European Water Resilience Strategy

Background
The EESC was the first EU institution to call for a paradigm shift in how Europe addresses water. Through its Blue Deal initiative, the Committee proposed concrete actions to make water a top EU priority alongside the Green Deal. The European Commission’s European Water Resilience Strategy, published in June 2025, responds to many of these calls and aims to restore and protect the water cycle, build a water-smart economy, and secure access to clean and affordable water for all.

Key points
In this opinion, the EESC:

• welcomes the strategy, but stresses that water, as a finite public good, must be recognised as a strategic priority at EU level, with stronger governance, dedicated funding in the next EU multiannual budget, and systematic integration into all EU policies;
• recommends the application of a ‘water test’ in new or revised EU legislation to ensure that these are line with the objectives of the European Water Resilience Strategy; and
• calls for ambitious and swift measures to boost water efficiency and reduce leakage, alongside major investments in infrastructure, innovation, digitalisation and skills, as well as nature-based solutions to build a resilient and circular water economy.

Background information:
Section: Consultative Commission on Industrial Change (CCMI)
Opinion type: Optional
Rapporteur: András Edelényi
Co-rapporteur: Guido Nelissen
Reference: COM(2025) 280 final
Date of the section meeting: 12 September 2025
Results of the section meeting vote:

• 27 members in favour, 0 against, 0 abstentions
• 35 delegates in favour, 0 against, 0 abstentions

Date of adoption at the EESC plenary session: 18 September 2025
Results of the plenary session vote: 127 in favour, 1 against, 0 abstentions

Contacts:
Giorgia Battiato (press officer)
Tel.: +32 2 546 9449
Email: giorgia.battiato@eesc.europa.eu

Heli Niemela-Farrer (administrator)
Tel.: +32 2 282 2464
Email: heli.niemela-farrer@eesc.europa.eu