EC introduces 10% water saving objectives to create awareness in Water Resilience Strategy

The European Commission is asking all Member States to reduce their water use by ten per cent by 2030. These water saving objectives are part of the Water Resilience Strategy that was presented today by European commissioner Jessika Roswall. “Member States can choose how to achieve this reduction. For example, by preventing leakage or scaling up water reuse. It is important to create awareness with this strategy. This is the beginning of a journey.”, said Roswall during a press meeting prior to the presentation.

The Water Resilience Strategy presented by the European Commission (29-page document) describes Europe’s water challenges extensively. The three key objectives of the Water Resilience Strategy are restoring and protecting the water cycle (1). Building a water-smart economy in a way that supports EU competitiveness, is attractive to investors and supports a thriving EU water industry (2). Securing clean and affordable water and sanitation for all at all times, and empowering citizens for water resilience (3).

No-regret measures

The water saving objectives that are presented are no-regret measures. Few people are likely to object to them. Certainly, because the water saving objectives are not legally binding. Roswall: “We will not come up with new legislation. The situation is very different in the Member States. They need to find their own methodology. We need to focus on the implementation of existing water legislation.“ The implementation of existing legislation has to be executed by national water authorities. The European Parliament called in their proposal for a Water Resilience Strategy for more financial and technical support to strengthen competent national water authorities. In the EC Water Resilience Strategy the European Commission states they will step up enforcement. Structured Dialogues with Member States will be launched to work jointly towards a reinforced implementation. Roswall said the European Commission is investigating ‘how to provide guidelines for water authorities’.

Investment gap

To implement the Water Resilience Strategy €55 billion is needed. Roswall: “Two-thirds of the money is already available via the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The EIB will come with new money of 15 billion, but there is still an investment gap. We will need extra investment from the private sector. We will soon present a Road Map Nature Credit to gain more funding.” The Water Resilience Strategy states the EIB Group has developed a Water Programme to support the Commission’s Water Resilience Strategy with over €15 billion in planned financing from 2025-2027 for projects enhancing access to water, pollution control, resilience and competitiveness of the EU water sector, including through large infrastructures and nature-based solutions.

Nitrates Directive

The European Parliament also asked the European Commission to come with a revision of the Nitrates Directive before the end of this year. According to Roswall the work on the evaluation of the Nitrates Directive is ongoing. “We are planning to finalise the evaluation before the end of this year. The presented Water Resilience Strategy states limiting the pollution of aquatic ecosystems by nutrients should be placed at the centre of restoring water quality. ‘Nutrients from agriculture, urban settlements and other sources impact human health, and cause algal blooms and oxygen-depletion which are lethal to aquatic ecosystems. According to the study ‘Costs and Benefits of Nitrogen for Europe and Implications for Mitigation’ (2013) socio-economic losses can be between €75 and €485 a year regarding nitrogen alone. ‘Such costs call for accelerated action from source to sea, including an improved implementation of the Nitrates Directive in all Member States’, emphasizes the Water Resilience Strategy.

Water Resilience Forum

The European Commission calls on Member States, institutional partners, businesses and all parts of society to take action from December 2025. Every two years a Water Resilience Forum will be organised, bringing together EU stakeholders and interested parties to take stock of progress made in enhancing water resilience.