The Council of the EU is set to support the approach adopted by the European Commission in its ‘Water Resilience Strategy’ (see EUROPE 13676/14), according to draft conclusions dated Tuesday 14 October. The subject will be discussed at a meeting of European environment ministers on Tuesday 21 October.
The Strategy is seen by the Member States as an “essential framework for ensuring water supplies for people, ecosystems, sustainable food systems and the economy”.
The EU Council stresses the urgency of restoring and protecting the water cycle, insists on the implementation of existing legislation and invites the Commission to report to Member States on progress made in implementing the strategy and to carry out a mid-term review by 2027.
The Commission is asked to avoid adding administrative or financial burdens for Member States and the private sector.
The EU Council supports the emphasis on digitalisation, innovation and competitiveness, and stresses the security dimension of the strategy, recognising the vulnerability of water infrastructures to cyber-attacks and sabotage, and supporting the development of warning and monitoring systems.
See the document: https://aeur.eu/f/izw (Original version in French by Florent Servia)