Commission hosts first Water Resilience Forum to drive action on Europe’s growing water challenges

The European Commission convenes the first Water Resilience Forum today (Dec 8), a high-level gathering of policymakers, scientists, industry leaders, and civil society representatives dedicated to accelerating solutions for Europe’s growing water challenges.

The event is taking place in Brussels and can be accessed online via the Forum’s official page.  

Hosted jointly with the European Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee, the Forum marks a major milestone in the EU’s commitment to ensuring long-term water security for all Europeans. 

Pivotal moment for Europe’s water resilience 

Europe’s water resources face increasing pressure – from unsustainable land use, pollution and climate change to increased demand for water, urbanisation, and growing populations.  In response, the Commission adopted the European Water Resilience Strategy and accompanying  Recommendation on Water Efficiency First in June 2025, setting out a path to water resilience in Europe by 2050.  

Today's Forum focuses on translating this strategy into action, with discussions centred on removing obstacles to and accelerating implementation across the Strategy’s three primary objectives: 

• Restoring the broken water cycle
• Building a water-smart economy
• Ensuring access to clean and affordable water and sanitation for all

High-level opening and thematic sessions 

Executive Vice-President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, Teresa Ribera, will open the event, followed by Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy Jessika Roswall; President of the European Committee of the Regions Kata Tüttő; and President of the European Economic and Social Committee Seamus Boland.   

Participants will take part in six solution-focused panel discussions addressing the most pressing dimensions of Europe’s water crisis. Topics range from financing innovation, strengthening industrial competitiveness, and scaling water efficiency to urban water management, digital transformation opportunities, and the skills needed to build a water-secure Europe by 2050. 

Launch of Water Resilience Stakeholder Platform 

The Commission is also initiating the creation of the Water Resilience Stakeholder Platform, a new informal expert group that will bring together stakeholders and local and regional authorities to support implementation of priority actions under the Strategy.

The Platform will offer guidance on climate-resilient investment, industrial water efficiency, digital innovation, and urban water resilience.    

The call for interest to join this expert group will open in early 2026.   

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Quotes

Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, said: 

"Water is under increasing pressure. That is why we need a joint European effort to solve water challenges, and Europe is already leading the way with innovative solutions. Today's forum brings together expert stakeholders to speed up efforts to fix the water cycle, build a water-smart economy, eliminate barriers, and ensure universal access to clean water and sanitation."

Kata Tüttő, President of the European Committee of the Regions, said: 

"The scale of water resilience is vast: it touches health, agriculture, industry, ecosystems, and daily life in every city and region. And every drop carries political weight. Local and regional leaders striving to safeguard their territories face mounting pressures: droughts, floods, failing infrastructure, pollution, and deepening inequality.

To build true resilience, we need sufficient funding, inclusive decision-making, and accountability at every level. We must reduce unnecessary administrative and operational burdens without compromising essential environmental standards and the responsibility of polluters. The Water Resilience Strategy must meet the era we live in — an age of scarcity, risk, and rising expectations — with systems that are safe, just, and sustainable for every community across a cohesive Europe."

Seamus Boland, President of the European Economic and Social Committee, said:  

"The European Economic and Social Committee was the first EU body to sound the alarm on water two years ago with our Declaration for an EU Blue Deal, which called for an ambitious, comprehensive water policy for Europe. It's therefore heartening to see so much progress on this issue – and today's forum is a demonstration of this.

But much more needs to be done to make the EU truly water resilient, and we look forward to working with the European Commission and Committee of the Regions on the implementation of the Water Resilience Strategy as well as the establishment of an EU stakeholder platform."

Background

Tackling the water crisis is a priority for the Commission, and public support for stronger water action is high: 78% of Europeans believe the EU should introduce additional measures, with pollution seen as the biggest water-related threat, followed by overconsumption and waste.  

Member States, regions, municipalities, citizens, and businesses all play a central role in delivering water resilience. The European Water Resilience Strategy includes more than 30 targeted actions to help them manage water more efficiently and to support the implementation of EU water legislation. The Water Resilience Forum is one of these flagship actions.