Brussels: The European Commission will on Monday introduce two significant initiatives aimed at advancing the Water Resilience Agenda, in collaboration with the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee. Europe's water resources are under increasing strain due to pollution, ecosystem degradation, ageing infrastructure, over-consumption, and climate change, posing serious risks to farmers, energy production, and supply chains, as emphasized by President Ursula von der Leyen in her State of the Union address.
According to Emirates News Agency, the European Union must act swiftly to address these challenges and achieve its water resilience objectives by 2050. This requires a transformational change across all sectors, driven by expertise and collaboration between public and private entities. The Water Resilience Stakeholder Platform and the European Water Academy are designed to support the effective implementation of the Water Resilience Strategy and EU water legislation.
The Water Resilience Stakeholder Platform will unite various stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, regional and local authorities, and Member States, to guide the process. The platform aims to identify implementation barriers, propose practical solutions, and ensure that the Strategy's actions address a broad spectrum of public and sectoral interests.
In parallel, the European Water Academy will focus on developing and connecting the skills, knowledge, innovation, and partnerships essential to addressing Europe's water challenges. Together, these initiatives will also contribute to the new European Water Initiative, as announced in the State of the Union address.
Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience, and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, highlighted the urgency of these actions, stating: "This summer of extreme heat and drought has underlined more than ever how fundamental our water agenda is to increase our resilience, and the renewed political ambition set out in the State of the Union confirms this. To advance our EU Water Resilience Strategy, we are launching two key initiatives today. By kicking off the European Water Academy and the Water Resilience Stakeholder Platform, we are gathering everybody around the table to turn our ambitions into actions and ensure that implementation delivers results."