EPP local and regional leaders today adopted the Mikulov Declaration on “Shared Water, Shared Future”, calling for water resilience to become a strategic European priority and for cities and regions to be fully involved in shaping and implementing Europe’s water policies.
The declaration was adopted at the EPP-CoR External Cross-Border Group Meeting in Mikulov, Czechia, which brought together local and regional leaders, representatives of the European institutions, experts and stakeholders to discuss how Europe can finance and deliver greater water security at local and regional level.
The declaration recognises water as a strategic resource for regional and local development, competitiveness and cohesion. EPP local and regional leaders underline that cities and regions are not simply implementing water policy, but are also investors, innovators and strategic partners. They therefore call for place-based solutions that reflect the different geographical, climatic and economic realities across Europe.
With European territories increasingly having to address water scarcity, drought, flooding, pollution and biodiversity loss, the declaration calls for a long-term approach to water resilience and greater coherence between European policies. It also stresses the need to restore natural water cycles, strengthen preparedness for water-related disasters and accelerate investment in modern infrastructure, water reuse, digital technologies, sustainable agriculture and nature-based solutions.
A central demand of the Mikulov Declaration is for water resilience to be recognised as a strategic priority in the EU's Multiannual Financial Framework 2028–2034. The EPP-CoR Group calls for predictable, long-term investment at European, national, regional and local level, while safeguarding the role of local and regional authorities, the partnership principle and multi-level governance in the implementation of EU funding.
The declaration also highlights the close relationship between water, agriculture and food security. It calls for targeted support to help farmers introduce smart irrigation, precision farming, water reuse and improved soil and nutrient management, with particular attention to small and family farms. Forests, lakes, reservoirs and other inland water bodies are also identified as essential elements of territorial resilience, including their role in maintaining strategic water reserves for wildfire prevention and firefighting.
Another priority is ensuring that cities and regions can turn water ambitions into investable projects. The declaration highlights the role of the European Investment Bank and calls for improved access to financing and technical assistance for local and regional authorities, particularly for major restoration and infrastructure projects. It also points to the potential of public-private investment while preserving the competence of public authorities over the organisation of water services.
Because water does not stop at administrative or national borders, the Mikulov Declaration places particular emphasis on territorial and cross-border cooperation. EPP local and regional leaders call for more projects through Interreg and other European instruments addressing shared river basins, drought prevention, flood protection, water reuse and ecosystem restoration.
The declaration furthermore welcomes the European Water Resilience Strategy and states the commitment of EPP local and regional leaders to contribute to its implementation, including through the European Water Resilience Stakeholder Platform. Its objective, as set out in the declaration, is a source-to-sea approach capable of securing clean and affordable water for people, the economy and ecosystems amid climate change, growing water scarcity, droughts, floods, pollution and biodiversity loss.