EU Water Resilience Strategy aims to ensure clean water access and a sustainable, competitive European water economy amid increasing scarcity.
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The European Union has adopted a Water Resilience Strategy to ensure clean water access for all residents and establish a sustainable, resilient, advanced, and competitive water economy across Europe. Currently, one-third of EU residents face water scarcity, with the situation worsening since 2010; in 2022, 34% of EU territory and 41% of its population were affected by water shortages for at least one quarter of a year. Water stress is particularly severe in Southern Europe, where about 30% of residents live in areas with constant scarcity and up to 70% experience seasonal shortages. Climate change is projected to worsen this issue, leading the European Environment Agency (EEA) to forecast continued water stress by 2030. The agricultural sector is identified as a major contributor to water pollution and overuse, with nitrates from fertilizers affecting nearly a third of Europe’s groundwater and surface waters, potentially harming human health. Climate change exacerbates the water crisis through more frequent and intense droughts, especially in Southern Europe; if greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, up to 65 million people in the EU and UK could face temporary water shortages by 2050. The Mediterranean region is most vulnerable, but Central and Northern Europe may also suffer due to poor management and infrastructure. Economically, water scarcity threatens agriculture (crop reduction, increased costs), energy (reduced cooling for power plants, lower hydropower output), and infrastructure integrity from drought-induced soil contraction. While floods are expected, they do not effectively replenish depleted resources. The strategy outlines three main goals: restoring and protecting the entire water cycle by enforcing existing regulations and improving water retention; creating a hydrologically advanced economy through efficient use and sustainable management, supported by recommendations for effective water governance; and ensuring access to clean water and sanitation by promoting water saving practices among users and businesses. The European Investment Bank will support implementation with over €15 billion between 2025 and 2027, encouraging the use of AI and digitalization.
