EESC urges EU leaders to act now on water crisis

In a joint letter with the European Parliament's MEP Water Group, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is calling on EU Heads of State and Government to support an EU Blue Deal strategy as part of the European Commission's upcoming mandate (2024-2029).

As water resources become increasingly scarce and precious and the impacts of climate change, pollution, and over exploitation are becoming more evident, Europe must prioritize water. This is not merely an environmental issue; it is intertwined with the prosperity and resilience of our continent.

The EU Blue Deal is the EESC's flagship initiative for 2023. The EESC calls for a comprehensive European water-smart strategy to be developed in close collaboration with civil society organizations. This strategy aims to address the multifaceted challenges of water scarcity and pave the way for sustainable resource management across all sectors and regions.

The Committee and its partners stress the urgency of fostering innovation, responsible consumption, and the equitable distribution of this invaluable resource.

Water is our most precious resource. Europe needs to recognise the importance of water in all of its policies, and this requires an ambitious strategy on a par with the European Green Deal. European civil society is ready to contribute to this, and we are pleased that Members of the European Parliament, who share our ambition, join forces with us. It is time for an EU Blue Deal! said EESC Member Pietro De Lotto, President of the Consultative Committee on Industrial Change (CCMI).

Member of the European Parliament Pernille Weiss, Chair of the MEP Water Group, added: Doing nothing will cost us far more in the long run than investing in the sustainable management of water. This summer's droughts and floods across Europe were another stark reminder that we need and must take action immediately in every Member State and at the EU level.

On October 26 2023, the EESC will host a high-level conference to announce its recommendations for a comprehensive EU Blue Deal. The conference will bring together policymakers, experts, and stakeholders from across Europe to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing water in the EU.