Nicosia: The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) placed water resilience at the center of Europe’s future agenda during its Extraordinary Bureau Meeting held in Nicosia, under the incoming Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU. The meeting brought together civil society representatives, experts, and policymakers to assess Europe’s water-related challenges and explore potential coordinated solutions.
According to Cyprus News Agency, President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, addressed the gathering, identifying water security as a critical challenge for Europe, and particularly for Cyprus. He emphasized the need for responsibility, cooperation, and a commitment to ensure no citizen or region is left behind. President Christodoulides underscored the daily reality of water resilience for Cyprus, advocating for collective action to secure a sustainable and peaceful future.
EESC President S©amus Boland highlighted water’s strategic importance to Europe’s social, economic, and environmental security. He noted that nearly ten million Europeans still face challenges accessing drinking water. He described water as foundational not only to food systems and industries but also to energy security, peace, and stability. Boland expressed eagerness to collaborate with the Cypriot EU Council Presidency on water resilience and other key issues like housing, migration, and energy connectivity.
Alain Coheur, chairman of the EESC’s Industrial Change Commission, reviewed developments since the EESC’s adoption of its water declaration three years prior, citing rising inequalities, ecosystem pressures, and climate impacts. He called for significant investment in infrastructure and stronger coordination among Member States. Coheur stressed the need for a coherent water resilience policy to ensure equal access and preparedness for future crises.
Professor Fadi Comair of the Cyprus Institute highlighted Cyprus’s vulnerabilities, including a significant reduction in rainfall since 1901, declining dam storage, and a tourist population that triples the local population. Comair warned of the risks to social stability from water scarcity and stressed the necessity for regional water diplomacy and research into desalination and irrigation systems.
According to the press release, Durk Krol, Executive Director of Water Europe, described water as a finite, local, and shared resource utilized by over 70,000 utilities in Europe. He outlined five key innovation areas to achieve a Water-Smart Society and called for a significant investment in infrastructure and smart solutions, projecting substantial economic returns and job creation.
The Bureau Meeting concluded with a collective commitment to prioritize water resilience in Europe’s future. The EESC pledged to continue collaborating with EU institutions on water-related strategies as part of the EU’s Blue Deal.