During this parliamentary vote, 470 MEPs voted in favour, 81 against and 92 abstented to the report. The text says water is not only essential to people’s lives and health, but also central to Europe’s economy, competitiveness, and climate adaption afforts.
More water efficiency, less pollution and better disaster preparedness
MEPs want the Commission to propose sectoral targets for water efficiency and water abstraction (taking water from a surface or underground source) based on risk assessments. The EU needs to do more to reduce water pollution from pharmaceuticals, chemical pesticides and fertilisers, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, microplastics and chemicals, and to phase out so-called “forever chemicals” (PFAS).
Parliament wants climate adaptation to be integrated into sectoral plans and policy measures affecting water and land use, as well as tailored measures for regions facing unique challenges, such as the Mediterranean, island areas and outermost regions. Preparedness and crisis response mechanisms for water scarcity, drought and floods must be significantly improved, they add.
Increasing resilience needs funding and AI
MEPs are also calling on the Commission to allocate dedicated funding for water resilience, utilizing targeted mechanisms within existing financial frameworks. This support should focus on modernizing water infrastructure, promoting sustainable water management, implementing nature-based solutions, and advancing innovative water-efficient technologies.
They emphasize the need for investing in artificial intelligence (AI) applications, real-time leak detection systems, smart irrigation, and other emerging technologies that enhance water efficiency. Additionally, they highlight the importance of digital tools for transparent data collection, monitoring, and early warning systems, as well as the need to strengthen cybersecurity measures for critical water infrastructure.
NGOs are still concerned
Although the clear vote and the demands on the EU Commission seems to show great determination to ultimately adopt an effective water resilience strategy, representatives of NGOs are concerned. They fear that the strategy will be watered down and criticise in particular that the importance of nature-based solutions to combat water pollution has been weakened.
The European part of WWF blamed the MEPs that they have „chosen political convenience over environment protection and public health“. With this, they primarily refer to the weakenings to the text recommended in the report of the ENVI committee in April 2025. Inter alia, this report contains softening with regard to a complete phase-out of the production and use of PFAS and with regard to the importance attached to nature-based processes.
„Serious lack of strategic vision“
Members of the Living Rivers Europe NGO coalition commented: “This vote has revealed a serious lack of strategic vision for building water resilience. We cannot tackle a continent increasingly depleted of clean water or repair broken water cycles without working with nature. Nature-based solutions, such as restoring wetlands and removing barriers obstructing rivers, are far more cost-effective, straightforward, and environmentally sustainable than grey infrastructure and techno-fixes. Around 90% of extreme weather events that disrupt people’s lives are water-related, yet here we are with conservative and far-right MEPs denying Europe the means it needs to face inevitable floods and droughts.”
Positive: first step towards a truly comprehensive source-to-sea approach
On a more encouraging note, this report represents an important first step towards adopting a truly integrated source-to-sea approach to water management across the EU-one that considers the effects of human activities throughout every phase of the water cycle, both on land and in aquatic environments.
“The challenges we face, from chemical pollution to nutrient run-off and plastic waste, are clear. What we need is greater alignment between freshwater and marine policies-in planning, objectives, and implementation-so that protection extends seamlessly throughout the entire water cycle,” said Helena Rodrigues, Ocean Policy Officer at the WWF European Policy Office.
The EU Commission is expected to adopt the water resilience strategy at the beginning of June.
