EU launches Water Resilience Stakeholder Platform

Key points

• The European Commission officially launched the Water Resilience Stakeholder Platform in Brussels with over 50 members spanning policymakers, NGOs, academia, research organisations, regional bodies, youth actors, financial institutions and industry.
• The platform was established with the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee, and members will support implementation of the Water Resilience Strategy over the next five years.
• Commissioner Roswall said this summer's extreme heatwaves, wildfires and severe drought dried up rivers, reduced shipping and shut down power stations, exposing Europe's water vulnerability.
• The Commission stressed the "Water Efficiency First" principle: reduce demand where possible, then use water more efficiently, promote reuse, and only as a last resort consider additional supply.
• Over EUR 3 billion from EU cohesion policy has been mobilised for water, and the European Investment Bank committed a further EUR 15 billion for 2025-2027 and launched its Sustainable Water Advisory Facility.
• The Commission said public funding alone is insufficient and private financing is needed, with its Industrial Accelerator and a nature credits roadmap under implementation.
• The platform will seek guidance on implementing a Sponge Facility, supporting leak reduction and infrastructure modernisation, and communicating the role of water pricing.
• The Commission will soon publish guidance on drought management and wants drought management plans to become a standard preparedness tool for all Member States.