Initiative for water resilience

Key points

The EESC:

• underlines that the European Water Resilience Strategy should be at the top of the EU’s political agenda as water is a finite public good, water poverty is unacceptable, and access to viable and sustainable water resources is key to keeping water affordable and available for all citizens, restoring and protecting ecosystems, preserving the competitiveness of water-intensive economic activities and maintaining sustainable communities in our societies;
• reiterates its call to adopt water as a strategic priority in the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and stresses the need for well-designed public funding and EIB funding to leverage further necessary investments by encouraging private financing;
• supports the 10 % water efficiency target, and calls for the implementation of plans and indicators in river basins and integration in sectoral action plans to make the target operational;
• proposes that short-cycle leakage reduction targets should be set and that the deadline of 2030 for Member States to introduce (mandatory) national plans should be brought forward;
• welcomes the Commission’s proposal to convene a Water Resilience Forum every two years, and wishes to be involved as co-organiser, given its leading role in driving an ambitious EU water policy;
• reiterates the need to set up an EU advisory stakeholder platform, including the EESC and other EU institutions, based on a model similar to the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform. This platform would monitor the implementation of the EWRS and share best practices, supporting the preparation of the Water Resilience Forum and ensuring continuous follow-up;
• welcomes the announcement of the Water Smart Industrial Alliance to stimulate competitiveness, and requests to be a member of this new Alliance;
• recommends the systematic application of a ‘Water Test’ in new or revised EU legislation to ensure that these are line with the objectives of the Water Resilience Strategy;
• underlines that water-related risks have to be addressed by an integrated preparedness management system based on clear responsibilities and a pro-active risk assessment.