Europe Needs a Water Resilience Strategy
MEP Thomas Bajada discusses urgent water challenges, including PFAS pollution, tap water safety, and climate-driven water scarcity in Europe.
Your report on the Water Resilience Strategy emphasises integrating water resilience into EU governance. What steps should the European Commission and Member States take to ensure water considerations become a standard part of policy assessments?
Water resilience must become part of how we make every decision in Europe, because it is about people’s daily lives. Whether it is a new transport project, a farm policy, or urban planning, we need to ask: how will this affect our water? The Commission should introduce water impact checks across all policies, and Member States can complement this by aligning national and regional plans with river basin realities and by ensuring coordination between water, climate, energy, and agricultural policies. It is about seeing water not as an isolated issue, but as something that touches every aspect of life, from the tap at home to the crops in our fields to the jobs in our industries.
Water resilience must become part of how we make every decision in Europe, because it is about people’s daily lives.
You call for sectoral water efficiency and abstraction targets tailored to basin-level assessments. How should economic interests be balanced with environmental needs, particularly in agriculture and industry?
Our farmers, manufacturers, and local businesses are already feeling the effects of water stress, so resilience is in their interest as well. It is not about limiting growth; it is about protecting it. By setting efficiency goals that reflect the realities of each river basin, we can help communities adapt while securing their livelihoods. Smart irrigation, water reuse in factories, and improved infrastructure can reduce pressure on nature while also reducing costs. It is about making sure we all, rural and urban, large and small, have access to the water we need to thrive.
Stricter enforcement of the Water Framework Directive is a key priority in your strategy. What are the biggest challenges in enforcing existing regulations, and how can the EU address them effectively?
The legislation is fit for purpose. The challenge lies in implementation, including insufficient investment, weak enforcement, and fragmented governance. The European Union needs to provide stronger support for monitoring, data systems, and capacity building, particularly at the local level. People deserve to know that their water is safe and well managed. The European Union can help by funding better data systems, ensuring transparency, and making sure Member States follow through on their commitments. Enforcing the rules is about restoring trust and protecting the water that communities depend on.
People deserve to know that their water is safe and well managed.
PFAS and bisphenols pose significant risks to water quality and public health. How urgent is the need for EU-wide standards, and what regulatory steps should be taken to accelerate action on these pollutants?
It is extremely urgent. PFAS are persistent, toxic, and widespread, posing real risks to both people and ecosystems. This is a health issue as much as an environmental one. PFAS and bisphenols are turning up in drinking water across Europe, and people rightly expect action. We need common limits to stop harmful levels of these substances from entering our rivers and groundwater, and we need to address them at the source. That means restricting non-essential uses, investing in better treatment, and helping local water providers manage contamination. It is a matter of safety, trust, and doing what is right.
You propose a dedicated funding line for water resilience in the next Multiannual Financial Framework. How can the EU ensure equitable distribution of these funds, particularly for regions facing severe water stress?
Targeted investment is essential. The new Multiannual Financial Framework must include a specific budget line for water resilience, with mechanisms to prioritise the needs of water-scarce regions, especially in Southern Europe, islands, and rural areas. Funding should also support vulnerable communities in upgrading water infrastructure, adopting digital solutions, and scaling nature-based measures. Equity means not only who receives the funds, but also how we design programmes that address different local challenges with fairness and solidarity.
What are the most promising digital innovations or technologies that can transform water management in Europe, and how can the EU accelerate their adoption?
Imagine a system that detects leaks before they waste water, or irrigation that responds to real-time weather data. These tools already exist, but they are not available everywhere. The European Union should help scale up these innovations, especially for smaller towns and farms. Digitalisation can make water management smarter, faster, and more transparent. It can help people save water and money, and ensure that water reaches those who need it. Technology is a bridge between policy and everyday impact. Most importantly, it strengthens data-driven decision-making, helping us move from reaction to prevention, and from short-term fixes to long-term resilience. Because good decisions start with good information.
Given that water resilience is a transboundary challenge, what steps should the EU take to strengthen collaboration with neighbouring countries and international organisations to ensure sustainable water management beyond its borders?
Water does not stop at national borders, so our solutions must not stop there either. Rivers, lakes, and aquifers are shared resources. The European Union must invest in regional cooperation, joint monitoring, and shared early warning systems. This is not just good environmental policy; it is also good neighbourly policy. We also have a role to play globally, by promoting fair access to water, peace through cooperation, and by sharing European expertise with those facing similar challenges. Solidarity must extend beyond our borders.
Water does not stop at national borders, so our solutions must not stop there either.
As a young MEP appointed as rapporteur on the Water Resilience Strategy, how do you see this role highlighting the urgency of prioritising water issues? How do you plan to advance this S&D priority?
I come from Malta, a Mediterranean island where water scarcity is not a future scenario, it is a daily reality. From a young age, I understood that water shapes everything: the wellbeing of our communities, the health of our environment, and the strength of our economy.
As a young Member of the European Parliament, I bring a sense of urgency, but also a belief in Europe’s capacity to act with purpose and compassion. This is why, from day one, I made it my mission to ensure that this strategy reflects the lived experiences of people across the Union—rural or urban, north or south. Water is not just a resource. It is a human right. It is a question of fairness, of dignity, and of future-proofing our societies.
This role is about more than legislation. It is about protecting people’s right to clean, affordable water and building resilience where it is needed most. With the Socialists and Democrats Group, we are pushing for a strategy rooted in fairness, solidarity, and action so that water resilience becomes a pillar of a stronger, more just Europe. That is what I will continue to fight for.
From a young age, I understood that water shapes everything: the wellbeing of our communities, the health of our environment, and the strength of our economy.
In your report, you outline key pillars for enhancing water resilience. Which of these pillars poses the greatest challenge, and why?
All the pillars are connected, but if I had to choose one, it would be climate adaptation. This pillar forces us to think long term. Droughts and floods are already happening more frequently, and they are hitting our most vulnerable communities first. The challenge is to shift from reacting to preparing. That means building infrastructure that can cope with extremes, supporting farmers through transitions, and planning cities with nature in mind. It is a difficult task, but it is essential if we want to live in a safe, sustainable Europe.
As the SEArica Intergroup Vice-Chair for the Mediterranean, Ocean Governance, Maritime Planning, and International Cooperation, how do you envision this intergroup contributing to both safeguarding the ocean and strengthening the economy?
The health of our oceans starts upstream—in our rivers, in our wastewater systems, and in how we manage land. As a Member of the Environment and Fisheries Committees, I believe that through SEArica we can connect these issues, especially in the Mediterranean where the stakes are high. We want to support sustainable coastal economies, such as fisheries, tourism, and renewable energy, by ensuring they are built on healthy marine ecosystems. Through integrated planning and cooperation, we can make environmental protection a driver for jobs and resilience. It is about viewing the ocean not as a frontier, but as a shared future.