Safeguarding Europe´s Water Resilience – Ensure Legal Security and Effective Implementation of the Water Acquis
On Friday 21st of November 2025, the European Water Association (EWA) joined forces with AquaFed, Aqua Publica Europea, EurEau, and Water Europe in the signing of a joint letter addressed to European Commission Vice-President Teresa Ribera, Commissioner Jessika Roswall, Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, and Secretary-General Ilze Juhansone. The letter calls on the Commission to “Safeguard Europe’s Water Resilience – Ensure Legal Security and Effective Implementation of the Water Acquis”.
Europe is grappling with escalating water pressures—drought, floods, pollution—making robust policy stability and clarity indispensable for building resilience. The letter warns that any modifications to existing directives could disrupt implementation and jeopardise essential investments, such as quaternary treatment upgrades and extended producer responsibility schemes.
The signatories also welcome administrative simplification—such as permitting and digitalisation—but stress that such simplifications must not compromise environmental goals, and should be pursued within the current legal frameworks.
Together, the signatories call on the Commission to:
- Exclude the UWWTD, the WFD and the water efficiency provision of the IED from the upcoming and any subsequent Environmental Omnibus regulations.
- Focus on supporting implementation of current directives and the Water Resilience Strategy.
- Safeguard progress by ensuring a clear, predictable regulatory environment.