On June 4, 2025, the European Commission unveiled a comprehensive Water Resilience Strategy aimed at enhancing water security across the EU.

This strategy addresses critical issues such as water scarcity, ecosystem degradation, and rising costs, with the goal of improving water management across member states.

With global water demand projected to exceed available resources by 40% by 2030, the strategy underscores the strategic importance of water for security and economic development.

To bolster responses to water scarcity, the strategy includes the development of drought assessment indicators and guidelines for effective drought management plans.

Nature-based solutions are prioritized, including initiatives to restore 25,000 km of rivers to their natural flow by 2030 and the promotion of sponge cities to manage urban rainwater.

Commissioner Roswall emphasized that improving water usage by at least 10% is essential to achieving the strategy's objectives.

The strategy reaffirms access to safe drinking water as a human right, aiming to provide water access to 70 million people outside the EU by 2030.

It is supported by five key pillars: effective governance, investments, digitalization and AI, research support, and preparedness.

The principle of 'Water Efficiency First' is central to the strategy, prioritizing reductions in water consumption and losses before considering new water abstractions.

Investments in sustainable water management are deemed necessary and economically beneficial, with the European water sector generating €111.7 billion in added value in 2022.

Climate change poses significant threats to water access, contributing to both droughts and floods, as highlighted by the European Environment Agency.

The strategy outlines a roadmap for building water resilience in Europe by 2050 and serves as a preparatory document for the upcoming 2026 UN Water Conference.