Europe's Water Crisis Commissioner Jessika Roswall, speaking at the 2025 Annual Conference of the German Water Partnership, underscored the urgency of water resilience amid increasing climate challenges. Highlighting Europe's status as the fastest-warming region and pressing drought conditions in Germany and Sweden, Roswall framed water security as a critical issue for both Europe and the world. She stressed that previous underestimations of water's importance threaten food security, industries, and ecosystems.
Strategy Without New Laws Roswall outlined the recently unveiled European Water Resilience Strategy aimed at achieving water resilience by 2050. She emphasized that the strategy does not introduce new legislation but focuses on the more effective implementation of existing directives like the Water Framework Directive, Flood Management Directive, and Nature Restoration Regulation. The approach is anchored on three pillars: restoring the water cycle, fostering a water-smart economy, and guaranteeing clean and affordable water as a human right.
Concrete Measures and Support for Stakeholders The strategy features five practical focus areas: enforcing current regulations, redirecting substantial EU cohesion funds (with a €15 billion contribution from the EIB over three years), leveraging AI and digital tools for water management, bolstering research and innovation—including a proposed public-private partnership for PFAS cleanup—and enhancing resilience to floods and droughts. Roswall announced plans for a Water Smart Industrial Alliance, a European Water Academy to address skills gaps, and support for industry investment in water-smart technologies.
Balancing Stakeholder Interests National authorities and EU regulatory bodies are poised to play a central role in improved enforcement and fund allocation. Industries in the water technology and infrastructure sectors stand to benefit from increased innovation funding and new market opportunities, although they may face the challenge of adapting to evolving practices and technologies. Consumers and civil society could gain from improved water access and resilience, promoting public health and environmental protection. Yet, redirecting public funds and promoting new technologies could impose cost and operational burdens on businesses and public administrations.
International Positioning Roswall also declared the EU's ambition to lead globally on water issues, engaging through upcoming forums like the 2026 UN Water Conference and enhancing international financing through the EU's Global Gateway initiative. Germany's role in these partnerships was applauded, pointing to a diplomatic emphasis on cooperative, multilateral solutions rather than assertive unilateral policies.
In sum, Commissioner Roswall's address projects a strategic, implementation-focused shift in EU water policy—prioritizing funding, innovation, and international collaboration—without expanding legislative frameworks, thereby balancing increased EU coordination with respect for member states' regulatory roles.
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