The European Commission convenes the first Water Resilience Forum today (Dec 8), a high-level gathering of policymakers, scientists, industry leaders, and civil society representatives dedicated to accelerating solutions for Europe’s growing water challenges.

The event is taking place in Brussels and can be accessed online via the Forum’s official page.  

Hosted jointly with the European Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee, the Forum marks a major milestone in the EU’s commitment to ensuring long-term water security for all Europeans. 

Pivotal moment for Europe’s water resilience 

Europe’s water resources face increasing pressure – from unsustainable land use, pollution and climate change to increased demand for water, urbanisation, and growing populations.  In response, the Commission adopted the European Water Resilience Strategy and accompanying  Recommendation on Water Efficiency First in June 2025, setting out a path to water resilience in Europe by 2050.  

Today’s Forum focuses on translating this strategy into action, with discussions centred on removing obstacles to and accelerating implementation across the Strategy’s three primary objectives: 

• Restoring the broken water cycle
• Building a water-smart economy
• Ensuring access to clean and affordable water and sanitation for all

High-level opening and thematic sessions 

Executive Vice-President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, Teresa Ribera, will open the event, followed by Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy Jessika Roswall; President of the European Committee of the Regions Kata Tüttő; and President of the European Economic and Social Committee Seamus Boland.   

Participants will take part in six solution-focused panel discussions addressing the most pressing dimensions of Europe’s water crisis. Topics range from financing innovation, strengthening industrial competitiveness, and scaling water efficiency to urban water management, digital transformation opportunities, and the skills needed to build a water-secure Europe by 2050. 

Launch of Water Resilience Stakeholder Platform 

The Commission is also initiating the creation of the Water Resilience Stakeholder Platform, a new informal expert group that will bring together stakeholders and local and regional authorities to support implementation of priority actions under the Strategy.

The Platform will offer guidance on climate-resilient investment, industrial water efficiency, digital innovation, and urban water resilience.    

The call for interest to join this expert group will open in early 2026.   

Follow online 

Background

Tackling the water crisis is a priority for the Commission, and public support for stronger water action is high: 78% of Europeans believe the EU should introduce additional measures, with pollution seen as the biggest water-related threat, followed by overconsumption and waste.  

Member States, regions, municipalities, citizens, and businesses all play a central role in delivering water resilience. The European Water Resilience Strategy includes more than 30 targeted actions to help them manage water more efficiently and to support the implementation of EU water legislation. The Water Resilience Forum is one of these flagship actions.