Whilest welcoming progress on resilience, Natural Mineral Waters Europe (NMWE) urges stronger action on prevention at the source
June 5, 2025.- NMWE welcomes the publication of the European Commission’s Communication on a European Water Resilience Strategy. At a time when Europe’s waters are under increasing pressure, the need for a coordinated EU-level response is clear. The strategy correctly recognises the urgent need to strengthen Europe’s resilience to water stress and sets out several useful measures.
However, the glaring shortcoming remains the lack of robust action on pollution prevention, particularly from persistent chemicals. The removal of even the modest commitments seen in the leaked draft, such a public debate on the polluter-pays principle, represents a missed opportunity. The new flagship initiative on PFAS detection and remediation is a corrective rather than preventive measure.
There are, however, some positive elements:
- Strong recognition of the need to implement EU water-related legislation properly.
- Nature-based solutions are clearly prioritised, including support for ‘sponge landscapes’ and enhanced transboundary cooperation. These are essential for climate adaptation and ecosystem restoration.
- The strategy establishes a link between CAP and water resilience.
- The introduction of harmonised water scarcity indicators is a much-needed tool for ensuring comparable, science-based assessments across the EU.
- The focus on water efficiency is appropriate and the Commission is well-placed in providing guidance for Member States to step up actions in this regard. Particular focus should however be put on how Member States will translate this into local context.
To move forward, the Commission must:
- Embed pollution prevention at source and the polluter-pays principle into all water-related actions;
- ensure inclusive governance, for example by involving industry representatives in decision-making;
- foster full implementation of the relevant water-related legislation at national level.
“We welcome the European Commission’s Water Resilience Initiative as a timely and necessary step in safeguarding the resilience of Europe’s water resources. The recognition of nature-based solutions, and intention to standardise scarcity indicators, is crucial to support resilient water management. However, we are disappointed by the absence of concrete actions on pollution prevention, which is essential for safeguarding water at its source.” – Patricia Fosselard, Secretary General, NMWE