The European Union, speaking on behalf of its Member States and aligned countries, urged accelerated implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6 on water and sanitation during the 2026 UN High Level Political Forum on 7 July 2026. In a statement delivered by Roderick Harte, First Secretary at the EU Delegation to the UN, the EU stressed that water is a powerful connector across the SDGs and that progress remains off track, requiring greater ambition, integrated action, and cross-border cooperation.
The statement highlighted the EU Water Resilience Strategy as a key framework that recognizes the interdependence of water, food, energy, and ecosystems. The EU supports improved water efficiency, ecosystem restoration, and preparedness for droughts and floods, alongside reinforced governance based on river basin management, data, and stakeholder participation. Financing was identified as a critical challenge, with the EU calling for more public and private capital for resilient water services and climate adaptation, matched by enabling policies and stronger institutions.
Transboundary water cooperation was emphasized as essential, given that over 60% of the world's freshwater flows through shared basins. The EU also pointed to the upcoming 2026 UN Water Conference as a critical milestone to maintain political momentum and translate commitments into measurable action. The statement concluded by positioning water not only as a sectoral priority but as a strategic enabler of sustainable development, climate resilience, and security.