On 4 May 2026, EU Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Roswall, delivered the opening address at IFAT Munich 2026, calling for urgent action to repair the broken water cycle through circular economy principles. She announced three priority areas: water efficiency, water reuse, and the water-energy nexus, and set a target to improve water efficiency by at least 10% by 2030.
The speech builds on the European Water Resilience Strategy adopted in 2025, which serves as the EU's roadmap to a sustainable water future. Roswall emphasised that water is the medium through which circularity happens, stating that there is no competitive circular economy without water resilience, and no water resilience without circularity.
Concrete proposals and targets
Roswall outlined several concrete measures. On water efficiency, she noted that nearly a quarter of treated water is lost through leakages and announced a forthcoming Call for Evidence on a Digital Action Plan for water, to be published in the coming weeks, with a formal proposal later this year. On water reuse, she highlighted that less than 2.5% of treated wastewater is currently reused in the EU, and the Commission is committed to supporting safe reuse for industry, cooling, and urban applications. On the water-energy nexus, she stressed that biogas from waste could meet 10% of Europe's gas needs and that phosphorus recovery from wastewater can reduce imports of fertilisers.
Policy orientation and institutional context
Roswall's address signals a push toward stronger EU-level regulation and investment in water circularity. The speech aligns with the Commission's broader agenda, including the upcoming Circular Economy Act, which aims to create a single market for waste, secondary materials, and circular goods. The Commissioner also mentioned a Water Resilience Research and Innovation Strategy to structure R&I efforts and actions to boost private investment in water retention and efficiency.
The speech did not introduce new legislative proposals but reaffirmed existing commitments and outlined upcoming initiatives. The tone was supportive of industry innovation, positioning European companies as leaders in circular solutions.
Stakeholder impacts
EU water utilities and technology providers stand to benefit from increased investment and regulatory support for digital tools and reuse technologies, but may face compliance costs from new efficiency targets. EU farmers could gain from reduced fertiliser imports through recovered phosphorus, though they may need to adapt to new wastewater reuse standards. EU consumers may see improved water security and potentially lower water bills if leakages are reduced, but could face higher costs if investments are passed on. EU energy producers may benefit from biogas and energy recovery from wastewater, but the water-energy nexus could impose constraints on water-intensive energy projects in water-scarce regions.