The European Policy Centre was delighted to share the hybrid Policy Dialogue on “Strengthening Water Resilience for Wellbeing and Industry – The Role for EU Policies and Investments.” This event is organised by EPC’s Sustainable Prosperity for Europe programme in collaboration with SUEZ.  

Life is inconceivable without water. Same is true for our economy; industry, agriculture and energy production run on water. Although plentiful, a useful amount is mostly limited to freshwater which varies in terms of its quality and availability, and is facing significant climate and environmental pressures worldwide and in Europe. The cost of droughts in Europe has been around €100 billion over the last couple of decades. In the context of rising geopolitical tensions, ensuring that the EU has access to top quality water for its industrial and energy transformation (e.g. to produce batteries, chips and hydrogen) becomes increasingly important

This Policy Dialogue aimed to explore the current landscape of water management in the EU, the environmental challenges related to water resilience, and how innovative solutions could further strengthen EU policies and investments in this area. The event focused on water use in industry, agriculture, energy production, and the implications of climate change on water resilience.