First European Water Resilience Forum

Yesterday in Brussels, the first European Water Resilience Forum took place, bringing together politicians, scientists, and representatives from industry and civil society. The main theme of the discussions was the growing pressure on Europe’s water resources: water shortages, deteriorating water quality, and climate-related threats to the economy and public safety.

Not a single drop

The European Water Resilience Forum was organised by the European Commission in cooperation with the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. The event is intended to become a recurring one and, according to the Commission’s plans, to serve as a key platform for dialogue supporting the implementation of the European Water Resilience Strategy, which sets development directions for EU water management until 2050.

The new European Water Resilience Strategy sets a clear path: to restore the disrupted water cycle, build a smart water economy with efficient, circular, and digital water use, and ensure clean and affordable water for all, recalled Jessika Roswall, EU Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience, and Competitive Circular Economy, adding that Europe cannot afford to waste a single drop of water.

During the forum’s inauguration, the Commissioner announced that in 2026 the Commission plans to launch, among other initiatives, the Water Resilience Investment Accelerator, the European Water Academy, and a new stakeholder platform on water resilience aimed at knowledge exchange. These initiatives are intended to support the implementation of innovative retention solutions, the digitalisation of the water sector, and the strengthening of skills and cooperation among entities responsible for water management in the Member States.

European Water Resilience Forum in a nutshell

Among the key topics discussed during the forum were: financing water resilience in Europe, the growing water consumption of data centres, and the digital transformation of the water sector. In the context of digitalisation, the greatest challenges were identified as the lack of reliable data, the high costs of implementing innovation, and a shortage of qualified staff. At the same time, it was emphasised that effective leak detection based on artificial intelligence still offers untapped potential for improving the efficiency of water supply systems.

Forum participants also highlighted the need to optimise the operation of industrial wastewater treatment plants. Water was clearly defined as a factor of competitiveness for the entire Union and its main economic sectors. Technological innovations in the development of a circular water economy were also at the centre of attention. In the future, wastewater treatment plants should deliver water for reuse in industry and agriculture, recover nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater for fertiliser production, and generate renewable energy.

Water challenges of European cities

A large part of the forum was dedicated to the water resilience of cities. As MEP Hildegard Bentele stressed, European metropolises are learning to operate under conditions of droughts and flash floods by implementing the sponge-city concept: green roofs, permeable surfaces, rain gardens, and restored floodplains.

Discussions focused on moving away from exclusively concrete stormwater drainage systems towards nature-based solutions that complement grey infrastructure. Inge Genné from VITO pointed out that local governments still prioritise energy projects over water management, and that increasing the competence of decision-makers will be a long-term process.

The example of Kallinge in Sweden also resonated strongly, where long-term contamination of water with PFAS compounds led to very high concentrations of these substances in residents. Micropollutants and their impact on public health were recognised as one of the key challenges of European water management, highlighting the urgent need to clarify responsibilities for water quality within water supply networks.