Local and regional leaders join forces with Commissioner Roswall to boost water resilience across Europe

Water security must involve local and regional authorities and be integrated into all EU policies, regions and cities argue. 

The Plenary Session of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on 2 July marked the official launch of water resilience as a strategic priority of its 2025-2030 mandate with a debate with European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall. Local and regional leaders and key European actors engaged in water policy signal a united commitment to tackling the growing water-related challenges facing Europe. 

In the wake of a global warming climate, the European Union is increasingly witnessing and suffering spurring biblical spring floods, devastating summer droughts, heatwaves, and wildfires and powerful autumn hurricanes. Each of them not only devastates ecosystems and destroys homes and infrastructure but also dismantles the social fabric of communities. By leveraging their understanding of local conditions, local and regional authorities can develop targeted strategies to ensure resilient water systems, protect vital ecosystems, and support the long-term well-being of communities. 

Commissioner Roswall presented the European Water Resilience Strategy and engaged a dialogue with CoR members on how local and regional authorities can play a stronger role in shaping and implementing the strategy. Participants underlined that effective water governance requires multilevel cooperation and early involvement of cities and regions in EU decision-making processes. They called for robust support for integrated water-management strategies at local and regional levels, encouraging nature-based and innovative solutions.  

CoR members stressed that water resilience is essential not only for environmental sustainability but also for safeguarding the EU’s long-term competitiveness. It must therefore be fully embedded in all relevant EU policy areas — from climate adaptation and biodiversity protection to food security, public health, pollution reduction, and the circular economy. 

Quotes 

CoR President Kata Tüttő, recently appointed co-rapporteur of an opinion on “The local and regional perspective for enhancing water resilience": “Water is no longer just a matter of environment — it’s a matter of security, cohesion, and survival. Every drop carries political weight. Local and regional leaders are on the frontlines of rising tensions: droughts, floods, failing infrastructure, and growing inequality. Simplifying governance must not mean simplifying reality — because reality is complex. To build true resilience, we need flexible funding, inclusive decision-making, and accountability at every level. The EU’s water strategy must meet the era we live in — an age of scarcity, risk, and rising expectations — with systems that are safe, just, and future-proof for every community in Europe.” 

Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, Water resilience and a Competitive circular economy: “Water is a resource we all share. There can be no solution without cooperation. We are supporting EU regions and cities to become more water resilient, as many decisions on water management are taken at local and regional level. We know that financing is a big constraint for many local authorities, that is why we have added extra flexibility to EU cohesion funding with extra incentives for water resilience projects. This has been done precisely to facilitate investments in water resilience by regional and local authorities.” 

Background 

• Video and photos from the session. 

• The 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference took place in Nice, France, from 7 to 13 June, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica. The delegation of the European Committee of the regions (CoR) was present to join forces with other EU institutions, key decision-makers and elected officials from coastal cities and regions around the world to defend a resilient system of global ocean governance. Press release.  

• The ENVE commission appointed Kata Tüttő, CoR President, and Juanma Moreno, First Vice-President, co-rapporteurs on the opinion "The local and regional perspective for enhancing water resilience" on 24 June. This opinion will form a cornerstone of a broader five-year plan on water resilience, which will involve close collaboration between the CoR and key institutional partners, including the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Council Presidencies, the European Investment Bank, and a wide range of water stakeholders, as well as cities and regions beyond the CoR. 

• On 15 May, the Committee of the regions adopted its 2025–2030 strategic priorities to strengthen Cohesion, Resilience and Proximity across the EU. Press release.  

• CoR members are invited to share successful local initiatives on water resilience to help build up a shared knowledge base, strengthen policy influence, and demonstrate the leadership of EU cities and regions.  

Contact 

Hélène Dressen
Tel: +32 471502795
Helene.dressen@cor.europa.eu