EU Green Deal has proposals tackling water-issues, these objectives are not well integrated across EU policies. A change of scale is needed to avoid the mistakes previously made with the energy policy. 

EESC President Christa Schweng said: "the EU has the opportunity to position itself as a frontrunner in the area of water."

The European Parliament also recently called for an EU water strategy. Pernille Weiss, chair of the MEP Water Group, said: "My hope is that Europe will become a role model for how to take care of water resources."

The EESC will push for a comprehensive EU strategy on water with a series of own-initiative opinions, including proposals on the safeguarding of clean water resources; anticipating and mitigating effects of international conflicts caused by water-related issues; and sustainable water management.

Pietro Francesco De Lotto, President of the Consultative Commission on Industrial Change (CCMI), highlighted the industrial dimension of water: "Water-efficient technologies are an important part of the solution we need, not just for industry, but for all of society."

Salla Saastamoinen, Deputy Director-General for the Joint Research Centre (JRC), said: "the JRC shares the EESC's ambition towards a holistic approach to water management."

Oliver Röpke, President of the EESC Workers' Group, stressed the importance of water as a human right: "Solidarity and sustainability must be at the heart of our solutions." (gb)