Nicosia: The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment has applauded the new EU Water Resilience Strategy, highlighting its significance for Cyprus in enhancing water efficiency.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the Ministry emphasized that the strategy represents a bold European initiative aimed at providing clean, affordable, and sufficient water for all European citizens through a comprehensive approach involving targeted policies, measures, and investments. The strategy is particularly vital for Cyprus, an island grappling with severe water scarcity, a heavy reliance on desalination, and the escalating impacts of climate change. The Ministry regards this strategy as an essential tool for the sustainable management of water resources.
The Cyprus Department of Water Development has been actively involved in consultations with the European Commission, which culminated in the adoption of the strategy. The primary goals of the strategy include restoring and protecting the water cycle, ensuring clean and affordable water for everyone, and fostering a sustainable, resilient, smart, and competitive water economy across Europe.
The strategy advocates for the principle of prioritizing efficient water use, encouraging member states to implement all necessary measures to reduce water demand before exploiting additional resources. It aims for a 10% increase in water efficiency by 2030. The strategy also supports the adoption of smart infrastructure and digital technologies to minimize network losses and improve stock management. It emphasizes investment in wastewater reuse projects for irrigation to decrease reliance on groundwater and other sources and supports farmers and the primary sector through the Common Agricultural Policy to adopt water-saving techniques.
Moreover, the EU recommends promoting nature-based solutions to enhance natural water storage and filtration, investing in human resources and skills for effective water management, and raising awareness among citizens, local authorities, and businesses about water efficiency principles. The strategy also emphasizes the importance of international cooperation and regional alliances, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Cyprus stands to benefit from various financial and technical tools as part of the strategy, including European financial instruments such as the Cohesion Fund, STEP (Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform), EU Investment Programme, and opportunities provided by the Green Deal.