CEMR priorities on the European Commission Water Resilience Strategy
The European Commission has just published its Water Resilience Strategy, a much-needed step toward safeguarding one of our most vital common goods.
At CEMR, we welcome the Strategy’s alignment with many of our long-standing priorities:
✅ Recognition of water as a public good
✅ Acknowledgement of the role of multi-level governance, cross-border cooperation and stakeholder engagement
✅ Emphasis on nature-based solutions, including the new Sponge Facility
✅ Improved tools for data access, drought management, and awareness-raising
We also welcome the reinforcement of the Polluter Pays Principle, especially for persistent pollutants like PFAS. However, we are particularly concerned by the provision for an updated study on the costs and potential impacts of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme under the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive.
As addressed in our recent joint letter to President von der Leyen decision risks delaying the deployment of quaternary treatment technologies essential to remove micropollutants and could hinder the timely implementation of the recast Directive.
We strongly believe that local and regional governments are best placed to address water challenges — but to do so effectively, they must be empowered with the tools, flexibility, and funding they need.
The Strategy would benefit from:
🔹 Clear and firm commitment to dedicated funding for water management in the next MFF
🔹 Better access to emergency EU funds for municipalities and regions affected by extreme events
🔹 Stronger legal safeguards and technical support for public sector water services
🔹 Concrete support for urban-rural cooperation in integrated water management
Read our full position paper
These issues will be front and centre at the CEMR Leaders’ Summit in Oslo, 23–24 June, under the theme: “Local Solutions for Equitable and Sustainable Resource Management.”
Let’s ensure Europe’s water resilience starts where it matters most — in our cities and regions.
Advisor – Environment and mobility
