Ahead of the UN Water Conference 2026, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held a plenary debate with the EU Commissioner for Environment and Water Resilience, Jessika Roswall. The EESC calls for water to be treated as a strategic resource for Europe’s economy, security and global role.

The debate comes as water stress increases across Europe, putting pressure on supply chains, infrastructure and industrial production. In response to this, the Committee is calling for a shift in how water is framed in EU policy, from a mainly environmental concern to a strategic resource for competitiveness and resilience.

European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy Jessika Roswall echoed this broader approach, saying: ‘Water is not only an environmental priority, but also a vital ingredient for our competitiveness, preparedness, resilience and overall security. We need a sustained and cross-sectoral effort to solve our water challenges in Europe with all partners around the table.’

From a broader development perspective, Member of the European Parliament, vice-chair of the Committee on Development (DEVE) and chair of the MEP Water Group Hildegard Bentele, added: ‘Water must be treated as a cross-cutting issue at the heart of sustainable development. It underpins health, food security, energy and economic growth, yet water insecurity is already a major constraint in many regions. We know what needs to be done, but we are still not acting at the pace required.’

At EU level, the EESC has been pushing for this shift for several years through its EU Blue Deal initiative, which seeks to place water at the centre of industrial, economic and climate policy. 

This work was reinforced at the Committee’s June plenary, where it adopted two opinions aimed at strengthening water resilience in Europe and clarifying the EU’s role in global water governance:

• Blue Deal Accelerator – technology, skills and finance for a water-resilient future
• EESC Contribution to the UN Water Conference 2026: from the EU Blue Deal and Water Resilience Strategy to global water action

EESC President Séamus Boland underlined the urgency of this agenda: ‘The Committee has delivered multiple opinions to help develop a comprehensive EU water policy. Without water, there is no life, no economy and no other policy to defend. This is why we call for a water test in EU legislation and for water to be made a strategic priority in the next multiannual financial framework.’

In December 2026, the EESC will join the EU delegation to the UN Water Conference for the first time, marking a new phase in its role in global water governance.

UN Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation, Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, said: ‘The UN Water Conference should become a more regular process. The UN has been too weak in this area, leaving space for private interests. At a time of growing attacks on multilateralism, Europe must promote the institutionalisation of this conference and ensure a human rights-based approach to water.’

To support the preparatory process, the EESC will host a dedicated civil society event on 15 September 2026 to gather input ahead of the conference. 

The Committee will continue working with EU institutions and international partners to ensure the EU arrives at the UN Water Conference with a clear, ambitious and practicable agenda. (gb)