Polski
On October 10, a conference organized by POLITICO and the Federation of Polish Entrepreneurs was held at the European Parliament to discuss the Blue Deal. The event, which was broadcast online, discussed, in two panel sessions, topics related to the water crisis in Europe. The debate, entitled “Solving Europe’s water problem,” was attended by a group of representatives from various groups, social and industry organizations: EurEau, FPP, WaterEurope, Amiblu, as well as the European Commission in the form of DG Environment Director General Florika Fink-Hooijer. The talks were attended by two Polish MEPs – Magdalena Adamowicz and Jan Olbrycht. The preparation of the challenge and objectives of the Blue Deal is an initiative of the European Economic and Social Committee, so their representative Pietro del Lotto was not to be missed.
Conference and BlueDeal (Blue Deal)
The conference was held two weeks before the European Economic and Social Committee officially announced its recommendations for urgent EU water reform and the EC’s call for the implementation of the so-called “water reform” in the Community. Blue Deal. The meeting discussed funding opportunities for investments to address the water crisis.
Beata Daszyńska-Muzyczka, president of BGK, who opened the conference, gave an interesting introduction to the second panel – she mentioned that the Polish Development Bank supports progress in the water industry and new technologies. According to her, it is a high-growth industry, currently worth €4.6 billion in Poland alone. At the same time, it is an important sector for the country’s economic development. She also stressed that water is one of the few resources that we cannot exchange for another, as is the case with energy sources. The Blue Deal is one way to fight to protect this precious resource.
Conflicts erupting due to water shortages and limited access to water are gaining momentum. According to estimates by the European Environment Agency EEA, in 2019 alone. Water shortages have affected more than 29 percent. EU area. This is a challenge not only for countries in the south, but also in the north of the continent (even Belgium is facing deficits). The situation is exacerbated by technical problems, including outdated infrastructure that causes huge leaks in networks, especially in Italy, Romania and Bulgaria.
Blue Deal Conference – discussions
Discussions in the panels of the Blue Deal conference addressed, on the one hand, the rationale for the need to draft a new strategy for water, and on the other, focused on possible solutions. Pietro del Lotto stressed the need to get out of siloed thinking about water, separately for each area of the economy. “We need a positive, strategic European approach, influencing awareness and enabling water-saving technologies and water-resilient operations at every level and in every sector,” he said.
Karine Measson, head of water management at the European Investment Bank (EIB), announced that the EIB will invest money in equitable transformation, especially in the water sector – “The Bank will support providing people with access to water. It’s really important for us.” Mr. Olbrych noted that the key will be the proper placement of funds so that flexible shifts in the Multiannual Financial Framework are possible.
Florika Fink-Hooijer, director general of the Directorate General for Economic Affairs. The Environment Commissioner at the European Commission, in turn, noted the need to develop the EU as a whole. She made a very interesting point, emphasizing that the Water Framework Directive and its accompanying legislation are of a very high standard – so much so that they are being modeled by countries outside the EU, including. China. “The EU must remain competitive. In addition, we need to prepare documents and data that show where the biggest water problem is in Europe and which areas are affected.” – She added.
The EP discussion emphasized the need to change the Union’s current approach to water resource management and the opportunities presented by the Blue Deal. Attention was drawn to the dispersion and ineffectiveness of the regulations, which are not adapted to the current situation of water scarcity, already affecting1/3 of the community. Experts argued that power generation, hydrogen electrolysis, nuclear power plant cooling and carbon capture alone will require 58 billioncubic meters (bcm ) of water per year by 2050 – almost double the current consumption of potable water in Europe.
Blue Deal Conference (Blue Deal)
Participants in the debate noted the need for discussion and water education, as well as the need to improve the availability of data on water intake and consumption. Parts of the panel debate, along with the introductory lecture, are available on POLITICO.
“We are pleased that water policy is being carried out at a high level, and that the public sees changes and is increasingly aware of the importance of the problem. Changes in consumer behavior, diversification of water sources, water storage and investment in infrastructure to reduce leakage will be very important,” said Oliver Loebel, EurEau Secretary General.
“The EU Blue Deal is an opportunity to create a single, comprehensive strategy and a viable solution to water scarcity in Europe. We hope that with this meeting we have taken another step towards its solution. Without investment, the problem will grow, and competition for water will become a source of increasingly fierce disputes in the EU.” – Marek Kowalski, chairman of the Federation of Polish Entrepreneurs, summed up the meeting.
The conference was accompanied by a happening organized by FPP. It handed out bottles of water, on which was printed a sign encouraging support for the Blue Deal and a price of 400 euros apiece – that’s how much this life-giving liquid could cost in a few decades if the EU does not undertake drastic reforms today to change water management.
Source: FPP press release
