The first Water Resilience Forum convened EU institutions, Member States, industry, utilities, researchers, youth and civil society to discuss how best to accelerate implementation of the EU Water Resilience Strategy and strengthen Europe’s water security by 2050, with high levels of engagement throughout.
Over 300 guests attended, with over 650 following along online.
The day was opened by high-level speeches from European Executive Vice President, Theresa Ribera, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, President of the European Committee of the Regions, Kata Tüttő, President of the European Economic and Social Committee, Séamus Boland, and MEP Thomas Bajada.
Across six breakout sessions, participants addressed water efficiency, financing, industrial transformation, urban water resilience, skills, and digitalisation, highlighting water as a systemic enabler of competitiveness, climate neutrality, and social resilience. SLIDO was used extensively for live questions, voting, and proposals, showing active participation and clear demand for practical solutions.
Discussions converged on the “Water Efficiency First” approach, combining technology, governance, and finance, with strong emphasis on reuse, circularity, upstream pollution prevention, and nature-based solutions. Scaling solutions emerged as a central challenge, requiring interoperable data, digital tools, workforce skills, regulatory clarity, and innovative financing models.
Local, community-driven initiatives were also shown at the Water Resilience Pavilion to deliver the strongest impact when supported by EU-level coordination, shared knowledge, and investment frameworks. It acted as a central hub for discussion, networking, and showcasing 21 initiatives from across the EU, including UNEP, CINEA, Wetsus, and the European Junior Water Programme, that demonstrated scalable solutions to the many challenges facing Europe’s water.
Overall, the Forum confirmed strong momentum and consensus: Europe can achieve water resilience, but success depends on coordinated action, sustained engagement, and a clear focus on implementation.
The next Water Resilience Forum will take place in December 2027.
- water protection | environmental protection | environmental policy
- Monday 8 December 2025, 10:00 (CET)
Programme
- 8 Dec 2025, 08:30 - 10:00 (CET)Registration and welcome coffee
8:30-10:00 - Registration and welcome coffee
- 10:00 - 10:30 (CET)High Level Opening Session (room JDE 52)
Opening remarks by:
▪ Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy
▪ Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition
▪ Kata Tüttő, President of the Committee of the Regions
▪ Séamus Boland, President of the European Economic and Social Committee
▪ Ida Hannibal, Deputy permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment of Denmark
- 10:30 - 11:00 (CET)Plenary session: Stocktaking (room JDE 52)
▪ Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy
▪ Thomas Bajada, Member of the European Parliament
▪ Henk Ovink, Executive Director Commissioner, Global Commission on Economics of Water
- 11:00 - 11:30 (CET)Media slot with Commissioner Roswall
Online streaming will be available throughout the event on this page. Commissioner Roswall will be available to speak to media.
- 11:00 - 11:30 (CET)Coffee break, change of rooms and photo opportunity
- 11:30 - 13:00 (CET)Parallel breakout sessions: Solutions Marketplace - From Strategy to Action (parallel breakout sessions)
Session 2.1: Water Efficiency: From Farm to Factory, Local to Global Action (room JDE 52)
Rapporteurs
▪ Agnese Danelon, Vice-President, Ecolab
▪ Trine Christiansen, Head of Group for Freshwater and Environment, European Environment Agency
Panellists
▪ Xavier Girre, CEO of SUEZ Group
▪ Naoufel Menadi, CEO Leviathan Dynamics
▪ Inge Genné, Director Water Reuse Europe
▪ Prof Danilo Demarchi, Polytechnic University of Turin
Click here to watch the webstream
Session 2.2: Financing the Way to Water Resilience (room JDE 53)
Rapporteurs
▪ Magdalena Rzeczkowska, Member of European Economic and Social Committee
▪ Karl Vanlouwe, Member of the Committee of the Regions
Panellists
▪ Edouard Pérard, Head of the Division for Water, European Investment Bank
▪ Ben Townsend, Global Head of Infrastructure Strategy and Sustainability, Google
▪ Tim Segboer, Senior advisor regulatory & corporate affairs Dutch Water Bank
▪ Job van Schelven, partner, PureTerra Watertech Growth Fund
Click here to watch the webstream
Session 2.3: Industrial challenges on the way to zero pollution and net-zero targets - How the Water Resilience Strategy can boost EU competitiveness (room JDE 51)
Rapporteurs
▪ Durk Krol, Executive Director, Water Europe
▪ Alain Coheur, President of the Consultative Commission on Industrial Change, Member of the European Economic and Social Committee
Panellists
▪ Ioana Blaj, Health, Safety, Security and Environment Manager, CEFIC
▪ Lars Lindén, CEO, Ragn-Sells
▪ Hanno Balzer, Senior Vice President of Project Development, Permits & Infrastructure and Energy & Asset Management, H2apex
▪ Pär Dalhielm, President EurEau
- 13:00 - 14:00 (CET)Lunch and Water Resilience Solutions Pavilion
- 14:00 - 15:30 (CET)Parallel breakout sessions: Solutions Marketplace
Session 3.1: Urban Water Resilience (room JDE 51)
Rapporteurs
▪ Marieke Schouten, Member of the Committee of the Regions▪ Hildegard Bentele, Member of the European Parliament
Panellists
▪ Ans Mol-van de Camp, Regional Minister of the Province of Gelderland, Member of the Committee of the Regions
▪ Balázs Borkovits, Coordinator Sponge Cities Project
▪ Agustín Reyna, Director-General, BEUC (European Consumer Organisation)
▪ Herman Afzelius, PFAS Association of Kallinge
Click here to watch the webstream
Session 3.2: Upskilling for Water Resilience: Inception for the European Water Academy (room JDE 52)
Rapporteurs
▪ Alessandra Zampieri, Director for Sustainable Resources, Joint Research Centre, European Commission▪ Gabriëlle Knufman, CEO, World Water Academy
Panellists
▪ Milo Fiasconaro, Executive Director, Aqua Publica Europa
▪ Arthur Guischet, Secretary General, European Water Association
▪ Dr Klara Ramm, EurEau Executive Committee member and General Assembly Representative for Poland
▪ Katerina Schilling, Secretary-General, International Association of Water Utilities in the Danube
Click here to watch the webstream
Session 3.3: Digital Transformation for Water Management (room JDE 53)
Rapporteurs
▪ Meike van Ginneken, Water Envoy for the Kingdom of the Netherlands▪ Vincenzo Renda, Director for Digital Transformation, Digital Europe
Panellists
▪ Andrea Cominola, Professor of Smart Water Networks, Technical University Berlin
▪ Adam Cartwright, Director Industry Strategy: Water and Wastewater Software, Siemens
▪ Gaetane Suzenet, Vice Chair - Scientific and Technological Board Water4All
▪ Bernardo Matos, Senior Director EU Government Relations, Bentley Systems
- 15:30 - 16:00 (CET)Break
- 16:00 - 16:45 (CET)Plenary Session: Feedback and Pathways to Action (room JDE 52)
Rapporteurs from breakout sessions present key conclusions and commitments
▪ Manuela Geleng, Director, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion – Way forward for the European Water Academy
▪ Eric Mamer, Director-General, DG Environment – Key takeaways, statement on the next steps for the Water Resilience Strategy
- 16:45 - 17:00 (CET)Closing Remarks (room JDE 52)
▪ Jessika Roswall Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy
▪ President Séamus Boland for the European Economic and Social Committee
▪ President Kata Tüttő for the Committee of the Regions
- 17:00 - 18:00 (CET)Networking cocktail and Water Resilience Solutions Pavilion
Practical information
- When
- Monday 8 December 2025, 10:00 (CET)
- Languages
- English
Description
The sessions covered the following strategic themes:
Water Efficiency: From Local to Global Action
The session highlighted that scaling water efficiency requires wider value-chain cooperation, stronger public engagement, and rapid deployment of existing and emerging technologies to meet growing demand from new sectors.
Financing the Way to Water Resilience
Participants agreed that although capital exists, governance, pricing, data, and capacity must be strengthened so funding can be channelled strategically and treated as a priority in the next MFF.
Industrial Challenges and Opportunities: How can the Water Resilience Strategy boost EU competitiveness
Speakers stressed that water is central to industrial competitiveness and a just transition, calling for a sector-specific, cross-cutting strategy to support innovation and resilience across all industries.
Urban Water Resilience
The session underscored the need to scale circular water systems, modernise infrastructure, strengthen governance, protect natural water bodies, and ensure fairness and preparedness in urban water management.
Upskilling for Water Resilience: Building Competencies and Sharing Best Practices Across the EU
This session surveyed participants on the pitfalls and opportunities facing a new European water academy, and what the speakers and audience would like included.
Digital Transformation for Water Management
Participants emphasised that the technologies already exist, and the priority is now scaling adoption across all regions through standardisation, funding, skills, and practical deployment.