Wrapping up the first day of debates at the CoR's 167th plenary session, an exchange on 'water resilience in the EU' with Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, saw active engagement by EA member Declan McDonnell.
Commissioner Roswall prefaced her keynote address by highlighting the crosscutting importance of water resilience across the EU's environmental, economic, social security and cohesion policies. Accordingly, she called for commitment, coordination and political resolve across all levels of European governance to ensure that the EU's three key water resilience goals can be achieved: restoring the EU's water cycle, building a water smart economy and ensuring clean and affordable water for all. She then outlined five priority methods by which the Commission intends to achieve its water resilience goals, as follows: first, establishing structured dialogues with member states and revising marine strategy framework directives. Second, increasing funding to fill the investment gap in this area. Third, becoming a global leader in water technology. Fourth, taking urgent and structured action to address to floods and droughts. Finally, establishing cooperation with international partners, unlocking new markets and promoting cross border cooperation.
Declan McDonnell agreed with Commissioner Roswell that 'water must be treated as a strategic priority for Europe's future' given its vitality to Europe's economy and security. The impacts of climate change and pollution on Europe's water resilience make this a particularly important imperative, asserted Mr. McDonnell, citing examples from his home city of Galway, where extreme coastal weather continues to intensify and where water contamination has previously affected local communities and the tourism industry. Mr. McDonnell accordingly stressed that local and regional authorities must be fully involved in shaping and implementing an innovative and nature-based water resilience policy that recognises water's value, empowers every level of government and mitigates the damages induced by droughts and floods. Ultimately, he called for synchronisation of water strategies with the CAP and with cross-border cooperation agreements, promoting inter-institutional and cross-cutting approaches to delivering a truly water resilient Europe.